In May 2023, Georgia Organics launched the Apprenticeship Program, which paired Farm Apprentices with experienced Farm Hosts for a 10-week on-farm intensive, delivering fundamental knowledge of farm management and covering operations both in and out of the field.
Georgia Organics' Conference & Expo is Growing and Adapting for More Meaningful Impact
Georgia Organics is pleased to announce that our long-beloved Conference & Expo is growing and adapting for more meaningful impact.
For well over 20 years, Georgia Organics’ Conference & Expo has birthed incredible partnerships and collaboration in the Georgia farming and organic agriculture space.
With the post-pandemic return of Conference this February 2023 in Perry, GA, we were amazed by the turnout and positive feedback. It reminded us of the deep value of this gathering.
It’s a crucial space for hardworking farmers and food leaders across the state to gather, collaborate, and refuel. It directly speaks to our Strategic Plan values of Farmer Prosperity and Community & Collective Impact.
2023 Georgia Organics Conference & Expo, all photography: Jenna Shea Photojournalism
In the months following our 2023 Conference, we have weighed feedback and the value of this event in the scope of our strategic work and decided to shift to an every-other-year schedule.
GEORGIA ORGANICS CONFERENCE & EXPO IS NOW BI-ANNUAL
As a statewide organization and leader in the Southeastern agriculture and community food space, we acknowledge that we must diversify how we gather—regionally, statewide, and locally—and ensure that we’re highly collaborative and foster maximum impact when we do gather. Change can be hard, but to stay relevant, Conference must evolve.
The post-pandemic world and increased needs for climate responsiveness and food equity action prompt us to reevaluate how and where we spend our time as an organization. The decision to shift Conference to a bi-annual schedule will give Georgia Organics’ staff the capacity to plan and execute these meaningful gatherings. And in Conference “off-years,” the team will remain focused on our increased direct services work with farmers and community partners across the state. Explore this work and the pillars of our Strategic Plan in our recent Impact Report at georgiaorganics.org/impact.
We will launch this bi-annual schedule in a big way: the 2025 Conference & Expo will be a partner-led, regional Conference serving farmers and sustainable ag leaders across the Southeast.
We will not hold a Conference & Expo in 2024.
GEORGIA ORGANICS’ CONFERENCE IN 2025 WILL BE A REGIONAL EVENT
The 2025 Regional Conference will reflect the deepening, collaborative nature of our work. We need collective wisdom and collective impact at this pivotal moment.
The current needs of farmers and local food communities, plus the challenges of climate change far exceed the state of Georgia. We’re asking how can we activate both hyperlocal and statewide networks for a more robust web and thriving Georgia food system?
We are currently working in partnership with organizations and local leaders in 12 sister states in the South to build a regional network. In the short term, the network will provide strategic direction and input in developing the 2025 Regional Conference themes, track topics, and other core elements. In the long term, we hope that the network will continue to grow and serve the unique needs of our region and our farmers.
One thing is clear in these conversations: This is an event centered on sustainable, organic, and regenerative farmers. We also are aligned on the themes of joy, diversity, and renewal for this exciting re-seeding of a regional conference. We aim for this event to chart the path laid by the much-missed Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) regional conference.
Georgia Organics President & CEO Alice Rolls, who is spearheading the Regional Conference network, notes of the decision to host our first bi-annual Conference as a regional event: “the environmental, policy, and resource challenges in sustainable agriculture show us that we need to be more sophisticated in approach, moving beyond state lines. This is about regional knowledge-sharing of agriculture and community food work.” She adds, “our aim is to lift up the farmers in our community and attend to our neighbors, create a welcoming, inclusive, productive space.”
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
We have a lot of work ahead, not only in Georgia Organics ongoing direct service work and community support to Georgia organic farmers, but so that we produce a 2025 Regional Conference that drives impact beyond Georgia.
We’re currently seeking additional affiliate and steering partners for the 2025 Regional Conference and encourage members of local farming and sustainable ag policy communities to reach out to us at alice [at] georgiaorganics [dot] org. Closer to the regional event, we will issue calls for volunteers via our email newsletter, The Dirt.
Between now and 2025, we will prioritize in-person gatherings across the state for farmers, including the continuation of our Farmer Field Days, farmer happy hours, and more. Our time and efforts remain invested in farmer prosperity-driving work through the direct services of our Farmer Services program. Explore this work at farmerservices.georgiaorganics.org and sign up for Grower News at bit.ly/growernews.
Our Community Collaboration team is also gathering and collaborating around the state—currently in Savannah and Waycross—activating local networks for local food and farm partners on strategies to reduce childhood food insecurity. Learn more at georgiaorganics.org/familyfarmshare.
Furthermore, our Farmer Advocacy work continues, with heavy focus on the 2023 Farm Bill and the active state meetings, D.C. fly-ins with key organic partners, and active advocating for the needs of organic farmers, led by Georgia Organics’ Director of Farmer Advocacy Michael Wall. Learn more at georgiaorganics.org/advocacy.
We remain steadfast in our day-to-day commitments to organic farmers and constantly evolving to provide robust community support and activation.
Stay tuned, we cannot wait to see you in 2025!
Connections in Ag: An Interview with Miriam Pérez of Café Orgánico Marcala (COMSA)
By Monica Ponce
Monica Ponce is a Worker-Owner at Love is Love Cooperative Farm and has been on the Board of Directors of Georgia Organics since 2020.
Miriam Beté Perez and Finca Clave de Sol. Photo courtesy of COMSA.
Monica Ponce. Photo courtesy of Love Cooperative Farm.
For years now, I have been getting my hands dirty on the farm. It’s been a long exploration of different landscapes, soils, plants, and practices. Along the way, I have had the chance to connect with farmers near and far, and I continue to be wowed by the stories I hear and the things I learn from fellow farmers.
I was recently invited by Café Campesino, a Georgia-based organic coffee roaster and wholesaler, to interview Miriam Pérez a member of Café Orgánico Marcala S.A. (COMSA). COMSA is a group that has been a partner of Café Campesino through their importing co-op, Cooperative Coffees, since 2014. As a member of Love is Love Cooperative Farm, a worker-owned cooperative on 70 acres in Mansfield, Georgia, I was thrilled to have the chance to connect with another cooperative grower to learn more about her work! It’s awe-inspiring to see the care put into the plants and the alignment of her growing practices with the lunar calendar and larger ecology of the farm.
