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.

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. 

2022 Barbara Petit Pollinator Award Winner Robby Astrove

By Mary Elizabeth Kidd  

Mary Elizabeth is Georgia Organics’ Director of Communications 

 All photography by Ginger & Carrot Productions

The Barbara Petit Pollinator Award is named in honor of Barbara Petit, a remarkable community food advocate who served as Georgia Organics' past president. This award acknowledges individuals who are successfully advancing—pollinating—Georgia Organics' key tenants: farmer prosperity, healthy soil, and resilient communities.  

The 2022 Barbara Petit Pollinator Award winner is Robby Astrove, Preserve Manager at the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve and the so-called “Johnny Appleseed” of Atlanta.  

“Robby is what I’d call a ‘creative instigator.’” 

Georgia Organics’ President & CEO Alice Rolls continues, “wherever he goes, he brings charisma, a smile, and a giving spirit.” 

When asked what drives his creative and connective work, Robby Astrove cites curiosity as one of, if not the key ingredients in his life and career, even from an early age. “Even as a little kid I was always looking out the window,” he says. 

Robby grew up in South Florida, playing outside and developing an early understanding of the ecosystems in his own backyard. “I can remember in the fifth grade we took a field trip to the Everglades and I was captivated by it. Not just the ecology, but also the freedom of learning in that space; the fact that we could be ‘in school’ and outdoors.” 

His love of the natural world only grew in high school and college. He jokingly references his high school science fair project on the “Fire Tolerance of the Silver Palm,” which read more like scientific research than homework. In college, he charted the course for a new interdisciplinary degree in Florida State University’s School of Geography. His subjects covered city planning, hydrology, native plants and more. 

The Florida Everglades and the Kissimmee River served as a natural home base for Robby. This was the site of his first “lightbulb moment” on ecological transformation; it was the topic of his 50-page college paper and was the place his career as an ecologist and educator took root. His first job was on the Kissimmee River where he provided topographical data that would eventually lead to the restoration of the river.  He returned to the Everglades watershed again after pursuing a graduate degree from Western Washington University.  In this role Robby planted cypress and pond apple trees with K-12 students in Lake Okeechobee.  All told, he served as an educator, survey technician, tree planter, and researcher for non-profits, universities, and environmental consultants in this formational stage of his career.  

Whether attending conservation conferences or educating Everglades visitors, Robby noted a gap between the urgent concerns of environmental scientists and the average person’s awareness and understanding of the current threats to the natural world and how anyone can affect change in conserving our natural resources.  

Within this space between science and citizen action, Robby recognized his role as a translator or bridge for systems change. “If behavior change doesn’t happen, species disappear.” 

In 2007, Robby relocated to Atlanta to become an Education Coordinator at Trees Atlanta, directing youth and adult programs on urban forestry restoration and environmental education. From there, his success as an Atlanta transplant in the conservation and local food movement would only grow exponentially. 

His lasting impact on Georgia’s food system and environment would only be cemented as he had founding and early roles in the Atlanta Local Food Initiative (ALFI), the ALFI Incredible Edible Fruit Tree Sale, The Orchard Project, and Concrete Jungle. He continues to serve as one of the city’s finest foragers and educates thousands of visitors in his primary job as Preserve Manager at the the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve. 

“Robby has been a perennial champion in Georgia's good food scene and has led workshops for Georgia Organics and numerous other groups and communities over the past 15 years.  If Georgia Organics recognized Robby, people would come out of the woodwork to join with us and celebrate him because his spirit and passion move people and his track record is undeniable.” concludes Alice Rolls. 

Read more about Robby’s impactful Atlanta work here and here and here, but first, enjoy this short conversation with this year’s Pollinator Award winner, including his memories of the award’s namesake, the late Barbara Petit. 

Georgia Organics 2022 Pollinator Awardee Robby Astrove with 2021 winners Gwendolyn and Brennan Washington of Phoenix Gardens. Photo by Jenna Shea Photojournalism.

How did you bridge the space between environmental education and Atlanta’s local food movement? 

Around the time I came to Atlanta, I started seeing that the food movement around this time was almost one-upping the environmental movement, even tackling issues of justice and equity. The local food space felt more approachable and that it could make a difference. This was reinforced by seeing the success of folks like Erin Croom establishing Georgia Organics’ Farm to School program and Georgia Organics growing as an organization. 

Fruit trees really were the bridge between the environment and food spaces. While I was planting trees through Trees Atlanta, I got close to Ebrima Ba in the West End, who created the “Food, Clothing, and Shelter” documentary, and he advised me to start planting fruit trees instead; people were hungry.  

Where will Robby Astrove be in 10 years? And what is your hope for a future Atlanta and Georgia food system? 

I don’t have a crystal ball, but one thing you can count on is I’ll still be planting. I joked with a friend the other day that if ever I stop planting, they should come and shake me, something is wrong. 

As for the future Georgia food system, I definitely hope we have a different food system than we do today. I want to see farmers and growers more respected, but not only that, better cared for, both from inside and outside our industry. They need to be seen and revered more as mission critical members of our society. 

I also hope that consumers' choices change. And eventually, of course, policy. 

How does your current work feed into this future vision?  

