Ignite Broadband services are finally available for many areas of the Sylvia, TN community, a very underserved and overlooked corner of Dickson by other internet service providers. Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Todd and Lenee Berry, long-time Sylvia residents and owners of the sweetest little farm stand and coffee shop, Berry’s Bushel Basket, and the first business in the Sylvia area served by Ignite Broadband. What started as a covered wagon farm stand has now become a must-stop market and a hometown gathering place. Read on to learn how strong roots and good people have led to its success.
If you’ve ever driven through Sylvia and wondered about the field of beautiful pumpkins, the countless rows of giant colorful mums, or the cutest little market bustling with life, it’s Berry’s Bushel Basket. What began as a humble roadside pumpkin stand has grown into a beloved local market, fall dream destination, and daily coffee spot —built plank-by-plank with reclaimed barn wood, a whole lot of grit, and a family’s commitment to feeding (and gathering) their community.
Roots in the Dirt | The Berry family’s story starts on the farm. And the Berry’s Bushel Basket story all started with an idea that Lenee’s dad had inspired in her before his passing: pumpkins. Pumpkins were the family’s first public crop back in 2007. They set out a modest display on a covered wagon on their farm just off the road and sold on the honor system. One small wagon has turned into a community tradition.
Today, Berry’s Bushels Baskets offers incredible farm-fresh seasonal produce (tomatoes, corn, watermelon, potatoes, more), locally roasted coffee, house-made baked goods, build your own bouquet fresh flowers, and custom local items such as t-shirts and tumblers that tout a tagline “new look | same old values”. Each year, they hit their stride right about now with all the fall things; the Berry’s Bushel Basket Facebook page is full of colorful pictures, gorgeous pumpkins, and voluminous mums in every color and peppered with their personality, our favorite part. Over the years, Todd and Lenee have experimented, listened, and layered in what works—keeping the focus on freshness + community. “Every winter we tweak something—new counters, better flow, a fresh idea. It changes every year because our customers do.”
From Pumpkins to Plenty | In 2015, Todd and Lenee faced a practical reality for their young family: customers were showing up at the house all day, and life and business needed clearer boundaries. “We had a little covered wagon by the drive,” they laugh, “and our daughter would run down to help folks. Sweet—but it was time for a change.” Plus, word was spreading and business was growing; from their presence twice a week at the farmers market to the covered wagon, the community had heard about the Berry Farm and wanted more.
Within days, a small block building in Sylvia came up for sale. The vision was immediate. A sketch on scratch paper became a renovation plan, right down to the counters and layout. Much of the storefront’s warmth comes from history itself: the frontage wood came from the family’s old tobacco barn, and the metal inside was salvaged from its roof. The store opened in 2016, and next year marks 10 years as a brick-and-mortar mainstay.
“It looked exactly like the drawing we made that first night. We knew what it could be.”
A couple of years ago, the family added a coffee shop inside the market. The decision came naturally: there was no good place locally to grab a good cup of coffee, and what brings people together like good coffee and great company. Lenee acquired equipment from a closing café, Todd cut and turned their handmade counters to open up the space, and the entire family got into brewing. Today, regulars call in drink orders, neighbors linger to chat, and folks passing through discover a slice of small-town comfort.
A year or 2 ago, I discovered Berry’s Farm-to-Table dinners on Facebook after seeing pictures of intimate outdoor dinners among friends. The Berry family partners with local chef Derron Clark for an intentional, cozy, delicious community event—small groups, seasonal menus, and crops grown by the family. Seats go quickly, keeping the evenings personal and focused on the food. “Small groups, our crops, a shared table—that’s the whole point.”
Looking ahead, an open-air pavilion is underway just behind the shop. The site work is done, and construction is slated after the ground settles through a freeze-thaw cycle. The goal: a flexible, beautiful space for church groups, reunions, showers, classes, and community meals —with the Berry’s signature sunsets + string lights. “We’ll build it—and trust the people will come. Around here, they usually do.”
As autumn fades, the market turns to evergreen wreaths and garland—double-sided, lush, and ready for porches, mantels, and church doors. It’s a charming capstone to the growing season and a favorite tradition for many local families.
Farming is faith and risk in equal measure. In 2011, after picture-perfect vines stood chest-high, 11 inches of rain in a weekend devastated the pumpkin harvest. The family salvaged what they could, leaned on prayer, and kept going. “Every year you put good money in the ground and hope it grows. Some years, it breaks your heart. You get up the next day anyway.”
Early this summer, our team at Ignite Broadband finally completed the installation of high-speed, reliable, local internet services to Berry’s Bushel Basket. Previously, the shop’s thick block walls and metal ceiling made cellular hotspots unreliable indoors. Ignite Broadband worked with the Berry Family to deliver fiber internet, which has proven to provide much more dependable in-store service and guest Wi-Fi—critical for call-ahead coffee orders, point-of-sale, and (soon) connectivity to that new pavilion. “Now our customers can log on, our team can work, and everything just…works.”
Berry’s Bushels Baskets is the best of Dickson County: resourceful, family-built, and community-minded. They honor tradition (hello, barn-wood counters) while quietly innovating—one winter project at a time. Whether you’re grabbing a latte, picking up tomatoes for supper, or snagging first pick of pumpkins, you’ll leave with more than groceries. You’ll leave with friends.