If you want to support COMSA, pick up a couple of bags of Café Campesino Coffee. When you purchase Café Campesino’s Georgia Organics Special Blend Coffee, a portion of sales will be donated to Georgia Organics, so it’s a great way to support regenerative and organic farmers in Georgia, too!
I hope our conversation inspires you to savor your sip.
Monica Ponce: What certifications or third-party labeling do you have that has helped increase your markets?
Miriam Beté Perez: Organic and Fair Trade certifications.
Monica: What is it like to cultivate coffee?
Miriam: Cultivating coffee is a passion for me!
I started at the age of 6 on my grandfather's farms. For me and my cousins, going to the coffee farms meant hiking along trails, running, playing, and having a free life. We would arrive at the farm to harvest coffee beans and be in contact with Mother Earth.
The cultivation involves several processes which we call cultivation tasks. We start by harvesting and selecting the seeds of the plants that have had the best development in the farm, after being cultivated for more than 3 years. Next, we create a coffee nursery, where the babies grow for 2 to 3 months. Then we continue with the selection and transplant the strongest and best-developed plants to the soil prepared with organic ingredients. These plants grow there in the nursery and/or shed for 3 to 4 months. Then they are transferred to the definitive field and the small trees are planted in a previously elaborated and prepared hole, where organic fertilizer was also added the previous year.
Image: Miriam Perez. Photo courtesy of COMSA.
Monica: How long does it take for the crop to be ready for harvesting?
Miriam: The coffee crop is ready for harvesting in the third year.
Monica: In what season of the year is the coffee harvest?
Miriam: The harvest season in the Marcala region begins in November and ends in April.
Monica: What is the harvesting process like?
Miriam: When the collection begins, two containers are used, they can be bags or baskets. These are attached to the body of the person who is going to carry out the coffee cherry collection task. These containers are used to deposit the green, dry, and over-fermented beans on one side and the red cherries in the other container.
At 3 pm, the coffee is received by the harvesters, weighing the coffee cherries and keeping a record of the daily deliveries for each person who harvests them.
The red coffee cherries are placed in a sieve to continue with the selection of green, dry, and fermented beans that are mixed at the time of harvest. Then the depulping process is carried out to obtain a honey-processed coffee and/or it is taken to the sun-drying patio to obtain a natural, dry cherry coffee.
Monica: What types of soils do you have and what are some of your practices to enrich/maintain the quality?
Miriam: A large part of our soils is sandy loam soils. The good agricultural practices we use to nourish the plants and soil include:
Preparation and application of organic fertilizers based on organic matter, mountain microorganisms, minerals, and living molecules.
Application of bio-preparations.
Sowing of Healing crystals.
Pranic Healing meditations over the plants.
Sowing of trees.
Planting of coffee varieties resistant to pests and diseases.
Cultivation tasks using the lunar calendar (Cleaning, pruning, de-leafing, sowing and re-sowing of coffee plants, application of solid and liquid organic fertilizers)
Coffee cherries and green, dry, and over-fermented beans still on the branch before harvest.
Monica: What are the ideal conditions for cultivating coffee?
Miriam: Under a microclimate where there are trees, bushes, fruit trees, birds, animals, and diversity of living beings in balance.
Monica: Has the weather become more unpredictable for you and how have you adapted/managed?
Monitoring the temperature, relative humidity according to each season of the year, the movements of the moon and the stars in the cosmos are indicators that allow us to manage the diversity and times in the coffee farm.
Monica: How many people work on the farm and do the farmers live on or near the farm?
Miriam: Temporarily, 6 people work on the farm, and up to 20 people work temporarily, especially during coffee harvesting and processing. Two families live on the farm, and the other families are neighbors, while others live away.
Monica: How did you find this cooperative as farmers?
Miriam: We didn't find it, we started it, thanks to the importance of benefits received from being in a farmer organization.
To learn more about COMSA and Finca la Fortaleza (Marcala) visit coopcoffees.coop/comsa or follow the co-op on Facebook (COMSA - Marcala) and Instagram (@comsamarcalaoficial).
To learn more about Café Campesino visit cafecampesino.com or follow the Georgia roastery on Facebook (Cafe Campesino Roastery) and Instagram (@cafecampesino).
To learn more about Love is Love Cooperative Farm visit loveislovefarm.com or follow the co-op on Facebook (Love is Love Farm) and Instagram (@loveislovefarm).
To learn more about Georgia Organics visit georgiaorganics.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube by searching (Georgia Organics).
I LOVE OLIVE THEIR OILS! Georgia Organics’ Conference Tour of Oliver Farm Delighted Oliver Guests
By Kimberly Della Donna
Kimberly Della Donna is Georgia Organics’ Director of Community Collaborations.
The brilliant Clay Oliver, of Oliver Farm, hosted one of Georgia Organics' eight conference farm field trips this February. I found my way there via a long, windy rural route through agricultural land early on a sunny Saturday morning.
Located at The Station 31702, in the heart of quaint little Pitts, GA, Clay and Valerie Oliver welcomed us to the Oliver Farm tour. It happened to be Clay's birthday, which made us feel even luckier to be there and grateful for the hospitality.
Valerie Oliver with her daughter.
Valerie Oliver, the creative genius behind The Station 31702 where Oliver Farm products are sold, greeted us all and showed us to the tasting room and event space. While Clay shared the story of how he found his way into oil production, we tasted a variety of Oliver Farms oils, including a unique green peanut oil and an irresistibly delicious pecan oil.
As we all enjoyed the unmistakable yet subtle flavors of the nuts in the oil, Clay explained that the small batches Oliver Farms produces are minimally processed which results in maximum flavor. We were lucky to have a small group, and Clay piled us all in the van and took us out to the production facility to see where the magic happens.
The Oliver Farm production building was around the corner, down a long, red clay road, surrounded by rolling fields of Oliver Family Farm land. That little building houses a lot of action! Clay is running the "nose to tail" equivalent of seed and nut processing in there — olive the goodness of these crops is redeemed from top to bottom!
After extracting the oil, the extruded fiber is milled into flour and the filtered sediment is shared with a farmer who uses it to finish his heritage hogs. This is all done onsite, with five or six presses, one centrifuge, a pump, and a mill. Amazing.
The oils and flours, made from unexpected things like okra seeds and peanuts, are packed and shipped from the location.
Oliver the world, people are loving these products! It is a small but mighty operation, for sure. Clay runs the extruders and centrifuges for 18 hours a day most weeks to keep up with the demand.
