Introducing the 2022-2024 Accelerator Cohort!

By Lydia Hsu 

Lydia Hsu is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics.

The Farmer Services team here at Georgia Organics is excited to formally introduce the farmers in the 2022-2024 Accelerator cohort!

The Georgia Organics Accelerator Program combines expert coaching with tailored on-farm investments to grow the vitality and resiliency of Georgia farms and improve the quality of life for farmers.  

The seven farms selected for the 2022-2024 cohort are all doing incredible work to grow their farm products and businesses, sustainably and organically. Each farm was chosen based on their proposed utilization of the program, which includes identifying three focus goals and one in-hand resource that the farms work towards achieving and completing by the end of the program. 

The Farmer Services team is working closely with each farm to develop their goals and in-hand resource, and to support them over the next two years as they execute their Accelerator plan. We have a robust directory of coaches that will be working hand-in-hand with the farmers to provide technical assistance, guidance, and training on a vast array of topics that help them with long-term farm business planning. In-hand resources can look like a Soil Fertility plan, a Food Safety plan, a Labor plan, a Transition plan, and more!  

The coaches will also advise farmers on how to maximize their Accelerator funding for their strategic capital investments. This funding can be applied towards farm expenses — including on-farm infrastructure, labor, healthcare, and marketing.  

Accelerator Coaches, Case Managers, and Farmers mingle at December 2022 Networking Session. Photo by M.F. Espinoza (@healianthusfarms).

In addition to the individual support farmers receive from coaches and case managers, a key part of the Accelerator program is the cohort community itself, and the peer-to-peer connections the program provides space for. The farmers have the opportunity to participate in networking sessions with their fellow cohort members, as well as Accelerator alumni farmers. These networking opportunities, hosted by Georgia Organics both online and in-person throughout the year, allow the cohort to learn from each other, discuss the Accelerator program together, and connect with other Georgia farmers while visiting each other's farms. Our hope is that these networking sessions become an invaluable way to grow community and friendships with other farmers. 

The seven farms in the 2022-2024 cohort are located across the state of Georgia and range from diversified vegetable operations to fiber and livestock farms. Without further ado, here are the 2022-2024 Accelerator farmers! 

Andrew Douglas and family of Crossroad Farm and Garden. Photo credit: Southern Soil.

Crossroad Farm and Garden (Facebook, Instagram)  

Andrew Douglas | Alma, GA  

Crossroad Farm and Garden is a Certified Naturally Grown farm owned and operated by Andrew Douglas. The farm uses sustainable practices to cultivate the soil and grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits. As a member of WayGreen, a local food coalition in southeast Georgia, the farm provides food for the community through the Family Farm Share program in Waycross. 

Brendan Gannon of Gannon Organics. Photo credit: Gannon Organics.

Gannon Organics (Facebook, Instagram)

Brendan Gannon | Savannah, GA 

Gannon Organics was founded by Brendan Gannon in December 2019. The operation is a 4-acre sustainable and diversified vegetable farm serving Savannah, GA. Brendan has been farming organically for over a decade, uses 100% organic methods to grow his produce, and uses cover cropping and field rotation as means for a regenerative growing environment.  

Keisha and Warren Cameron of High Hog Farm. Photo credit: High Hog Farm.

High Hog Farm (Facebook, Instagram)  

Keisha and Warren Cameron | Grayson, GA  

High Hog Farm is run by returning generation farmers Keisha and Warren Cameron. They officially started cultivating the land in 2014, regenerating the soil, and quickly becoming students of permaculture, agroecology, and indigenous practices. They produce locally grown fibers and plant-based dyes from heritage breed sheep, rabbits, and heirloom seeds. 

Brennan and Gwendolyn Washington of Phoenix Gardens. Photo credit Kayla Williams.

Phoenix Gardens (Facebook)

Gwendolyn and Brennan Washington | Lawrenceville, GA  

Phoenix Gardens was started in 2006 and is owned and operated by Gwendolyn and Brennan Washington. The farm is Certified Naturally Grown and uses sustainable methods to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits. The farm has been a mainstay in Gwinnett County for over fifteen years, hosting farm tours and educational events for the community. 