I see my role as multipronged. I’m an educator, a connector—a cross-pollinator, like this award—and I finally feel like I carry some influence in this movement, like people can listen to me. This is also where mentorship comes in. I’ve spent a lot of time seeking out elders, mentors; I hope I can be a mentor, no matter what age folks are, I want to make sure we’re all carrying the torch forward. 

You shared in your awards video that Barbara Petit (see below), after whom this award is named, was instrumental in what you’re doing today. What are a few things/lessons you learned from her? 

My memories of working with her were really about witnessing her leadership and how she brought people together...She was someone with vision and incredible drive. I have so much love and respect for her. She is really who gave me the blessing, the head nod, to start the orchard project, and I was down to do it. 

It was Barbara who directly told me: ‘don’t stop planting.’ And that’s my plan. 

To hear more from Robby and learn more about the Barbara Petit Pollinator Award, click below. 

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Advocacy Efforts Bring Top USDA Officials to Georgia

By Michael Wall

Certified organic farmers in Georgia have been hit with a perfect storm of challenges over the past few months that have made organic certification even harder to achieve and maintain than ever before.

Those challenges include major disruptions to the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) that now force farmers to apply for cost share support twice, through two separate application projects.

The process prior to 2020 reimbursed farmers for 75 percent of their certification costs, up to $750, with only one annual application. In a move that surprised and angered many agricultural leaders in Congress, not to mention farmers themselves the USDA Farm Service Agency reduced the reimbursements to $500 with no public input and little warning to growers.

The FSA change to organic cost share came in the first few months of the Corona-virus outbreak, which was also a time of great marketplace upheaval for restaurants and growers alike. And while this was going on, some certification agencies raised their prices so drastically that many long-time certified organic growers contemplated surrendering their organic certificates.

In February of 2022, Georgia Organics Farmer Advocate Michael Wall was able to share these challenges with USDA Undersecretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jennifer Lester Moffitt in a virtual coffee chat, prompting Moffitt to travel to Crystal Organic Farm in Newborn, Georgia and hear from Georgia Organics farmers first hand.

On March 2, Moffitt visited with Georgia Organics and farmers Russell Brydson (Narrow Way Farm), Celia Barrs (Woodland Gardens), and Nicholas Donck (Crystal Organic Farm) to discuss rising certification costs and easing the barriers to achieving and maintaining organic certification.

During the meeting Moffitt outlined a new USDA initiative that would offer additional support for organic growers, and the conversation ranged from reimbursements and cost shares to certifier customer service, and the lack thereof. Moffitt was also extremely interested in learning more about Georgia Organics’ Accelerator program, 200 Organic Farms work, and the many obstacles organic farmers face in Georgia and the Southeast United States.

Moffitt, who began serving as the undersecretary on Aug. 11, 2021, grew up on and eventually ran a certified organic family walnut farm in California. Mofitt now oversees the division of the USDA that administers the National Organic Program, and many others, including domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products, plant and animal health, genetically engineered organisms regulations, the Animal Welfare Act, and wildlife damage management.

The USDA recently released more details on the organic transitioning program Moffitt alluded to. While more details are needed, the new Organic Transition Initiative appears to be a much-needed commitment from the USDA to level the playing field for farmers seeking to achieve organic certification.

Lastly, the interaction with Moffitt and subsequent USDA actions to support organic agriculture confirm that advocacy efforts, as requested by Georgia Organics’ constituents, are an important part of the organization’s commitment to organic farmer prosperity.

The Organic Certification Cost Share Program will remain one of Georgia Organics’ top advocacy priorities as 2023 Farm Bill discussions heat up. Georgia Organics will continue to push for meaningful advances in the Farm Bill alongside its allies, especially the National Sustainable Coalition, which provided Georgia Organics with a grant to begin its farmer advocacy efforts, and the Organic Trade Association, upon whose Farmer Advisory Council, Climate Change Task Force, and Diversity Council Georgia Organics sits.

G.O. Goes to Washington to Support Organic Farmers

By Michael Wall

Michael Wall is Georgia Organics’ Director of Advocacy and previous Director of Farmer Services.

Georgia Organics Farmer Advocate Michael Wall and Albany organic farmer and Georgia Organics board member Sed Rowe asked federal lawmakers for more institutional support for organic growers on a March trip to Washington, D.C.

During the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Week and Advocacy Day, Rowe and Wall met with lawmakers or their staff from the offices of Rev. Sen. Raphael Warnock​, Rep. Nikema Williams​, Rep. Sanford Bishop​, and Sen. Mitch McConnel.

Farmer Sed Rowe and Farmer Advocate Michael Wall with staff members of Rep. Nikema Williams office on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

The top priorities Rowe and Wall discussed with lawmakers included much-needed improvements to the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which has been diminshed by recent changes enacted by the USDA Farm Service Agency. Also, they asked for the full amount of funding that has already been approved for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), program, the continuous improvement of the National Organic Program, continued funding for the OAO 2501 program and its support of BIPOC growers, and funding for organic research.

Farmer Advocate Michael Wall and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Director Sarah Hackney, who has participated in and presented at numerous Georgia Organics Annual Conferences.