Our fabulous tour wrapped up back in the tasting room, where Clay and Valerie shared a sumptuous pecan pound cake, made from Oliver Farm pecan flour, of course. We were all blown away by how delicious and tender that cake was. Oliver taste buds were dancing!
They sent us all off with a generous gift bag stuffed with enough oil, flour, and treats to remind us of the fantastic time we spent with the Olivers for a long time to come. All of our conference attendees were so happy they made the trip.
I highly recommend the trip to The Station 31702 to check out olive the Oliver Farm offerings! Valerie has curated a wonderful selection of tantalizing pantry items, handmade crafts, and adorable home goods--it’s a great place to buy gifts, especially for yourself.
I love OLIVE the stuff in that store, especially the oils and the pecan flour! If you time your shopping trip right, you can enjoy a band and an evening of fun in their beautiful event space.
Thank you, Clay and Valerie, for introducing our conference attendees to Oliver Farm and The Station and for sharing so many treats with olive us!
To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn by searching the handle @GeorgiaOrganics or Georgia Organics.
To learn more about Oliver Farm, visit oliverfarm.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@oliverfarm).
Farmer Field Day Recap: Solar Array and Conservations Projects at 3 Porch Farm
By Meg Darnell
Meg Darnell is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics .
Want to know how you can help support our GA farmers? Building resiliency against climate change is a great place to start.
Do your part by ensuring your local farmer can supply the community with fresh, local produce and meat. Click here to learn more about The Farmer Fund and how to invest in farmers—when they need it most.
All photos by M.F. Espinoza, Georgia Organics 2022-23 Communications Fellow.
On Oct. 31, 2022, Georgia Organics hosted over 25 participants at 3 Porch Farm in Comer, GA, for a farmer field day.
The event centered on the many benefits of on-farm solar energy and conservation projects for climate change resiliency. Mandy and Steve O'Shea, owners of the farm, jumped right into things. Informed by their experience, they shared how to best source and install solar panels on a farm. The O'Sheas also covered how the USDA Rural Energy for America (REAP) grant and the Federal Tax Credit offset the cost of their solar installation. The farm owners even shared their breakdown of associated costs and savings to detail how farmers in attendance could follow the process.
Mandy and Steve discussed the many conservation projects 3 Porch Farm has implemented with the assistance of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Specifically, we discussed how the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was a valuable resource for the farm. NRCS agent, Bryan Barrett, was also on hand to explain the program and how to apply.
We organized the field day so attendees would leave with the following:
A better understanding of solar-power benefits for a nine-acre, Georgia farm
How this solar-based sustainable operation does/doesn’t translate to their farm
Examples of real on-farm solar projects, funded through the REAP grant
An outline of considerations, costs, challenges, and best practices for installing solar
How to apply for the REAP grant & Federal solar tax credit
Examples of on-farm infrastructure, funded through the EQIP grant
An understanding of EQIP’s High Tunnel Initiative
Knowing if they qualify for EQIP and, if so, what projects to select
An open-ended barn at 3 Porch Farm (Athens, GA). Built by farm owners Mandy and Steve O-Shea, the barn doubles as a covered storage area and solar array system.
We began our field day under an open-sided barn built by Mandy and Steve. The do-it-yourself project was inspired by their desire to cover farm equipment and provide roof space to install a solar array system. Thanks to their ingenuity, we were able to stay out of the rain and take turns introducing ourselves; attendees were primarily farmers — some traveling from hours away.
As the rain let up, we ventured into the fields. There, participants discovered how sustainability is woven into everything Mandy and Steve do at 3 Porch Farm. They discussed their journey of transitioning from selling in-person at farmers markets to selling online and providing nationwide shipping.
They spoke with a climate-science professor who informed them that the carbon footprint of shipping was much lower than they previously thought, so they were able to move past some preconceived notions and pivot their whole business model.
The O’Sheas explained how they choose to ensure the offset of their carbon footprint by using all biodegradable/recyclable packaging and rounding up their mileage, paying 1.5 times in carbon offsets.
Guineafowl (also known as Guinea hen or original fowl) are native to the Western region of Africa and rank among the oldest of the landfowl birds.
Their flock of guinea hens joined us briefly, a pleasant surprise, so Mandy and Steve took the opportunity to explain the fowls’ presence as organic pest control, more specifically, tick eradication. Our hosts explained that the guinea hens allow them and their employees to work in the fields without the stress of contracting tick-borne illnesses. They went on to share their philosophy on employing workers, providing them with a living wage, year-round work, and health benefits to support high employee retention.
The O’Sheas were able to secure installation of their high tunnel systems with funding from an EQIP initiative. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program is accessible through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
We meandered on a path through the farm’s different growing fields, stopping next to one of 3 Porch’s many high tunnels made possible through EQIP’s high tunnel initiative. Mandy explained that they added extra trusses and propane heaters with temperature sensors to the tunnels to mitigate damage from snow storms or sudden cold fronts with freezing temperatures.
Bryan Barrett, NRCS agent (pictured far right) attended our Farmer Field Day in Comer, GA. Above, he shares details about EQIP’s struggle to keep up with US economic inflation. Farmer Russell Brydson (pictured far left) of Narrow Way Farm in McDonough, GA shares his experience navigating farm life post-2020.
They explained that the cost of high tunnel additions is offset by the standing protection they offer against chaotic weather. Since a single, sudden storm or cold front has the capability to impact the entire farm, the O’Sheas learned that having year-round protection is essential to crop retention. We spent some time discussing how prices for high tunnels have gone up dramatically in the past ten years. Bryan Barrett, an NRCS agent, joined us and explained that the EQIP program has not increased its cost share accordingly. EQIP reimbursement to farmers approved for the program in 2012 was around 75 percent of the cost. Today, reimbursement rates have dipped to around 50 percent. In light of the increased cost and smaller reimbursement rate, Mandy and Steve remained firm in their positive endorsement of the benefit of high tunnels.
3 Porch Farm’s four-stall compost barn sits amongst a small bamboo forest.
We left the high tunnel and headed to the compost barn, another conservation project that the NRCS supported. The barn helps organize waste, turn it when necessary, and produce quality compost that goes back into their soil, improving its health.
