Drought effects East Tennessee community food and jobs

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Tennessee is facing its worst drought in years and the Beardsley Community Farm is feeling the impact.

“It feels like things just get crispier and crispier every week,” farm manager Lia Bevins said.

But the heat is now hurting their output by about 95%.

“This week last year, we were harvesting around 1,000 pounds of tomatoes every week,” Bevins said. “But this year, at least this week, its been less than about 50 pounds.”

The farm supplies produce to food pantries in the area and they have not been able to with the drought.

“A lot of the numbers are lower than they would have been, and so each of those pantries are depending on that produce and it’s just not able to make it out to those communities in as high of numbers as it would have in the past,” she said.

However, food is not the only thing taking a hit. Owner of St. John Lawn Care said that mowing is 60% of his revenue, and now the money is drying up.

The grass is not growing, causing a dip in business.

“Normally every week it needs to be cut but this time, you show up and it’s the exact same height as it was last Friday,” he said.

But the company has plans to combat the issue.

“We’re having to switch the kinds of services we’re offering,” St. John said. “Pulling out bushes, trimming bushes, pulling out weeds, mulch, its a great time of year to do that.”

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