The meetings were either beginning or continuing important relationships that could benefit Georgia Organics’ farm members, especially during upcoming Farm Bill discussions, which have already kicked off with several U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearings.
In addition to the Capitol Hill visits, Rowe was also a panelist during a State Organic Network session and talked about his organic and hemp accomplishments achieved in partnership with Georgia Organics. And, Wall participated in several meetings as a member of OTA’s Farmers Advisory Council, Climate Change Task Force, and Diversity Committee. He also took the time in D.C. to meet with long-time partners at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), which has worked hard for decades to forge the Farm Bill into legislation that puts organic farmers on equal footing with the rest of American agriculture.

To keep up with the Farm Bill and many other critical agriculture bills, sign up to receive NSAC’s weekly newsletters here, and learn more about the Farm Bill here.

Georgia Organics Launches Farmer Advocacy

By Michael Wall

Michael Wall is Georgia Organics’ Director of Advocacy and previous Director of Farmer Services.

As a non-profit, Georgia Organics updates its strategic plan every five years to ensure it remains on track with its mission, values, and farmer-focused programming.

Typically, the board of directors, key constituents, and important partners are interviewed to assess the changing landscape that Georgia Organics operates within, and the needs of the community that Georgia Organics attempts to serve.'

One of the surprising elements that emerged from these discussions in the most recent strategic plan was a strong direction for Georgia Organics to re-launch its advocacy efforts, this time with a singular focus on farmer prosperity.

To that end, and after months of conversations and planning within the Georgia Organics offices, Lauren Cox was promoted to Director of Farmer Services, and Michael Wall moved over to the new position of Director of Farmer Advocacy.
It must be noted that advocacy is not a brand-new effort for Georgia Organics.

Roughly 10 years ago, Georgia Organics had an Advocacy Director, Jennifer Owens, who addressed small-scale poultry processing, early Farm to School efforts, and many other important topics. Also, the Atlanta Local Food Initiative, another Georgia Organics initiative under the leadership of now Director of Programs Suzanne Girdner, also engaged in policy work that gave rise the City of Atlanta’s urban agriculture legislation and later the city’s first Urban Agriculture director position.

Wall and other members of the farmer services team, including Donn Cooper and Tenisio Seanima, and the board of directors, such as farmer Joe Reynolds of Love is Love Farm Collective, have worked on advocacy in the past, especially around the Farm Bill, SARE and NRCS funding, and the Organic Cost Share Reimbursement Program.

The strategic plan was approved by the Georgia Organics board of directors on Nov. 8, 2021, and includes several key themes that pertain to advocacy, partnerships, and movement building, especially around farmer prosperity, racial justice, and climate change.

For example, one of the plan’s goal states that Georgia Organics work would:
“Grow an influential network of advocates who champion organic and regenerative farmers.”

Other key themes from the Strategic Plan summary related to Farmer Advocacy work:

• Move from program building to movement building. Step fully into our role as a convening and advocacy organization. 

• Foster strong partnerships, and together pursue collective impact strategies.

• Become an integral part of Georgia’s climate change solutions.

A summary of the strategic plan is below.

So far, Georgia Organics Farmer Advocacy work has been based on strong existing partnerships and previous advocacy experience, especially around the Farm Bill with partners such as the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the Organic Trade Association. In March, Wall and organic farmer and board member Sed Rowe traveled to Washington, D.C., and met with federal lawmakers about the Farm Bill and the needs of Georgia’s organic farmers.

Georgia Organics and a handful of farmers also been hosted USDA Undersecretary Jennifer Lester Moffitt to discuss much-needed improvements to the Organic Cost Share Reimbursement Program, and the upcoming Organic Transitioning Initiative, which will have $300 million devoted to support farmers seeking organic certification.

Most importantly, Georgia Organics’ advocacy agenda will be set by its most important constituents: farmers. Over the Spring and early summer of 2022, Georgia Organics distributed a survey to more than 1,000 farmers to determine their highest policy priorities.

That survey will be finalized and analyzed over the coming weeks, and a report will be shared with Georgia Organics’ farmer members and partners.

2022-2026 STRATEGIC PLAN 

Key Themes and Shifts that Emerged from Internal and External Reviews:

• Champion diversity, equity and inclusion internally and externally, working towards becoming an anti-racist organization  

• Move from program building to movement building. Step fully into our role as a convening and advocacy organization.   

• Invest in farmers, especially Black farmers, and local food communities.   

• Refocus core programs by regionalizing/localizing work and centering on farmer prosperity.   

• Foster strong partnerships, and together pursue collective impact strategies. 

• Use the power of storytelling to recruit more advocates and members to the movement.  

• Become an integral part of Georgia’s climate change solutions.   

• Re-envision and reshape The Farmer Fund to increase impact.    

• Expand and diversify revenue streams, including unrestricted revenue and fee-based services.  

• Organize, invest in, and develop staff and board to ensure needed skills, aligning with the organization’s values and capacity to achieve goals.  

• Consider these delivery mechanisms and ways to build the movement: direct services; partnerships; investment; convening and peer-to-peer services; advocacy. 

VISION

All Georgia farmers nurture and heal the land, people, and communities.   

MISSION 

Georgia Organics invests in organic farmers for the health of our communities and the land. 