The tour concluded back at their old packing barn, where Steve broke down the cost of their most recent solar energy project, completed in 2019 — totaling a sizable 13kW power supply. They have completed five solar array projects in all, including rooftop panels on the barn, workshop, lumber/tractor shed, and parking structure. This comes to 36.5kw that powers the whole farm, producing twice the amount of energy needed so they can sell power back to the grid at a profit. They explained that between installing the solar themselves, taking advantage of the USDA’s REAP program and the federal tax credit, the return on investment was as little as 1 to 2 years. In addition, they benefit from a 80 percent reduction of their energy bill, plus, the ability to profit from selling the excess energy they produce. You can see the cost analysis from Mandy and Steve O’Shea of 3 Porch Farm below, along with links to all other shared resources from our field day.
Visit georgiaorganics.org to see all of what we do and follow us on social media @georgiaorganics for updates and weekly happenings.
Farm To ECE Success In An Urban Setting
Guest blog contributors Cherie L.B. Trice and April Mixon
Cherie L.B. Trice is the Director of Development at Greenbriar Children’s Center and has a Master of Arts and is a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA). April Mixon is the Food Coordinator at Greenbriar Children’s Center. Both are Savannah-based.
All images courtesy of the authors.
Greenbriar Children’s Center is excited to be recognized as one of the first ECE Farmer Champions with Georgia Organics!
In addition to other programs for children and families, Greenbriar provides two quality-rated early childhood education programs for children ages six months to five years, primarily from very low-income families.
On average, one in five people in Savannah lives below the poverty level. The number is even higher for children under the age of five. Following Federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines, Greenbriar provides breakfast, lunch, and a healthy snack for all children in our early learning programs.
In the Spring of 2022, we launched an initiative to provide fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables to our centers via a partnership with the Forsyth Farmers Market—the largest regional market in our area.
The team recognized that the brains and bodies of young children grow at a rapid rate. They must receive essential nutrients to support this critical time of growth to support positive health outcomes into adulthood. We know that an increased intake of fresh produce can help to reduce the risk of childhood obesity and complications that may arise later in life, including Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke. Under-resourced areas, which often have reduced access to grocery stores that provide fresh produce, face a higher risk for these health risks.
Our partnership with the farmers market allows us to purchase fresh, locally-grown (and often organic) produce every week.
To expand our knowledge around this work, we have become a member of the Georgia Farm to Early Care and Education Coalition. To date, we have participated in various programs with fellow coalition members, including Quality Care for Children (QCC) and Georgia Organics.
We have participated in the Georgia Early Care and Education Harvest of the Month campaign and, most recently, the Georgia Organics #SpinachtoWinit campaign.
Spinach To Win It inspired us to give our children a tasty opportunity: to grow spinach and sample the leafy green in a variety of ways. We love the spinach pizza, spinach pesto, and other offerings we created!
In October, we also offered a parent-child nutrition night, informing parents about our efforts to provide their children with fresh, locally-grown produce every week.
We must recognize that low-income families often rely on low-cost, heavily processed food to feed their families. The two meals per day provided by childcare centers may be the most complete meals that a child in an under-resourced area receives.
These meals must be as nutrient-dense as possible to provide the healthiest beginning possible for every child. And, getting to support local farmers to achieve this important work helps us feel even more connected to our community.
Learn more about Greenbriar Children’s Center at greenbriarchildrenscenter.org.
You can also follow them on Instagram (@greenbriarsav), Twitter (@GreenbriarCCSAV), and Facebook (@GreenbriarChildrensCenter)
Contact their Director of Development Cherie L. B. Trice at ctrice@greenbriarchildrenscenter.org.
To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org and follow us on social media @GeorgiaOrganics.
Investing in Our Future From the GROUNDS Up with Café Campesino!
At Georgia Organics, we’re investing in our future from the ground up, and we need your support! Our goal is to raise $150,000 for our From the Ground Up! 25th Anniversary Campaign by the end of 2022.
Luckily, our good friends at Café Campesino have stepped in to help! Throughout November and December, when you buy a pound of Georgia Organics Special Blend Medium Roast Coffee, Café Campesino will donate 10 percent plus a quarter of your online purchase ($1.85) per bag directly to Georgia Organics to support this goal.
Georgia Organics Special Benefit Blend, Medium Roast Coffee - Fair Trade & Organic
The best part? Café Campesino sources beans directly from soil-focused farmers and roasts them locally in Americus, Georgia. I guess you could say that when you purchase our Georgia Organics Blend from Café Campesino, you’re investing in our future... from the GROUNDS up!
Here at Georgia Organics, we love coffee. Okay, it may not be the unanimous #1 beverage of all of our staff, but collectively, it’s at the very top. Especially this year.
It’s our 25th Anniversary, and we’ve been busy celebrating and planning what’s next in our organization’s journey. It’s safe to say, our cups have been fueling some really vital work.
After a two-year hiatus, this year, we dove into hosting in-person events and convenings again. We held a 25th Anniversary Roast & Toast, granting awards to some incredible land stewards in our community. We hosted several Farmer Field Days and launched two new programs, including our pilot Family Farm Share in Waycross and our Farmer Apprenticeship Program (now accepting applications!). We just announced the return of our annual Conference & Expo taking place in February in Perry.
Photos by Coop Coffees
Furthermore, we’ve been thinking long-term. We mapped out and released our brand-new strategic plan designed to increase farmer prosperity and community collaboration while centering racial equity and climate solutions in agriculture.
But here at year’s end, our work is not done. As a matter of fact, movement-building is marathon work, and we’re just hitting our stride. We’re building the resources we need to fulfill the ambitious goals outlined in our strategic plan. So, let’s pour another cup!
Want to deepen your impact? You can contribute to Georgia Organics directly with a gift to the 25th Anniversary Campaign. Make a donation and track the progress toward our goal at georgiaorganics.org/donate.
By supporting Georgia Organics, you are investing in solutions to climate change, food access, and most importantly, the unique and varied challenges faced by organic farmers on the ground and at the forefront of our local food movement.
Cheers to the next 25! May they bring us closer to our vision that all Georgia farmers nurture and heal the land, people and communities.
Sourcing Local Table Talk at Levity Farms, Georgia Organics hosts Farmer-Buyer Mixer
By Kimberly Koogler
Kimberly Koogler is Georgia Organics’ Community Collaborations Manager.
Crops in Season during Buyer Farm Tour at Levity Farms (@levityfarmsga)
On a recent Monday morning, I got to find out what the best way to start a new week is. It is definitely getting together with Georgia farmers, chefs, and early childhood educators on a gorgeous day at a beautiful farm to meander about and then enjoy a locally sourced lunch under a heavenly October sky.
Why might you find six farmers, three early childhood educators, and nine restaurants, caterers, and pop-up chefs gathered together on a Monday morning? To nerd out about local sourcing, of course!
