Speaker List for the Sustainable Living Farm Conference
Leigh and Olin Funderburk
Owners of Stoney Creek Farm
and
Authors of “Dirt Rich – How to Experience More Joy and Less Stress Through Sustainable Farm Living”
Leigh Funderburk was born in Humboldt, Tennessee, and grew up most of her life on a small family farm. She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1982 and had an extensive 30-year corporate career, most recently with Xerox, before “going back to the farm.” She retired from corporate life in 2013, to better devote her energy to sustainable farming.
Olin Funderburk was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and, as a “preacher’s kid,” lived all over the Southeast. Olin has a BS in Construction, Engineering, and Technology, and currently owns a construction company with three other partners, where he still works.
Olin and Leigh have been teaching people how to live a more simple and sustainable life since they opened Stoney Creek Farm to the public in 2010. Their dream is to help everyone become “Dirt Rich,” whether they live in the country or the city.
Cindy Shapton
The Cracked Pot Gardener
Cindy Shapton speaks, writes, designs and coaches when she is not working in her own garden. She has been a regular on local television with ‘Talk of the Town’ and has appeared on Volunteer Gardener.
Known as The Cracked Pot Gardener; the title of a column Cindy wrote for the Williamson Herald. Cindy writes articles for many magazines and is a regular contributor for State-by-State Gardening and The Tennessee Gardener as well as a contributing garden expert to Tractor Supply Company’s ‘Know How Central’.
She is the former owner of Hyssop Hill Herb Farm and Coyote Herb Ranch both in Franklin, TN. Cindy is past president of the Williamson County Master Gardeners.
Cindy is the author of “The Cracked Pot Herb Book” – Simple Ways to Incorporate Herbs into Everyday Life. Visit her website www.cindyshapton.com
David Cook
TN Agricultural and Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent
David Cook works for the UT Agriculture Extension Office in both the Agricultural and Commercial areas in Davidson County. He is a tremendous resource in many aspects of Agriculture and especially in organic methods to control insect populations and reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides. He is a “bug fanatic” and teaches the identification of beneficial insects and how to use them to eliminate pesticides. Always a favorite speaker, David will WOW you with his knowledge of beneficial insects and using Nature’s resources.
Jay Williams
Williams Honey Farm
Jay Williams has been in the family bee business since he was very small. His dedication to preserving and protecting our pollinators has been nonstop and deserves recognition. He describes his Honey Farm in the following way…
“Williams Honey Farm is just like a bee hive. We have many moving parts that all work together for 1 common goal: Survival of the honeybee.
We accomplish this goal through 4 main avenues:
Educate the public through visits to schools, churches, garden clubs, and beekeeping events.
Feed the bees in new and interesting ways and at the same time create bee conservationists we affectionately call “Polleneers”.
Produce 100% natural products of the hive through sustainable beekeeping practices.
Give back to the bees through annual projects including free Seed Bombs to Nashville Area school children.
1 in every 3 bites you take is thanks to a honeybee. If you feed the bees then you’ll feed the world. We are ready to do this one flower at a time.”
Paul Deepan
Reiki Master
Paul became a Reiki Master to further his passion for peace and healing in a fallen world. Reiki is a Japanese form of energy healing that originated as a desire to heal as Jesus healed. Paul will cover a description of Reiki and how modern science is starting affirm some of the insights that we have had from ancient days.
Paul Deepan was born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, and in addition to the United States, has lived in Trinidad, England and Canada. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto, and Master’s degrees in Biology and Business from the Universities of Waterloo, and Western Ontario, respectively. Paul is the author of the award-winning fantasy novel, The Fruit of the Dendragon Tree, and has written and taught in a variety of niches. Paul ghost writes book-length projects for people who may be too busy or too overwhelmed to tackle this daunting task on their own.
Marc Smith, DVM
Natchez Trace Veterinary Services – Nashville Veterinarian · Alternative & Holistic Health
Even if I didn’t use alternative veterinary medicine techniques in my practice, I am definitely a better practitioner and veterinarian because I know the options and techniques. People ask questions, and they want credible answers. Non-traditional veterinary techniques have forced me to become a better communicator, a more critical thinker, and better diagnostician.”
-Marc Smith, DVM
Since 2005, Marc Smith DVM has been a pioneer in the field of integrative veterinary medicine. His mission is to help pets live longer, happier, and healthier lives and strengthen the human/animal bond. Dr. Smith accomplishes this goal by empowering pet owners by educating them in pet healthcare choices and the vast array of options available in veterinary medicine.
After graduating from University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998, Dr. Smith founded an equine practice in his hometown of Nashville, TN. Since then his focus has expanded to include small animals, alternative medicine, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) and animal chiropractic.
Dr. Smith’s services include:
- Acupuncture
- Alternative Cancer Treatments
- Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
- Herbal Medicine
- Chiropractic
- Prolotherapy
- Specialty Surgeries including TTA and TPLO for Cruciate Disease
- Stem Cell and Platelet Rich Plasma
Surprise Guest Vegan Chef
The Friday night Conference Dinner will be a Total Healthy Learning Experience as we taste and learn about healthy juicing and easy to prepare vegan food.
Nutritious Food (to live a long and healthy life) that you can prepare even on a week night.
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In addition to two full days of learning how to have MORE JOY and LESS STRESS through sustainable farm living, attendees will receive:
Dirt Rich
by Leigh and Olin Funderburk
The Cracked Pot Herb Book
by Cindy Shapton
48 Days to the Work You Love
by Dan Miller
barn house plans for your homestead
greenhouse construction plans
Sustainable Living Farm Conference Notebook