VALUES

Farmer Prosperity  

We believe that thriving farmers are the catalyst for a transformed world playing the central role in the interdependency between restored soil, thriving people, stronger communities, and healthier environment.   

Soil Health and Environmental Stewardship 

We believe agriculture should use soil-building farming practices, and steward our air, land, and water resources.  

Anti-Racism  

We believe in working intentionally, consistently, and collaboratively to transform our food system, our farming system, and our own organization to one that is anti-racist, multi-cultural, diverse, and just.  

Community & Collective Impact 

We believe in the inherent talents, passions, and wisdom that exist in communities and our partners in the local food movement. We believe working collectively is essential to transforming our food system to be healthy, local and organic. 

Climate Action 

We believe organic farming is a critical solution to sequester carbon in our soil and mitigate the catastrophic impacts of climate change on people and ecosystems.    

Public Health 

We believe that public health begins in the soil where our food is grown and raised and organic farmers are stewards of our health and should be recognized and supported accordingly. 

Accelerator Farmer Addis Bugg, July 18 Farmer Field Day

By Meg Darnell

Meg Darnell is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics 

Join us for a Farmer Field Day at Bugg Farm (Pine Mountain) on Monday, July 18. Register by Friday, July 15 at 6:00 p.m.!

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“Welcome to Bugg Farm where the sun shines brighter than anywhere else in the world.”

So it reads on the homepage of buggfarm.com. And after visiting their farm, where Addis grows produce and raises cattle on land that’s been in the family since 1874, it's hard to argue with that claim, it is indeed a special place. So special in fact, they were one of the ten farms chosen for our most recent Accelerator Program cohort.

We spoke with Addis Bugg Sr., owner and operator of Bugg Farm, about the rich history of his property and he shares his experience with the Farmer Services team’s Accelerator Program.

Learn more about the Accelerator program here. To meet the 2021-2022 Farmer Accelerator Cohort, read our blog post on The Dirt. You can also read about launching the Accelerator program in 2020 here.

Addis Bugg, Sr., all photos courtesy of Bugg Farm.

Below is our Q&A with Addis:

Greetings Addis! Thanks for taking the time to connect with us! First and foremost, can you give us an overview of the different iterations of this property over the years?

Well, that’s a long time, so I’ll just say I’m a fifth-generation farmer. It started with T.J. Bugg who started farming as a slave and when he was freed, he started buying up land any time he could. He built a church, was a pastor, built a school, and continued to buy land. I think he ended up with about 1000 acres.

And each generation one of the many children born into each family would continue to farm. My father, Cornelius Bugg, grew soybeans, sweet corn, field corn, peas, and all sorts of things.

Out of my dad’s five children, I seemed to be the only one who wanted to farm the land, so I grew up farming with my dad, but was recruited by the Marine Corp and did that until I retired in 2008. I worked in the civilian sector from 2008 to 2015 and then returned home to start a farm at the family property.

 What was starting a farm like for you?

I really hit the ground running. We got in contact with the NRCS and they helped us with a lot of infrastructure. We got a well, drip irrigation, a high tunnel, and a water pad for the cows.

From there, we heard about Georgia Organics and attended the conference in Columbus and then another in Augusta.

All the press we’ve gotten over the years has just been word of mouth; we never seek anything out. It seemed like, whatever I was doing on the farm, the word was getting around.

Filmmakers Christine Anthony and Owen Masterson did a short documentary about the farm and it just seemed like things were falling into place.

In 2021 we found out about the Accelerator Program so we applied for that.

How was your experience with the Accelerator Program?

Better than I thought! It was good, it turned out to be very informative. Lauren (Director of Farmer Services and one of four case managers) sat down with me and showed me the crop planning worksheet. For the first time in the 6 years since I’ve been farming, I was able to see which crops were profitable and how profitable they were.

 What infrastructure were you able to get through the program?

The Accelerator paid for our washing station and some tractor implements. Talk about day and night. 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.

Wash station at Bugg Farm

What are your biggest challenges in farming?

The unknown. For example, last March, my fruit trees were looking great and everything in the high tunnel looked award-winning; then there was a hard freeze. It damaged everything.

I basically run this whole farm by myself, I’ve designed it that way, so I don’t have the time to go cover every crop with cloth. My son has some cattle here and he helps out whenever he’s home from school, but most of the time it’s just me. Not being able to plan for certain things is difficult.

Bugg Farm customers Courtesy of Bugg Farm

What are your favorite things about farming?

I would say my faith. It runs through everything I do here.

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

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Join us for a Farmer Field Day at Bugg Farm (Pine Mountain) on Monday, July 18.

Register by Friday, July 15 at 6:00 p.m.!

Farmer Field Day Review: Crop Rotation at Oxford Organic Farm

By Lauren Cox and Porter Mitchell (former Farmer Services Coordinator) 

Lauren Cox is the Director of Farmer Services and Porter Mitchell was previously one of two Farmer Services Coordinators.

In December 2021, Georgia Organics partnered with Oxford Organic Farm located at the Oxford at Emory campus in Covington Georgia to host an on-farm Field Day and crop rotation work session. Roughly 20 farmers from across the state—from Atlanta to Athens to Albany to Blackshear—gathered on the farm on a frosty morning.  

