There's no surrounding ocean nor sounds of the shore. But for a farmer, a farm can often feel like an island. "The loneliness of the 'weird farmer' is a real thing," said Josh Payne, who runs his ...

Six years ago and at 220 pounds on his thin frame, Ryan Herring was feeling the effects of junk food and his sedentary lifestyle. He changed his eating habits, tried growing his own food and failed.

Josh Payne planted chestnut trees six years ago. The rows of nut trees haven’t fully matured yet, but he’s banking on the future shade they’ll provide to shield his animals from sweltering heat. “We ...