Stephanie Simmons of PolyCulture Production at Gaia Gardens. Photo credit: Food Well Alliance.

PolyCulture Production at Gaia Gardens (Instagram)  

Stephanie Simmons | Decatur, GA  

Stephanie Simmons started PolyCulture Production at Gaia Gardens in 2022. With 2.5 acres in production, Stephanie grows a variety of vegetables and fruits organically. The farm focuses on soil health as the foundation for plant, community, and cultural health and on mimicking the biodiversity of nature by producing multiple crops in the same space. 

Ashley Rodgers of Rodgers Greens and Roots Organic Farm. Photo credit: Rodgers Greens and Roots Organic Farm.

Rodgers Greens and Roots Organic Farm (Facebook, Instagram) 

Ashley Rodgers | Douglasville, GA  

Rodgers Greens and Roots Organic Farm is a Certified Organic farm owned and operated by Ashley Rodgers on 64 acres of historic farmland along the Chattahoochee River. Currently, 15 acres are under cultivation; 10 acres in vegetables, and 5 acres in perennial fruit orchards. The farm’s growing style is medium-scale and sustainable practices are the backbone of the farm. 

Rahul Anand of Snapfinger Farm. Photo credit: Snapfinger Farm.

Snapfinger Farm (Facebook, Instagram)  

Rahul Anand | Covington, GA   

Rahul Anand started Snapfinger Farm in 2016, when he took horse pastures and turned them into vegetable fields, built a walk-in cooler, wash station, hoop houses, and more. The farm is Certified Naturally Grown and uses sustainable growing methods. The farm expanded onto a new property in 2022 and will be scaling up from 2.5 acres to 30 acres of production. 

JOIN US IN WELCOMING THE NEW COHORT OF ACCELERATOR FARMS!

GIVE THEM A FOLLOW AND SHARE THE LOVE AS WE LAUNCH A GREAT YEAR. 

MAP OF CURRENT & ALUMNI ACCELERATOR FARMS

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.

Our full suite of programs and services is accessible to our Farmer Members at no additional cost and can be discovered by visiting farmerservices.georgiaorganics.org. Not a member yet? Visit georgiaorganics.org/membership to become a member today!

Family Farm Share from a Public Health Perspective

By Lena Enciso 

Lena Enciso is a Community Collaborations intern at Georgia Organics and a Master of Public Health Candidate at Emory University. 

The Family Farm Share (FFS) pilot program in Waycross, GA was built upon groundwork laid by Georgia Organics Program Director Suzanne Girdner, through the former Georgia Food Oasis program, and Georgia Organics Community Collaborations Director Kimberly Della Donna, through initiatives to expand Farm to Early Care and Education. The Georgia Food Oasis program aimed to build capacity in communities around the state to create hyperlocal food systems. Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) connects young children and their families with fresh, locally grown foods and supports farmers in their community.

In the years leading up to 2021, Georgia Organics was seeking ways to collaborate more across its diverse programs. Family Farm Share was the perfect opportunity to do so, connecting farmers and the fresh food they produce to low-income community members of Action Pact in Waycross, Georgia. The idea behind FFS is to increase access to local, organic food while connecting farmers to the community and opening up an untapped revenue stream.  

Connie Oliver, whose farmer support organization WayGreen has been instrumental on the farmer side of the program stated: "Family Farm Share has brought about new opportunities for our growers to facilitate access to wholesome, locally produced foods to those in our community. The low-cost, highly nutritious weekly share has also given growers access to families not otherwise being served through current outlets. Weekly sale of these shares has provided much-needed income and resources for the small farmers seeking to grow organically in our local food system.”

Farmer Justin Hall and WayGreen Founder, Connie Oliver displaying a Family Farm Share in April 2022

Family Farm Share from Spring of 2022, photo courtesy of Connie Oliver

A program like Family Farm Share is important as food insecurity is a major issue in the United States; over 34 million people in the United States, which includes 9 million children experience food insecurity (source: feedingamerica.org), and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “less than 50% of children consume enough fruits, and less than 12% consume enough vegetables in their diet” (source: PubMed Central). The FFS program includes a nutrition education component where each week, participants get tips on how to use and store their produce, nutritional information, and recipe suggestions, as well as fun facts to help get children excited about fruits and vegetables! 100% of participants have agreed that these were helpful.