The day began with a tour of the farm led by farm manager Daniel Parson and his farm crew. Attendees walked the farm to see Oxford’s rotation in action and discuss the specific benefits of cover cropping. Parson also showcased the farm’s riparian buffers and shared his experience with using flowering cover crops to attract beneficial insects.  

In the second half of the day, attendees headed to a classroom with a presentation by Parson followed by a hands-on work session where farmers could work on their own rotations with help from Oxford Organic Farm and Georgia Organic Staff.  

Here are some key takeaways and a step-by-step process for beginning to create your own crop rotation! 

Courtesy of Oxford Organic Farm

Why have a rotation?  

A rotation is a key component of a sustainable farm. It is important to rotate between crop families, incorporate cover crops, and rotate heavy feeding crops (crops that have high nutritional needs or are in the ground for more than 60 days) with light feeding crops and short crops.  

Example of pest control hierarchy pyramid, courtesy of Penn State Extension.  

A crop rotation is a part of what sustainable, regenerative, and organic farmers call a “cultural practice.” This means that it is a foundational tool for a healthy farm and does not rely on chemical/biological inputs for fertility and pest/disease control. Cultural practices form the bottom of the pest control hierarchy pyramid, meaning it is the one you should use most often and as your first line of defense.  

A crop rotation can help prevent pest issues, replenish nutrients in the soil, create a healthy soil ecosystem, and can help defend against soil-borne diseases.  

Interested in organic certification?  

Having a crop rotation and using cultural practices as a first defense is a requirement for farms to earn and keep organic certification!  

Courtesy of Oxford Organic Farm

Building a Crop Rotation 101 

Step 1 (in the field): Divide your fields  

“You need to go out and measure your fields. I guarantee if you guess you’ll be wrong every time,” says Mary. Use a walking measurer to measure the length and width of your fields. 

Step 2 (in the field): Standardize, standardize, standardize!  

Try to make all of your bed sizes, rows, row spacing, and field sizes as identical as possible. If your fields are different sizes, divide them into similar units. For example, if you have three 50 foo50-foots and then two 100 fo100-foots, divide your hundred food fields in half to make 50 foot sections.  

Step 3 (on paper): Decide on your crops 

Write out a list of all of the crops you want to grow and the season when you will plant them. Even if you have sequential plantings, identify the season in which they’ll go into the ground first.  

Step 4 (on paper): Calculate how much space each planting with take up 

Think about the yield you would like from each crop. Then, calculate how many row feet you’ll need of that crop to grow your desired yield.  

Step 5 (on paper): Start to plug and play on a spreadsheet that represents your fields! 

Download this rotation template, based on the Oxford Organic Farm model or create your own in Excel. Begin placing crops in your fields based on when they will be planted in the ground. Divide your cash crops across all your fields and mix up the planting pattern (ex. Field 1 has a summer cash crop; Field 2 has a spring and fall cash crop. Do this until you have 75% of your cash crops in the rotation then move on to fill in your cover crops. Also, do not place crops from the same family or heavy feeders in fields near each other. 

Step 6: Plug in your cover crops 

Identify the date(s) you would like to harvest your cash crop (based on when you plant them in Step 5. Then, slot in an appropriate cover crop based on when you’d like the next cash crop to be planted in the field. *Your goal is to have the cover crop reach its full potential, sometimes this is right before flowering, sometimes this is based on height. IDEALLY, you would have 1-2 cover crops in each field per year. This may look like:  

Step 7: Return to filling in cash crops, taking the rest of your list and filling plantings in behind your cover crops.  

Guess what? Now, not only do you have your rotation, but you have your planting schedule too! 

Crop Rotation Tips and Things to Remember:  

• Update your rotation as needed. No one needs to tell a farmer that it’s an unpredictable endeavor. Life and Mother Nature throw all kinds of things your way! Update your rotation to account for changes like crop failures, adding new land, changing which cash crop to plant, etc.

• If you have short-term crops that don’t need entire beds, you can group them by how many weeks they’ll be in the ground and can pair them together within one bed, flip-flopping them as you clear the bed and then replanting. 

COVER CROPPING

Cover Cropping on Raised Beds by Kayla Williams

A crop rotation allows you to plan for cover cropping rather than treating it as an afterthought. There are cover crops for every season and for the different lengths of time you want them to be in the ground. With all cover crops, putting the maximum amount of nitrogen and bio-mass they offer back into your soils is key so use them wisely and based on how long they need to be in the ground before you plant your next cash crop. *This is true even if you crimp them and use them for mulch. 

• If you want to plant an early spring cash crop, then consider a prior winter planting of: winter oats, Austrian winter peas, or crimson clover. 

• If you want to plant an early summer cash crop, then consider a prior winter planting of: hairy vetch, winter rye *Abruzzi, and clover. 

• If you want to cover crop in the summer in a 1-1 ½ month window between spring and summer crops (for most Georgians this is in May), then consider using: buckwheat or millet. 

•  You can also do the same for the window between summer and fall.  

• If you want to cover crop in the summer for 2-3 months between an early spring planting and a fall crop consider using: sorghum sudan, cowpeas, or Sunn hemp. 

• A good rule of thumb for winter cover crops is to plant both a legume to increase nitrogen in the soil and a grass for increasing bio-mass and organic matter. 