It was our first time doing an event like this, and it unfolded so beautifully that we look forward to doing more of its kind. Our Farmer Champion team--comprising Lauren Cox, Farmer Services Director; Kayla Williams, Farmer Champion Senior Coordinator; Kimberly Della Donna, Community Collaborations Director; and myself—called this delightful convening. We did so because all the above-mentioned parties in attendance have in common a desire to serve up fresh, nutritious, delicious, local food to their community and to grow a resilient local food system in so doing.
Represented in this photo: Bistro Off Broad, A Kid’s World, Hearts of Harvest Farm, The Expat, Bread and Butter Farms, Puma Yu’s, Georgia Organics Staff, Ry’s Table, Slater’s Steakhouse, and Levity Farms)
So, we got together at the beautiful Levity Farms in Madison, GA, exchanged insights and ideas, and shared an exquisite lunch catered by the local Hallie Jane’s Catering, who sourced much of the produce from Levity Farms!
Georgia Organics’ Kayla Williams and Lauren Cox
Local sourcing talk over lunch!
Our gracious farmer hosts, Zach and Ilana Richards took us on a tour, told us their story, and showed us how they build and maintain healthy soil and where they are in their progress towards a closed-circuit, regenerative farming operation.
Everybody shared what it is they look for when starting a new purchasing relationship and what is most conducive to maintaining those relationships. Farmers talked about what helps them when working with chefs; chefs talked about what helps them serve more locally grown food on their menus; and our ECE representatives talked about the challenges of sourcing the volume of food needed to feed many kids multiple meals on a daily basis and the opportunity to plan ahead. While everyone in the room could probably use more time and help, nobody was lacking in passion, care, and respect for each other and each other’s work.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Consistency and communication!
For farmers:
Send updated availability lists and/or check in consistently.
Also, let your buyers know what’s coming up soon, and try to give them an idea of how long you’ll be able to offer different items on your availability list.
For buyers:
Consistent ordering: When farmers know they can count on a regular order for you, they will grow for you.
Consistent communication: This is key to building trust and a solid relationship.
Provide your farmers feedback on their product. They want to make you happy!
Cultivating personal working relationships
“Community connection makes what we do magnetic.” So well said by Ilana Richards of Levity Farms!
Build a symbiotic relationship.
Check in with each other.
Planning ahead helps everyone!
Take some time to plan together and understand each other’s expectations. This helps chefs plan menus and gives farmers more information about what’s in high demand while they’re planning their season.
Some purchasing relationships, like those between farmers and ECE providers might benefit from drawing up a simple contract.
Georgia Organics’ Farmer Champion program works to bring local farmers, chefs, and aggregators together to increase sustainable and organic purchasing by Georgia restaurants, caterers, pop-ups, and early childhood education centers. By connecting farmers to these purchasers and eaters to these businesses that source responsibly, our local food system’s diverse patchwork of small and organic farms will grow and thrive. If you’re a buyer interested in learning more, please reach out to Kayla Williams at kayla@georgiaorganics.org and/or Kimberly Koogler at kimberlykoogler@georgiaorganics.org.
To learn more about Levity Farms, visit www.levityfarms.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/levityfarms and/or on Instagram at levityfarmsga.
To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org and follow us on social media @GeorgiaOrganics and at facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.
Farmer Advocacy at Georgia Organics: The Next Commissioner of Agriculture
For the first time in 12 years, Georgians will elect a new commissioner of agriculture this November, with three candidates vying for the position that oversees, regulates, or assists with dozens of crucial aspects of the food and farming system in Georgia. Agriculture is the state’s leading industry, generating $74 billion in economic activity each year.
Recognizing this historic moment, and the lack of attention this important race typically garners, Georgia Organics invited all three candidates to tour a certified organic farm, get to know the organization and the local and organic food movement, and speak with five certified organic farmers.
The Democratic and Republican candidates both accepted this invitation, and agreed to allow Georgia Organics to publish the answers to a series of questions so that our constituents could have a better understanding of their stances on issues important to our growers and members.
Democratic candidate Nakita Hemingway met with us on Oct. 3, 2022, and Republican candidate Tyler Harper met with us on Oct. 7, 2022. The Libertarian candidate David Raudabaugh was invited to answer the same questions on two occasions through a portal on his campaign’s website and has yet to reply. If he does, we will promote his answers as well.
To learn more about Georgia Organics’ Farmer Advocacy work, visit georgiaorganics.org/advocacy.
From left to right, Demetrius Milling, Russell Honderd, Joe Reynolds, Monica Ponce, Nakita Hemingway, and Daryll Bartolome.
From left to right, Russell Honderd, Joe Reynolds, Tyler Harper, Monica Ponce, Judith Winfrey, Georgia Organics President and CEO Alice Rolls, Matthew Agvent, and Demitrius Milling.
To learn more about our Farmer Advocacy work, visit georgiaorganics.org/advocacy and sign up for our email newsletter, The Dirt, for updates at bit.ly/thedirtsignup.
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What do you think is the most important trend in agriculture affecting Georgia farmers right now?
There are a number of issues currently impacting our industry.
Agricultural land loss and access to land/capital is a significant issue. We are losing agricultural land every day, and that’s a significant loss to Georgia farmers. Right now, Georgia is projected to lose as much as 800,000 acres of agricultural land by 2040. Protecting Georgia’s Ag land is vitally important to the success of our industry. We also need to find ways to increase access to capital for our new and beginning farmers.
Input costs & inflation are putting a squeeze on all farmers and not just commodity farmers. I feel it on my own operation every day. This year the USDA forecasts a 5 percent decline in farm revenue, and there’s been a 50 percent decline in farm revenues over the past 20 years. We need to work on a way to get the retail dollars back to the farmer.
Labor is a significant issue. It’s in the top five if not the number one issue in agriculture today. A viable labor force is vital and that’s a really heavy problem in Georgia.
What do you think organic farmers in Georgia need from the Department of Agriculture?
Organic agriculture plays a vital part of agriculture in Georgia. Organic farmers need the same resources any farmer can expect from the department, and that is that we are partner in that farm’s success. It is vital for the department to ensure all of agriculture in Georgia is successful, and organic agriculture is a part of Georgia agriculture. The department can be and should be vitally important partner for Georgia’s organic farmers and groups like the Georgia Organic Peanut Association as they are getting their feet under them.