The FFS program currently serves the Action Pact Community in Waycross, particularly those at the Ware County Head Start and Hazzard Hill Early Head Start -- this includes children and their families, as well as teachers and other staff members. According to a pre-program survey, 41.1% of families at the center were enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and 38.9% were enrolled in WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). Located in Southeast Georgia, Waycross has a population that is 55.03% Black and 35.43% White, according to the 2020 United States Census.  

A Family Advocate at Action Pact walking a child out to their parent’s car with a Family Farm Share

In many ways, the Family Farm Share program has been successful. For just five dollars a week, participants receive a share valued at $20-$25 of freshly harvested, locally and organically grown fruits and vegetables, as well as other locally produced items, such as bread, meat, eggs, and jam. Feedback for the program has been overwhelmingly positive; families particularly enjoy the freshness and variety of products, trying new foods, having easier access to fresh, local produce, and the convenience and affordability.

However, the program has not yet been successful in every way Georgia Organics desires. An equity issue Georgia Organics aims to address is to recruit more Black farmers, as farmer partners for the program so far are all currently White. 

Due to the pilot's success, the Family Farm Share program will be expanding to more communities in the coming years. Georgia Organics will expand first to surrounding communities to build on the existing systems and partnerships in place. As part of this, they will recruit more farm partners nearby to build supply and allow the program to expand, while focusing on diversifying their farmer cohort.  

Suzanne stated, “What I love about Family Farm Share is we’re meeting families where they’re at, within their daily routines at daycare and early care centers, while connecting small farmers to new markets close to their farms. We hope to make Waycross a model that other communities can adapt and make their own.”

Farmer Roger Westover of GreenWay Gardens cradles gai choy greens for the Family Farm Shares in Spring 2022, photo courtesy of Connie Oliver

To learn more about Georgia Organics and the Family Farm Share program, visit georgiaorganics.org and follow us on social media @GeorgiaOrganics and at facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.

To learn more about WayGreen, visit waygreeninc.org and follow them on social media @wayxgreen. To learn more about Action Pact, visit myactionpact.org and follow them on social media at facebook.com/ConcertedServicesInc/ 

Farmer Field Day Recap: Accelerator Networking Event – Welcoming the 2022-2024 Cohort!

By Lydia Hsu 

Lydia Hsu is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics 

Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, started as a cloudy, drizzly morning as over 25 attendees pulled up to Hearts of Harvest Farm, located in Arnoldsville, GA. Farmers traveled from across the state to convene at this diversified vegetable, flower, and mushroom farm run by Paul and Lindsey Sorah, 2020-2021 Accelerator alumni.  

The Field Day served as a networking event to welcome the 2022-2024 Accelerator cohort and provided the farmers with an opportunity to meet each other, connect with several alumni, get to know their program coaches, and put faces to the names of the Farmer Services team.  

Daniel Sweeney, a Seven Springs Farm Supply Crop Adviser, shares soil health and fertility knowledge at Hearts of Harvest Farm. Photo by M.F. Espinoza (@healianthusfarms)

The day started off at Hearts of Harvest’s home location, and the alumni farmers shared their Accelerator program experiences and insight, while the new farmers had the chance to talk about their hopes and goals for the program. As the drizzle turned into rain, the group left the cover of the tents, and we toured Hearts of Harvest Farm. Attendees were able to learn how Hearts of Harvest utilized their Accelerator capital investment funding to revamp a wooden structure on their property into a mushroom house. Growing mushrooms now provides them with a revenue stream through the winter months and allows them to retain employees with minimal turnover before the growing season – a game changer.  

After learning more about how the farm applied their Accelerator program funding, including shade cloth, market bins, and microgreen trays, the tour wrapped up and the group drove to the new, secondary farm location Hearts of Harvest just recently acquired. This expanded acreage will allow them to divide the two properties between flower-focused production and produce-focused growing space. 