You can always check your local ‘feed and seed’ for cover crops. Just make sure they’re untreated and not GMO. Otherwise, you can also find cover crops that ship from: Welter Seed Company, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Seven Springs,

Want to learn more about cover crops? Check out the excellent resources at SARE: sare.org/resources/managing-cover-crops-profitably-3rd-edition/ 

And check out this episode of the “Tractor Time” podcast on cover crops, soil health, and no-till farming Tractor Time #65 Rick Clark on Soil Health.

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

Farmer Accelerator Program Spotlight: Whitney Jaye and Brandon Stephens of Sunbird Flowers

By Mary Elizabeth 

Mary Elizabeth Kidd is the Director of Communications at Georgia Organics. 

In this series, we spotlight members of Farmer Services’ annual Accelerator Program, which is the first of its kind to identify and address the various challenges faced by new farmers. After an application and selection process, ten farmers enter an 18-month-long cohort. Each participating farm receives nearly $10,000 in on-farm infrastructure investment and labor stipends from Georgia Organics, plus an additional $3,000 in professional consulting from experts. 

To learn more about the Accelerator program, visit farmerservices.georgiaorganics.org/accelerator.

To meet the 2021-2022 Farmer Accelerator Cohort, read our blog post on The Dirt. Read about the launch of the Accelerator Program here. 

With no further ado, we’re excited to spotlight Accelerator Program farm Sunbird Flowers!

Sunbird Flowers, all photography courtesy of Kiyah C. Photography via Sunbirdflowers.com

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“It is kind of a miracle to put tiny seeds into the soil, and watch them grow into these beautiful plants that can sustain lives, support the ecosystem, and bring joy and pleasure to other people.” 

This month, we’re talking with farmer-owners Whitney Jaye (quoted above) and Brandon Stephens of Sunbird Flowers in Lithonia. Whitney and Brandon began farming on their current property around 5 years ago and share with us—via a Q&A with Whitney, below—the key elements that led them to their chosen profession and continue to guide their choices. 

Interconnectedness and creativity are two words that come to mind when learning what makes Sunbird Flowers tick. From the community they’ve found in fellow “returning generation farmers” to the vibrancy of the flowers they grow, it’s clear that Whitney and Brandon are committed and passionate farmers and farmer advocates. 

Whitney recently participated in our Good Food for Thought online event in partnership with American Farmland Trust titled Challenges and Opportunities for Transformation: Womxn in Agriculture. Watch a recording here: bit.ly/womxnvid. 

In the conversation, Whitney shared that her path to farming has been “a bit of a winding road, but one that, for me, is definitely tied to my lineage and heritage that’s allowed me to reclaim that.”  

Her nonlinear path continues in her farming career, as she runs the farm with her husband Brandon while raising a two-year-old...during a pandemic. She balances the physical and emotional demands of mothering her child and their land, leaning on familial and community support. 

Sunbird Flowers, all photography courtesy of Kiyah C. Photography via Sunbirdflowers.com

She cites sisterhood and finding relationships with other womxn farmers, such as Keisha Cameron from High Hog Farm, as an invaluable asset in her expansion as a farmer and as “soft places to land” when navigating the challenges of farming. 

Sunbird Flowers joined the 2021-2022 cohort of Accelerator Farms, and Whitney and Brandon work with Farmer Services Director Lauren Cox as their Accelerator case manager. Lauren shares:

“Brandon and Whitney are some of the most thoughtful farmers I've ever had the pleasure to work with. Every business decision they make is done with care and consideration for their family, their community, and where they see themselves in the future.” 

Let’s dive into the Q&A... 

“Sunbird Flowers is small flower farm located on land owned by the Peterson/Stephens Family – once cultivated by Claude Tedford Petersen, a master grower from the U.S. Virgin Islands.” 

Mary Elizabeth, Georgia Organics: Can you tell us a bit more about the history of the land you farm on? How did it come to be the home of Sunbird Flowers? 

Whitney Jaye, Sunbird Flowers: The land that we farm on is family land - 25 years ago, several members of Brandon's family came together and intentionally decided that they wanted to purchase a piece of land, and live on it together. For many years, it was a beautiful garden, cultivated by Brandon's grandfather Claude Petersen, and it was reverted to a grassy lawn after he passed away. Brandon's family graciously allowed us to use the space for our farm, and we became the stewards in 2017. We try to hold the spirit of what Claude Petersen envisioned for the land in our practices, and in the flowers, herbs, and vegetables that we grow. 

Flower CSA example from Sunbird Flowers, all photography courtesy of Kiyah C. Photography via Sunbirdflowers.com

 “We grow flowers using ecologically sustainable practices, ones that conserve resources, build rich soil, and promote a vibrant ecosystem.” 

Can you give us an example or two of sustainable practices y’all use? Why is it important to you to farm this way? 

We take pride in being good stewards of the ecosystem of which we are a part. Not only is being in right relationship with the land aligned with our ancestral practices, but we also see it as our role and responsibility in our community. A few practices that we've adopted are: 1) composting - we use several methods of composting on-site that utilize household scraps, and on our farm organic materials, 2) we use minimal tilling, and regularly add compost to build our soil structure and replenish the organic matter, and 3) we use crop rotations that include cover crops and allow us to effectively manage the fertility of our soil. 