The Georgia Development Authority, which is chaired by the commissioner of agriculture, can support organizations like GOPA and Georgia Organics through financing, education, partnerships, and marketing. We can also work with the University System of Georgia and Georgia Technical College System on partnerships for research.
At the end of the day, I want to be a partner in making sure your operation is as successful as it can be.
What role if any do you think the GDA should have in dealing with climate change?
At the end of the day, the climate is always changing and the department can and should do things to allow agriculture be successful with climate change. Farmers have always and still deal with issues and forces outside of their control. Certain crops grow here now that we couldn’t grow before. Satsumas are grown in South Georgia now. It’s neat to see that. As the commissioner of agriculture, we are working to ensure the right resources are available for farmers related to climate change, from a resource and regulatory standpoint, the department can ensure Georgia farmers have access and are allowed to deal with a changing climate.
Soil health was identified as the number one issue our farmers care about. What does soil health mean to you, and how can the GDA better support farmers who are working towards improved soil health?
If you don’t take care of the land, the land won’t take care of you. If you don’t have proper soil health, you’ll see declining soil health, declining yields, and declining crop viability. Soil health allows you to grow crops, to grow a product.
Utilizing organic matter is important on my farm. We utilize peanut hay and chicken manure to improve soil health on my farm. Looking after soil health is ensuring you are taking care of your farm. The department partners with education and research institutions and everyday they are working on soil health at the different research plots across the state. If we are not working on soil health every day as farmers, we won’t be very successful on our farms.
What’s the most important function or program at the department you want to improve?
The most important program at the department is the Georgia Grown program and the most important role of the department is ensuring that Georgia’s food supply is safe, reliable, and secure. At the end of the day, the department needs to get resources from the General Assembly to make sure our food supply is safe, secure, and reliable. Having served in the Senate the 10 years, I’ve built strong relationships with bipartisan members of the General Assembly and Governor Kemp, and I’ll be able to make sure the department has the resources necessary to achieve this goal.
Georgia farmers are more efficient and more productive than they’ve ever been. Yet, hunger and farmer stress are both at all-time highs. What’s the solution for this paradox?
True. Mental health & farmer stress are significant issues in agriculture in Georgia and across the nation. I know that happens to me sometimes at my farm. University of Georgia held a farmer stress summit earlier this year and they are partnering with County Extension Services to connect farmers with local healthcare providers and nonprofits. We can tap into that extension that is present is every single county in Georgia to get farmers those needed resources.
On the hunger side, it is also a significant concern. In the legislature I was proud to work with the Governor to create and deliver funding for the Farm To Foodbank Program. Through this program we were able to get $800,000 in the state budget for foodbanks to purchase local produce that was not going to grocery stores. You know, 40 percent of the produce grown in Georgia doesn’t make it to market. So this program allows foodbanks to negotiate a price, buy from farmers, and get produce to the foodbank. Partnerships with foodbanks, religious institutions, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture will help us fight food insecurity and hunger in our state. That’s is really connecting farm to table and that is what the department can do.
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What do you think is the most important trend in agriculture affecting Georgia farmers right now?
In a positive way, I believe 2020 really helped people connect the dots to just how insecure our food system really is, and how vulnerable we are to just supply chain shocks. The way that we respond has been phenomenal. I will admit a lot of people probably never even looked at my face on Facebook, but I've been in all of these gardening groups. I'm the person who they could have sworn was a 70-year-old lady giving everyone advice on how to cultivate tomatoes in your backyard for the first time.
There is this thirst for knowledge and connectedness around our food and where it comes from and how we can be a part of that, that I believe it's a profound opportunity for us to expand upon that curiosity and grow the next generation of farmers and build out what those support systems look like. You guys, by your own admission, you went to technical colleges to learn this because you didn't want to go through an entire four-year curriculum just to get the essentials in order for you to be efficient in this new love of yours. I don't even consider it a passion or identity or a job because to farm you must love it or be born in it and trapped in it.
That's one aspect. The negative aspect is the lack of control over the marketplaces and the opportunities in this space. We have policies that on surface they say, "This is essential to protect society, to make sure that marketplace is free, fair, equitable for everyone," but we know it's not equitable for everyone. How do we think differently about the end game goal, which is to get more of Georgia-grown foods on the tables of families and get more money in the pockets of farmers?
For me, when I'm travelling throughout the state and I'm talking to some of the more rural farmers who don't have as much access as even you guys do, their number one question is, "How are you going to get my foods on the shelves of the grocery stores?" I tell them, "I'm not, but this is what I'm going to do." Reality is you've got to be able to scale to produce in order to get the products on the grocery stores. Then there's that extra layer of, you're selling this wholesale to them at the prices they've determined. There's no negotiating because they have all the power.
That's now cutting into your profit margins and your end-dollar is smaller. What if we built more farmers' markets? What if we create more digital opportunities for people to know about you and build more agritourism regulations so that you have a tourism component where people are coming to tour your farm, see your operation? You're making more of your money. You're becoming more self-sustaining in your business practice. At the end of the day, that's what you really want.
Then in about 5 years when the grocery stores are not as profitable, they'll come back and they'll want to renegotiate terms. Guess who has all the power? You do. Then you can negotiate terms that are more favorable for you. That's how we shift the narrative. We can't operate from a space of weakness when we're trying to negotiate deals. We've got to take some bold steps, so we can shift that power structure to where we are winning in the end.
What do you think organic farmers in Georgia need from the Department of Agriculture?
Support. When you made that apparent that that need is not there, and it is something that we need to incorporate, it's not just having somebody sit in that seat and champion those ideas, we need a whole educational component behind it.
I do understand Georgia Organics has their system, but I do believe there's power and redundancy as well. That's what I'm looking at. Then it is how can we build community around this. It can't be so stoic that it's just government and private. There needs to be community support around that so that it's organic in its adaptation.
What role, if any, do you think the Georgia Department of Agriculture should have in dealing with climate change?
I think we can do a lot. The sunflowers you're growing, there's sequestering. They can remove heavy metals and toxins out of the soil. If you do the research and you look at Chernobyl, that was one of the two crops they planted. The other was cannabis and hemp to try and remove some of the radiation. I believe it's about education and educating growers on companion planning. I wouldn't say commodity farming doesn't have its value because everything has a value, but I do want to lean in more to how can we add crop rotation or companion planning so that we use less toxins in the soil.