Accelerator Farmers learn about the mushroom house at Hearts of Harvest Farm. Photo by M.F. Espinoza (@healianthusfarms)

In addition to receiving strategic capital investment funds to put towards their farm’s infrastructure, the new cohort receives funding specifically designated for working with coaches to further advance their short and long-term goals for their farm business. Accelerator program coaches spoke about their areas of expertise and the coaching services they could provide to the new cohort, ranging from food safety plans to legal guidance and everything in between. As an aspect of a newly formed partnership between Georgia Organics and Seven Springs Farm Supply, one of Seven Spring’s Crop Advisers, Daniel Sweeney, will be an Accelerator coach for the 2022-2024 cohort, focusing on soil health, fertility, and integrated-pest management.  

Inside the Farm Home at Hearts of Harvest Farm. Photo by Lydia Hsu

To finish out the Farmer Field Day, the new cohort of Accelerator farmers separated into breakout groups and met with the coaches and Farmer Services case managers to talk more in-depth about the year ahead.  

Despite the rain and dreary weather, the Field Day was filled with rich conversations, joyful connections, and invaluable community building between farmers. To cap the day, attendees shared a hearty meal together from Farmer Champion Farm Burger in Athens, GA, provided for by a gracious donation from Seven Springs Farm Supply. 

The Farmer Services team is excited to jump into the new year and start working with these seven, awesome 2022-2024 Accelerator farmers. So, without further ado, here is our newest Accelerator class!

• Crossroad Farm and Garden (Facebook, Instagram) | Andrew Douglas | Alma, GA 

• Gannon Organics (Facebook, Instagram) | Brendan Gannon | Savannah, GA 

• High Hog Farm (Facebook, Instagram) | Keisha and Warren Cameron | Grayson, GA 

• Phoenix Gardens (Facebook) | Gwendolyn and Brennan Washington | Lawrenceville, GA 

• PolyCulture Production at Gaia Garden (Instagram) | Stephanie Simmons | Decatur, GA 

• Rodgers Greens and Roots Organic Farm (Facebook, Instagram) | Ashley Rodgers | Douglasville, GA 

• Snapfinger Farm (Facebook, Instagram) | Rahul Anand | Covington, GA  

Accelerator Coaches, Case Managers, and Farmers mingle at Hearts of Harvest Farm. Photo by M.F. Espinoza (@healianthusfarms)

Learn more about the Georgia Organics Accelerator Program by visiting our website at farmerservices.georgiaorganics.org/accelerator.  

To learn more about Hearts of Harvest Farm, visit www.heartsofharvestfarm.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @heartsofharvestfarm. 

Find out more about Seven Springs Farm Supply by visiting www.sevenspringsfarmsupply.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @sevenspringsfarmsupply. 

Countdown: 25 Reasons to Support Georgia Organics in 2022!

Starting on Nov. 1st, we took to social media with 25 Reasons to Support Georgia Organics. Our goal? To raise $150,000 for our 25th Anniversary “From the Ground Up” Campaign.

We’re thrilled to announce we have just surpassed our goal! Congratulations and thank you to you, our outstanding community, for your support! 

The good news about reaching our goal is that any additional funds we raise between now and Dec. 31st will supercharge our efforts to grow farmer prosperity.

There are just three days left of this campaign, so if you haven't made a contribution yet, this is your last chance to give! 

Make a 25th Anniversary donation and invest in our future... from the ground up!

georgiaorganics.org/donate

Here are 25 great reasons TO join us.

#25 The answer is in the soil.

We work with farmers who prioritize soil-focused stewardship. These farmers abandon synthetic herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, and fertilizers - all to better care for the land, the water, and our air.

#24 Everything we do works toward farmer prosperity.

Our Farmer Services team provides organic farmers with one-on-one support, resources, group instruction, and deep-dive programs like our Accelerator, Emergency Support, and Healthcare programs. These tailored services help farmers build and maintain strong farm businesses and achieve farmer prosperity.

#23 We further hands-on, farm-to-school education practices.

Photo Credit: Jenna Shea Photography.

With a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we helped students at South Columbus Elementary School team up with a local farmer to learn and practice Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Students dove into planting, growing, harvesting, marketing, and selling produce - all on school grounds. Plus, they planted an orchard of fruit trees and bushes that will last for years to come! What if every school had resources to teach students how to grow their food?

#22 We supply local farmers with localized solutions.