How does being a parent affect why and/or how you farm? 

Being parents means we have to be intentional about every aspect of the farm, particularly around time management. We've had to shift the farm and business to accommodate the kind of life experience we want for our child, and the kind of business model (for example - choosing to do a CSA instead of a farmers' market) that can support that. 

What’s the story behind your farm’s name? 

There is a bird species called a "sunbird,” and there are various iridescent color combinations in their feathers. It was inspiring to us that nature could be that vibrant, and gorgeous, so we chose that as our farm name. We want our offerings to invoke the same inspiration in our customers - that they see our color and texture combinations and are moved by the splendor of nature. 

What is your origin story with farming and particularly flower farming? What drew you to this work? 

Our paths into farming are both very different, but they are connected by the same thread - we are returning generation farmers, who are walking in our ancestral call to the land. We follow in the legacy of the many, many Black farmers who continue to embody the inherent dignity in land-based work and environmental stewardship. 

We decided to go into flower farming because of Whitney Jaye's interest in the creative aspects – the ability to grow for color, and texture, and to really curate an experience for our customers. After years of research (and getting a scholarship into the Floret Workshop), years of support from our community as we eased into offering more floral design, we shifted our business to flowers exclusively. 

What has been one of your favorite moments as a farmer?

One of our favorite moments as a farmer is seeing the process of a plant that you've nurtured grow up, and be ready to harvest and share. It is kind of a miracle to put tiny seeds into the soil, and watch them grow into these beautiful plants that can sustain lives, support the ecosystem, and bring joy and pleasure to other people. 

What’s inspiring you and your work these days? 

One thing that is inspiring me and my work these days is the Faith Ringgold retrospective taking place at the New Museum in New York City right now. I am a huge fan of her work. I also have infinite respect for artists who have plugged away at their craft, balanced motherhood and activism, and maintained the essence of their purpose. Faith Ringgold is simply the best. 

What has been one of the best parts about being in the Accelerator program? Is there anything you’re looking forward to as part of the Accelerator program? 

One of the best parts of the accelerator has been connecting with the other farmers in the program! We believe in the power of creating farming communities - this work is already so hard; we need connection and webs of mutual support to lighten the load. It was also great to have an advisor that could help us in this stage of transition, and they were amazing. Once the program is over, I am looking forward to looking back on how far we've come and basking in the growth that has been supported by our time in the accelerator. Much appreciation and gratitude to the Farmer Services team for the impactful work.. 

What is one piece of advice you’d give new farmers? 

One piece of advice I would give new farmers is to seek community and support - there is so much knowledge that can be gleaned by talking to other farmers, and sharing what you may already know. 

Disrupt the notion that everyone is a competitor, and resist the urge to hoard information and resources - foster a deep belief in abundance. Farming was never meant to be a solo endeavor - so find people who understand your vision, and who can encourage and support you along your journey. 

What are the best ways for folks to support y’all? 

Grab one of our flower subscriptions - we have both monthly and full season shares! We always take donations, there is so much more we could do if we had capital. Follow us on social media! Instagram.com/sunbirdflowers, facebook.com/sunbirdflowerfarm

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

Farmer Services Accelerator Spotlight: Taking Flight at Levity Farms

By Michael Wall

Michael Wall is the Advocacy Director at Georgia Organics and Farmer Services team member.

Levity Farms, photos by Michael Wall

During the COVID-19 pandemic, plenty of farms and businesses hunkered down and entered survival mode. Not Ilana and Zach Richards, of Levity Farms, a small-scale diversified vegetable operation hyper-focused on soil health.

Since the outbreak begin, these two powerhouses applied for and received a USDA Farm Service Agency farm purchase loan, bought a new farm, sold their home, moved their farm and all of its equipment from Gwinnett to Morgan county, and then refinanced their original FSA loan to include better loan rates and three NRCS EQIP contracts, including a new well and caterpillar tunnels.

So, that was a lot. But the Richards are really just getting warmed up. Levity Farms is a first-generation family farm in beautiful Morgan County and was a member of Georgia Organics second Accelerator class. The Accelerator provides $9,650 in on-farm infrastructure investments, paired with customized expert coaching to help farmers achieve financial sustainability more quickly.

Since 2017, the Richards have worked with local chefs to provide fresh, nutrient-dense produce to the folks of Atlanta, Decatur, and Athens and the community in and around their new home in Madison.

Beginning in 2022, Levity Farms will shift redirect its efforts toward growing food that will be available directly to the Madison community, via home delivery.

Zach and Ilana Richards of Levity Farms, photos by Michael Wall

About moving the farm from Gwinnett to Morgan County in 2020, what was the most challenging part?

 I'd say the most challenging part of moving the farm was deciding how to set up at the new location. The previous farm land was strongly contoured, so we didn't have a whole lot of choice in where our plots could be. Since the new farm was pretty much a flat, blank canvas, we had virtually endless possible layouts to consider, which was definitely exciting and optimal, but also presented a new challenge for us.

 What did the FSA loan enable you to do? 