We do it a lot with our cut flowers, so we know which flowers that we can grow next to each other because they're going to take care of, much like what you guys do with your vegetables, that they're going to take care of each other. There's been a lot of research in the use of chrysanthemum oil and what it can do for pesticides, but also for human beings too, for figure. I believe agriculture can do a lot. There are emerging opportunities in agriculture structure as carbon farming, which is selling carbon credits to corporations by types of farming. We don't have a system for that here in Georgia. It is a new opportunity.
I definitely want to look into that. Also going back to the Hemp cannabis conversation, let's look at it from beyond where everyone likes to take the conversation into medicinal versus the psychedelic attributes of it. Let's look at it from the environmental aspect of this as well. Then one day I would love to be able to get in zoning codes where you're not tied into the grid, and you can have solar or hydro-powered facilities because I think that's impactful. You can't do that yet in Georgia. As a matter of fact, they just passed a bill, if not this term, last term, where certain parts of South Georgia must be tied into a grid. They don't have an option.
Soil health was identified as the number one issue our farmers care about. What does soil health mean to you, and how can the GDA better support farmers who are working towards improved soil health?
There is a direct relationship between the global erosion of topsoil and global warming. Also, when we talk about locally grown agriculture, we don't speak about it from the components, the aspect of climate change. In the cut flower industry in the United States in the 1990s, they created the Andes Free Trade Agreement or Fair Trade Agreement, which incentivize Columbian and cocaine farmers. Columbian and Ecuadorian cocaine farmers to turn their farms into cut flower farms. Because of that all of the cut flower farms disappeared overnight, which is why we import over 80% of our flowers.
They come mostly from South America, Africa. We get some from Europe, like Holland, different places like that. In this, they did a study and they found that, and by the way, Memorial Day is the day in which people consume the most flowers, not Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. They found in 2019 that we imported 141 million blooms. Now we're importing flowers every single day but 2019 on Valentine's Day, 141 million roses. That was the equivalent of 78,000 cars being on the road for an entire year. We're importing flowers every single day. When we lean into locally grown, that reduces the carbon footprint because we're not importing and exporting as much.
What's the most important function or program at the department that you want to improve?
Efficiency. I don't believe the office is running efficiently. There is a lot of waste in terms of dollars and efforts. There is a high churn rate with staffing. It's very difficult for this department to match private dollars in terms of salary and compensation for workers. Veterinarians and our shelters are overrun and they lack resources. The list is long. Pet breeding is a huge issue here in Georgia, and anyone can breed a pet.
If the Department of Agriculture actually started charging a fee, that's revenue, a licensing fee to breeders, that's revenue for the Department of Agriculture, which means more resources for farmers, more efficiency. It's just those things is finding where we are not running in an efficient way, peeling back those layers. I'm just going to be honest with you, cleaning house because there are a lot of people who are there who have no desire to do what is required of the job and attracting and retaining the best talent. Honestly, it's a very long list of things that need to be done, but it can be done.
Georgia farmers are more efficient and more productive than they've ever been, yet hunger and farmer stress are both at all-time highs. What's the solution for this paradox?
The solution is you build out farmer support systems because suicide rates amongst farmers are the highest per profession. You find out where they're losing. For me, it is why is this so high? When I talk to you guys about interest rates or mortgage, that financial, when you're spending so much to run an operation that's making so little, this is a tie to your identity. It's not just a business where you can just say, "Okay, I'm done. I walk away from this."
Farming is everything for most people who are in it. Having resources for mental health going to be very important. Building community within those communities so that when you're going to the Department of Agriculture, you're not speaking to some stranger. You're speaking to your neighbor or a friend down the street because they work in that department and they live in that community.
It's also listening. I have my ideas about what I want to change, but it's like the comment you made about, "Well if we bring in cannabis to him, this is going to impact rental rates." Now you're bringing to me the problems you are seeing. Now, this is something new I add to my ever-never-ending list of, "Okay, so this is what we got to work on," and as when you told me we need a branch that focuses on organic farming. "Okay, so now we've added this to the list."
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Additional Resources
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Harper, Hemingway Vie to Bring New Leadership to State’s Ag Dept.
Tyler Harper’s campaign website
Nakita Hemingway’s campaign website
David Raudabaugh’s campaign website
The Atlanta Press Club’s Ag Commissioner debate video.
https://youtu.be/B4e4YWEwLU0
The role of the Georgia Department of Agriculture
Methodology
Georgia Organics went to extensive efforts to be as fair and transparent with all candidates as possible.
Both the Republican and Democratic candidates toured the Love is Love Cooperative Farm in Mansfield, Ga., and met with Georgia Organics President and CEO Alice Rolls to learn more about the state of organic agriculture in Georgia. The candidates also met with the five farm owners and workers at the Love is Love Cooperative Farm.
Love is Love Cooperative Farm was selected as the host farm because of its relative proximity to Atlanta, which was important to both candidates, and because its ownership structure allowed candidates to meet with five farmers at one location.
The questions we asked the candidates were compiled by Georgia Organics and expanded upon by the farmers present during the conversations, and former Georgia Organics board chair Joe Reynolds asked the candidates the questions. Hemingway agreed to be recorded during this part of the conversation. Harper did answer all of our questions in the meeting, and allowed us to take notes of his answers, but did not allow us to record the conversation. Georgia Organics sent the notes on Harper’s answers to his campaign staff, and returned them to us for publication with only minor edits.
Georgia Organics also sent a transcript of Hemingway’s answers to her campaign and allowed them to edit her questions, if desired. Hemingway did not edit her answers.
The answers shown in this package accurately reflect the conversations between the candidates, the farmers, and Georgia Organics.
Georgia Early Care and Education Harvest of the Month Initiative
We’re excited to share this guest blog post from one of our amazing partners at Quality Care for Children (QCC)!
By Monica Griffin MS, RD, LD
Monica Griffin is the Nutrition Early Care and Education Manager at Quality Care for Children. To learn more about Quality Care for Children, visit qualitycareforchildren.org and connect with us on social media @QCCGeorgia on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
The Georgia Early Care and Education Harvest of the Month is a collaborative campaign to promote local, seasonal fruits and vegetables in child care settings.
The initiative is led by Quality Care for Children, Georgia Organics, and the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.
To support the state-wide initiative, Quality Care for Children has developed a variety of resources for child care providers, including:
Cookbook featuring recipes created by Georgia child care providers
Dedicated webpage to promote each Harvest of the Month item, including classroom activity ideas, recipes, a book list, and a family newsletter available in both English and Spanish
Virtual and in-person training opportunities to help child care providers procure and prepare locally-grown foods, and to integrate gardening and food-based learning activities in the classroom
October’s Harvest of the Month item is spinach to align with Georgia Organics’ “Spinach to Win It!” campaign to get kids eating, growing and participating in Farm to ECE activities during National Farm to School Month.