Through the Farmer Accelerator Program and our other Farmer Services, we provided more than 120 hours of one-on-one business coaching and $120,000 in direct investments to farmers in 2022.

#21 We're ready for anything.

Over the past two-and-a-half years, the local food system has been in flux. Because of our networks across industries and sectors, we were able to mobilize several wide-reaching response efforts to the pandemic to stabilize and preserve Georgia's food system: from providing farmers who lost markets with direct investments, to supporting farmers pivoting to online sales, to Food Fight GA—which provided weekly farm-fresh produce boxes to unemployed restaurant workers.

#20 We make puns with a purpose.

At Georgia Organics, we’re investing in the future...from the ground up. And we’re inviting you to support us from the GROUNDS up with Café Campesino! Throughout November and December, Café Campesino will donate $1.85 for each bag sold directly to Georgia Organics. Check out our celebratory 25th Anniversary packaging and order yours today!

#19 Because Spinach to Win It!

Wait, because Spinach to Win It? Yes! Spinach to Win It! This year, we reached more than 700,000 youth in this October’s Spinach to Win It! #FarmtoSchoolMonth Campaign. We even provided mini-grants to outstanding school projects to achieve their farm-to-school goals.

#18 We build farmer allies (part 1).

In 2022, we expanded the Farmer Champion program which incentivizes local and organic purchasing by culinary professionals to include 45 restaurants, bakeries, butcheries, caterers, early care centers, and pop-ups across six cities in Georgia.

#17 We build farmer allies (part 2).

In 2022, we announced our intent to delve more deeply into our role in farmer advocacy. We sought feedback from more than 1,000 farmers to inform our Farmer Advocacy platform. We look forward to sharing more about our plans with farmers, partners, and agricultural policymakers.

#16 The amazing Georgia Organics team!

What started as a one-person office in a church basement has grown into a dynamic, 17-person team with a 20-member board of passionate individuals dedicated to a positive food future.

#15 We mobilize the community.

Georgia Organics is powered by thousands of members, volunteers, and partners. They support us by attending and leading educational events, sharing information, advocating, and so much more. Wholeheartedly, they answer the call to participate and invest in the local food movement.

Photo Credit: M.F. Espinoza.

#14 We bring farmers together.

Through our annual Conference & Expo, Farmer Field Days, Farmer Mixers and other events, Georgia Organics provides a platform for farmers to share information and resources, mentor and learn from each other, and build community.

#13 We can help you plan a casual date night that gives back to community!

This Tuesday, November 29, take your date to Farm Burger to celebrate #GAgivesDay! ALL Georgia locations ALL day will donate 10 percent of sales directly to Georgia Organics. You could say they're really moooo-ving us closer to our year-end goal! Thank you, Farm Burger, for investing in our future… from the ground up!

#12 Because it’s #GAgivesDay!

What a great day to SUPPORT FARMERS! We know that healthy farmers are the cornerstone of healthy communities. They heal the earth, increase food access across the state, and sustain life. From the soil itself — living and breathing — to the plants, the people, and everything in between.

#11 To be a part of a generous and passionate community!

Last Tuesday was #GAgivesDay 2022, and you all showed up by donating more than $15,000, making it an extraordinary day as we climb closer to our overall year-end goal as part of our 25th Anniversary “From the Ground Up” Campaign!

#10 “Without good solid healthcare, then the sustainable farm, I don’t think exists.” - Farmers Chris & Jenny Jackson, Farmer Members

In 2022, we enrolled eight new farmers for FREE Gold Level Health Insurance through the Kaiser Permanente Bridge Program.

#9 The answer is in the soil (part 2).

Georgia Organics invests in farmers so that inch by inch, the soil gets the care it needs. We support these farmers so that they can grow in a way that heals the earth, increases food access across the state, and sustains biodiversity and life, from the soil itself (which is living and breathing!), to the plants, the people, and everything in-between.

#8 To break bread with inspiring legends and leaders of our movement.

On December 10, we hosted renowned chef, cookbook author, and food activist, Alice Waters for a 25th Anniversary Dinner for 68 guests prepared by some of our favorite chefs. This six-course dinner turned into a community salon, with a passionate conversation unfolding about the future of our food movement.