 The FSA loan paid for our entire land purchase, on a ridiculously low interest rate, and without a single dollar down. We utilized that land ownership loan as well as an operating loan, which enabled us to gear up and get started growing right away. The FSA, rendering services specifically to farmers and therefore understanding the seasonal ebbs and flows of income on a farm, only requires that our mortgage payments are made in lump sum in late Summer, rather than insisting on collecting during the Winter months. This has alleviated much pressure on us over the slower months to deliver mortgage payments, since we know we'll have Spring and much of Summer to generate the necessary income.

 What are the benefits for your farm for the three NRCS contracts all at once?

 We needed the well right away, since we were previously irrigating the field from our neighbor's well, and we also recognized the need early-on to get set up with plenty of tunnel space for season extension. The NRCS will be providing reimbursement for a large portion of those costs.

 How are you settling into the Madison community?

 We are feeling more and more at home here with each passing week! Folks are very receptive to our farm and our mission here. The smaller-town climate is exactly what we were looking to raise our farm and our family within, and we have not been disappointed. Our neighbors are welcoming and friendly. We've been told by locals that Madison has been in need of small, local farmers for a long time. Seeing as how there are so many farms around here, some have mentioned their surprise at how limited availability of local produce has been until now. We also seem to have arrived here at just the right time, as downtown Madison is getting a face lift, and several farm-to-table restaurants are opening right around now, and they're all enthusiastic about utilizing produce from our farm and other local farms!

Zach Richards of Levity Farms, photos by Michael Wall

 What if anything has the Accelerator program provided for your farm or in what way supported your farm?

 Though we have enjoyed connecting with our fellow Accelerator Cohorts and sharing stories, advice, and struggles with our farming colleagues, I'd have to say the strongest benefits we've received through the program have been our one-on-one sessions with Debbie Dangerfield, who helped us an insanely huge amount with QuickBooks, as well as the connection we've made with Ellen Polishuk, with whom we're scheduled (very soon!) to discuss the results of a soil test she introduced us to and to develop plans to apply soil improvements to the field. We're also so grateful for the financial support Accelerator has provided, because through that support, we have been able to get a jump start on so much farm setup that would have taken many, many seasons to afford. I'm not sure what the last year would have looked like without the help from the program, but I'm sure we'd be way behind where we are now.

Learn more and follow Zach and Ilana’s journey on Instagram and Facebook.

Valentine's Day Farmer Spotlight: Zel Taylor & Jupe Javeta of Down by the River Farm

By Porter Mitchell  

Porter Mitchell is the Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics. 

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we’d like to spotlight farmer couple Zel Taylor and Jupe Javeta of Down by the River Farm & Art Collective in Albany.  

Down by the River was born on family land in Spring of 2021. Zel, an Afro-Indigenous queer, nonbinary farmer and artist, and Jupe, a Black, nonbinary farmer, builder, and storyteller wanted to provide fresh food to the community and create a space of peace, healing, and reconciliation for Black Americans’ relationship to the land and to celebrate Black connection to the earth.  

Forced off the original site by queerphobia, Zel and Jupe reestablished Down by the River in a new location.

Below is a short Q&A with the couple. Responses were edited for clarity and brevity.

How did Down by the River get its name?  

We’re located in Albany, near the Flint River. The river is the center of how we move, and the water is a source of life. We wanted to honor that and also acknowledge the Black tradition of the river being a place of healing, cleansing, and of freedom.  

What is it like running a farm and art collective as a couple?  

We’re different and we balance each other. Juke is slower, more deliberate, Zel is a go-getter. Sometimes one of us is more focused on the details and one of us is more big picture. We meet in the middle. We work really well together.  

What is one of your favorite memories farming together?  

One day we were planting a half-acre of collards and we were so tired we laid down in the rows. We kept planting while we were laying there in the field!  

If you could send a Valentine to each other, what would it say?  

“You have everything you need.”  

Learn more about Zel, Jupe, and Down by the River Farm and Art Collective by following them on Instagram at @downbytheriverswga 

Farmer Field Day Re-cap of Tractors: Soil Health and Safety with the Little Fox Tractor School

By Kayla Williams

Kayla Williams is a Georgia Organics Farmer Services Coordinator.

Attendees getting ready for a lesson in tractors!

On Sunday Nov. 14, Georgia Organics Farmer Services brought together Little Fox Tractor School and Sedrick Rowe of Rowe Organic Farm for an afternoon of Tractor Safety and utilizing tractors to optimize soil health. 

Sedrick started of the afternoon with an overview of various tractor attachments and their functions in regards to creating optimal soil health conditions.  

Daniel Guzman sharing tractor safety knowledge with the attendees 

Next, beginning and advanced farmers alike gained invaluable experience from Lindy Kloepfer and Daniel Guzman’s innovative and in-depth curriculum on tractor safety. Lindy owns Little Fox Farm, currently located in Douglasville, GA and Daniel has worked for several years nearby at Rodgers Greens and Roots farm. Their combined knowledge made for a teaching style filled with specificity and real world examples.  

Daniel Guzman, Lindy Kloepfer of Little Fox Tractor School and Sedrick Rowe of Rowe Organic Farm.

The Little Fox Tractor school is still holding classes, follow along for more information on their Instagram. You can follow along Sedrick’s journey on Instagram and on their website.