Quality Care for Children’s October training calendar is focused on helping child care providers implement Farm to ECE programs:
To learn more about Georgia Organic’s Spinach to Win It! campaign, click here.
To learn more about Quality Care for Children, click here or contact Monica Griffin at Monica.Griffin@qccga.org.
Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grant Highlight: Addressing Health Equity through Farm to School Programs
Georgia Organics and the Georgia Department of Public Health (GA DPH) have partnered to establish the Farm to School Innovation Mini Grants Program.
These funds support farm to school initiatives that:
Increase access to local, fresh, organically grown food,
Include culturally responsive food and education,
Increase local food procurement,
And/or benefit Georgia-certified organic farmers in other ways.
To learn more about the Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grant Program, click here.
To financially support the Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grant, click here
We are pleased to highlight Mini-Grant Awardee: Baldwin County Schools
Baldwin County Schools Wellness Coordinator A'Keti Mayweather understands the tremendous impact that learning to cook and garden can have on the nutrition and overall health of Baldwin County students. That knowledge helps drive her passion and dedication to supporting a two-time platinum Golden Radish Award winning farm to school program in Baldwin County.
Baldwin County students during a farm to school lesson.
A recent Baldwin County Junior Master Gardener (JMG) graduate!
Baldwin County School’s most recent farm to school innovations include a Junior Master Gardener program that engages children in novel, “hands-on” group and individual learning experiences that promote a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind.
Last school year, in collaboration with FoodCorps Service Members, Baldwin County Schools offered two different Junior Master Gardener (JMG) certificate programs to certify students at Midway Hills Academy and Lakeview Academy. Eighteen Baldwin County students received their JMG Certification!
This successful program, which A’keti believes will inspire students to further their agricultural education and join FFA (Future Farmers of America) will continue into the next school year.
Baldwin Home Gardening Kits
Baldwin County Schools will also continue to extend gardening education and opportunities to more students and families by offering seeds for fall and spring planting each year.
This innovative program is truly designed to increase health equity and access to good food in Baldwin County.
To learn more about Baldwin County Schools’ Farm to School program, visit their webpage and follow them on social media @baldwincountyschoolnutrition
Farmer Field Day Recap of Tractor Implements, Soil Health, and Wash Stations at Bugg Farm
By Ain Chiké
Ain Chiké is a Georgia Organics Farmer Services Coordinator
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM: 2022-2023 Accelerator applications are LIVE from August 1- September 12. Learn more about the year and a half long program and how you can qualify and apply here.
Addis Bugg, Jr. and Addis Bugg, Sr. Photo Credit: The Common Market
Last month on a warm Monday morning, the Georgia Organics Farmer Services team and about 10 farmers visited Bugg Farm in Pine Mountain, GA, to witness tractor implements in action and view the newly constructed wash station. During our stay, we learned about resting fields, considerations for building a wash station, weening cattle, and how the Georgia Organics Accelerator Program benefited Addis Bugg’s farm operations.
Our day began with our gracious host and 2021-2022 Accelerator farmer Addis Bugg taking the attendees on a tractor-pulled hayride tour around the farm. We gazed upon peach trees and muscadine vines sitting heavy with ripening fruit. Participants learned about the rich legacy of Bugg farm, of which Addis is the fifth generation to inherit and work the land. At one stop, Addis showcased the sabbatical field covered in bright green clover.
Soil is a farm’s most valuable asset, and when we allow the soil to rest, it gives the Earth time to replenish nutrients that are leeched throughout a crop‘s development. Cover cropping fallow fields restores nitrogen, aids carbon sequestering, reduces erosion, and keeps pests at bay.
Wash station BEFORE.
Wash station AFTER. photo Cred: Addis Bugg
Our tour concluded at the newly built wash station partially funded through the Georgia Organics Accelerator Program. As we looked around the large, covered area, Addis mentioned his considerations before erecting the structure. Not wanting to build in a space where bacteria from uphill could wash downward, he noted how water flowed on the farm. A concrete base and roofing keeps water from pooling and floors from becoming slippery.
Every farm is unique, so here are some key points to consider for constructing a wash station:
Do the components and design adhere to grant or certification requirements?
What are the pros and cons of wooden, plastic, or steel materials?
Where is the wash station in relation to the field and storage areas?
What kind of flooring is best for my operation? Grass, gravel, or concrete?
What is financially feasible for my farm and how much will I expand over the next 5-10 years Will the wash station become too small very quickly?
How will I keep the area clean and free of standing water?
Where does rainwater runoff go after a storm?
Where is the sun and therefore heat, in relation to where I’ll be washing and packing produce?
How can I streamline my set-up to work as quickly and efficiently as possible so that produce moves quickly from the field to the wash station and into the cooler?
How can I keep things like bins and harvest crates off the ground at all times?
Will I need a designated washing space for ‘dirtier’ root crops like turnips, radishes, or potatoes?
In the final hour of our stay, Addis happily demonstrated the capabilities and usefulness of his new tiller attachment purchased with the funding granted to Accelerator farmers. Part of knowing which new farm tools to invest in came through the guidance of Georgia Organics’ Farm Services Director, Lauren Cox. Using educational material and a guided exercise, Addis and Lauren assessed three crops for profitability and prioritized tool purchases based on their findings. “I was breaking ground with an ancient harrow that I had to grease up every three rounds. This new tiller has helped out SO much.” As we stood by and watched Addis partially till a row, it was easy to see why he was grateful for the equipment.
TRACTOR IMPLEMENTS: Learn more about choosing and using tractor implements with this great resource from Vern Grubinger, Sustainable Vegetable Production: From Startup to Market (PDF pages 103-111)
IMPLEMENT MAINTAINANCE: Consistent maintenance is important when it comes to extending the life and quality of your tractor implements. Check out this maintenance log template for recording scheduled cleaning, etc.
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM: 2022-2023 Accelerator applications are LIVE from August 1- September 12. Learn more about the year and a half long program and how you can qualify and apply here.
Last but not least, click to learn more about Bugg Farm visit their webpage or follow Bugg Family Farm on Facebook.
To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org and follow us on Instagram @GeorgiaOrganics, Twitter @GeorgiaOrganics, and at www.Facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.