#7 Gifts made between now and Dec. 31st will go twice as far!
We have an anonymous donor who just pledged to match all gifts made between now and midnight on Dec. 31st up to $15,000. Donate now and your gift will be supercharged toward our goal!

#6 We honor the contributions of our land stewards.

Each year, we offer awards to outstanding members of the food and farming community in three categories: the Land Steward Award, the Barbara Petit Pollinator Award, and the Farmer Champion awards. Land Steward and Pollinator Award winners are nominated by the general public and voted on by our Board and Governance Committee. Together, we can continue to uplift the strong work of our soil stewards and champions!

#5 Georgia’s land needs stewards like never before.

Every day, Georgia’s land, growers, and communities stand at the mercy of ongoing and increasing environmental pressures, social and economic gaps, and barriers to access. Deeply entrenched agricultural practices and policies make these challenges worse, further degrading the soil and access to land and food. Meanwhile, the champions in our local food system work daily to stem this tide. They make sacrifices to prioritize soil and community health. They lead the way, showing us that it is possible to build a future in which Georgia’s food is produced accessibly, equitably, and sustainably by thriving community farmers.

#4 Conference is back, baby!

After a two-year hiatus, we’re thrilled to have the chance to come together for our cornerstone annual gathering featuring keynote speaker, farmer and community activist, Karen Washington. For three days, farmers, community advocates, educators, equity activists, and climate leaders will connect, learn new skills, and generate fresh ideas to foster a healthy and sustainable food system. Get your tickets for the 2023 Conference and Expo today!

#3 Our brand new Farmer Apprenticeship Program.

In fall 2022, more than 20 beginning farmers applied for an apprenticeship to learn regenerative farming and sustainable business practices from established organic farmers. This program creates a pipeline for new and beginning farmers while supporting a cohort of farm hosts as they increase their business capacity.  We look forward to selecting nine top candidates to launch into their work in early 2023!

#2 Our history.

We’ve been at it for 25 years. With your support, we've grown the number of organic farmers and acres. We've instigated, cajoled, and convened. We've been a centering rock on which new local food organizations and coalitions have found their footing. What started as a one-person office in a church basement has grown into a dynamic 15-person team with a 20-member board and a network of farmers, partners, and allies dedicated to a positive food future.

The #1 Reason to support Georgia Organics: Our future.

Photo Credit: Kayla Williams.

With 25 years under our belt, we’re gearing up for the next 25. We’re investing in our future from the ground up, and we need your support! We believe in a future where Georgia’s food is produced accessibly, equitably, and sustainably by thriving community farmers, and we are centering our work on farmer prosperity to achieve that vision. For 25 year past and 25 years to come, if you invest in farmers who are investing in the soil, you’re investing in a more bountiful future for all.  

Join us to today. Make a 25th Anniversary donation and invest in our future... from the ground up!

georgiaorganics.org/donate

For more information on ways to support Georgia Organics, contact Fundraising Manager, Emmy Carter, at emmy@georgiaorganics.org.

To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit www.georgiaorganics.org and follow us on Instagram@GeorgiaOrganics, Twitter @GeorgiaOrganics, and at Facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.

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. 

USDA REAP program fact sheet 

Federal tax credit 

NRCS EQIP program fact sheet 

NRCS High Tunnel Initiative 

Visit georgiaorganics.org to see all of what we do and follow us on social media @georgiaorganics for updates and weekly happenings.

DECAL CELEBRATES FARM TO ECE EFFORTS IN WARE COUNTY

Guest blog contributor Morgan Chapman

Morgan Chapman is the Nutrition Education Specialist at the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL).

In recognition of Farm to School and Farm to Early Care and Education Month, the Nutrition Services Division of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) visited a site in Ware County, GA to celebrate Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) efforts.

A happy Head Start start student digs into their yummy taste test! All images courtesy of the author.

On Thursday, Oct. 20, the Nutrition team visited Ware County Head Start Center. There, we learned about Georgia Organics’ Waycross Family Farm Share Pilot — funded through a Community Transformation Grant that DECAL awarded — to address childhood food insecurity for children ages birth to five in Waycross, Georgia.

The Head Start staff and Georgia Organics team showed parents how to plant spinach and Swiss chard seeds, all while discussing food education. Both teams encouraged families to register for the Family Farm Share.  

As a pilot program, Family Farm Share delivery lasts six weeks and responds to community needs and preferences for fresh food. Participating families receive a low-cost bag of locally-grown produce each week. This support is possible through a partnership between WayGreen, Georgia Organics, and local farmers.

Parents and DECAL staff connect over seed planting, meal prep and conversation.

Staff members were happy to connect with parents and engage their children through food education and taste-testing of blueberries and watermelon. DECAL staff visited Head Start, Early Head Start and Inclusion classrooms led by Ms. Carol Clarke.  

Classroom educators welcomed Clarke, who serves as the training and literacy specialist with Action Pact. The children were thrilled to engage through food-based learning, taste-testing plump blueberries, and sharing their opinions. Staff members also took a tour of the Head Start Center’s garden beds and rooted for the children participating in a bean bag race! 

After the taste test, students were encouraged give their opinions about the locally-sourced foods.

To wrap up the visit, DECAL staff had the opportunity to see how the Family Farm Share was sorted and packaged.

The week’s share box included eggs, Satsuma oranges, Fuyu persimmons, collard greens, corn, microgreens (sunflower), red kale, mini sourdough bread, and North Georgia apples.

Our visit confirmed that the Farm to ECE and the Family Farm Share is a win-win for the Head Start community, local farmers, and the youngest learners.

DECAL, WayGreen, and Georgia Organics team members have successfully partnered to support Ware County’s Farm to ECE efforts.

Learn more about Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) at decal.ga.gov.

You can also follow them on Instagram (@brighfromthestart), Twitter (@GADeptEarlyCare), and Facebook (@georgiaDECAL).

Contact their Nutrition Education Specialist Morgan Chapman through their website instructional supports directory.

Visit georgiaorganics.org to see all of what we do and follow us on social media @georgiaorganics for updates and weekly happenings.

Farm To School Month: Spinach To Win It! Highlights

By Olivia Mountcastle

Olivia served as our 2022 Farm to School Intern as well as the CDC Public Health Associate Program Fellow.

Thank you to all who participated in 2022 October Farm to School Month with our Spinach to Win It! resources, making it an enormous success! The creativity this year was unbe-Leafable! We are so excited to share that we reached…. Drumroll….. 

                          693,000 Students across Georgia with our #SpinachToWinit! Campaign 

Georgia’s Governor Kemp recognized the positive impact of statewide Farm to School work by declaring October as Farm to School and  ECE Month with an official Proclamation! This honor couldn't have happened without all of the amazing farm-to-school work YOU do.  

Georgia Governor Declares the month of October Farm to School/ECE Month state-wide.

We loved following our participants’ activities through the social media tag #Spinachtowinit. The spinach content shared by the students, teachers, faculty, and parents is entertaining and inspiring. You can find it all by searching #Spinachtowinit on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Choosing weekly winners was incredibly difficult—which is why we chose to pick more than one weekly winner.

Some of the innovative projects we saw included:

• Painting with spinach  

• 3-D printing Popeye 

• Spinach songs and raps 

• And so much more!

We’ve highlighted some of the amazing projects shared by compiling social media posts in a video. Check out all of the spinach fun from the month here.

Our October Farm to School Month, Spinach to Win it! content will remain available throughout the school year, and we encourage everyone to keep the fun going. Spinach season has just begun, so you can continue planting and harvesting spinach into the colder months. Thank you to everyone who participated in activities this month making this a wonderful Spinach-tastic success!

To learn more about our ongoing Farm to School programming, go to farmtoschool.georgiaorganics.org.

Thank you to everyone who participated in activities this month making this a wonderful, Spinach-tastic success!

Our October Farm to School Month, Spinach to Win it! content will remain available through the school year at farmtoschool.georgiaorganics.org/spinachtowinit. Past content from our annual October Farm to School Month campaigns is at gfft.georgiaorganics.org!

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.

• Tyler Harper (R)

  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.

• Nakita Hemingway (D)

  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."

• Additional Resources and Methodology

  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:

• Colorful poster available in English and Spanish

• 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.