Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grant Spotlight: Nurturing Elementary Students Through Outdoor School Lessons

By Diana Pena 

Diana Pena is a CDC Public Health Associate serving as the Farm to School Program Coordinator at Georgia Department of Public Health. She also supports the Georgia Farm to School team in our work to achieve Georgia Farm to School Alliance and Farm to Early Care and Education strategic plan goals.

Georgia Organics and Georgia Department of Public Health (GA DPH) have teamed up to establish the Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grants Program. These funds support farm to school initiatives that:

• Increase access to local, fresh, organically grown food,

• Include culturally responsive food and education,

• Increase local food procurement,

• And/or benefit Georgia-certified organic farmers in other ways.

To learn more about the Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grants Program click here.

We are pleased to highlight Mini-Grant Awardee: Jackson County School System.

Jackson County School District is a great example of resilience; they had to pivot their original mini-grant project due to the pandemic. Despite the challenges, they've still had a successful project. Their project focuses on creating outdoor garden lessons while incorporating STEM and social science components.

FoodCorps service member Abigail Pierce has been leading a collaborative Mini-Grant Project at East Jackson elementary school.

All photos by Abigail Pierce

At the beginning of the grant school year, Abigail had proposed a culturally unique mini-grant project where she would be working with the Jackson County community to learn about community foodways; however, the pandemic got in the way of bringing speakers from the community to the elementary school.

Abigail had to adapt to the circumstances brought on by the pandemic and change her project. Her new project still provided students access to local, fresh, and organically grown food while offering weekly garden classes to students and teachers connecting them to their STEM and social science classes. However, there continued to be obstacles to implementing other parts of the project, like taste tests.

At the end of the year, they “were able to fully use outdoor spaces to implement garden classes in a safe way.” 

Abigail and Jackson County School District truly display perseverance and versatility in their project. Abigail shared some of their successes such as, “students trying vegetables like beets, carrots, and kale for the first time.” These vegetables were grown in their own school garden!

They were able to cover a variety of topics such as, “decomposers in our compost with 3rd grade, parts of the plant with our kindergarten grades, chemical and physical change when making our smoothies with 5th graders, and using five senses when taste-testing pesto with pre-kindergarten students.”

Abigail envisions the “garden continuing to grow as teachers are able to use the outdoor classrooms to engage students with hands-on activities.”

Keep up the hard work, Jackson County School System!

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To see updates on Jackson County School System, visit JacksonSchoolsGA.org/ and follow them on social media at instagram.com/jcschoolnutrition/ and facebook.com/jacksoncountyschoolsystemnutrition.

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

Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grant Program Spotlight: Creating Sustainable Best Practices

By Diana Pena

Diana Pena is a CDC Public Health Associate serving as the Farm to School Coordinator at the Georgia Department of Public Health. She also supports the Georgia Organics Farm to School team in our work to achieve Georgia Farm to School alliance and Farm to Early Care and Education strategic plan goals.

Georgia Organics and the Georgia Department of Public Health (GA DPH) have partnered to establish the Farm to School Innovation Mini Grant Program. These funds support farm to school initiatives that:

• Increase access to local, fresh, organically grown food

• Include culturally responsive food and education,

• Increase local food procurement,

• And/or benefit Georgia-certified organics farmers in other ways.

To learn more about the Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grant Program click here.

We are excited to highlight Mini-Grant Awardee: Fannin County School System. Martha Williams, Director of Nutrition and Wellness and agriculture teacher Seth Davis (pictured below) are leading the Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grant project at Fannin County Middle Schools.

All images were provided by Martha Williams

After receiving information about this grant, Mr. Davis came up with a new agricultural endeavor that can strengthen their program at FCMS: vermicomposting.

Vermicomposting is important because it boosts nutrients available to plants and enhances soil structure and drainage.

One of the challenges Fannin County Middle Schools had was purchasing and receiving the vermicomposting equipment. Martha reports, “in a time of supply chain deficits, this program took longer to initiate than expected.” Despite this challenge, Martha states that, “the success of the program highlights the worth of the endeavor.”

Martha shares that the students of FCMS, “loved being part of the process and look forward to seeing what the worms are doing each day.” She even says, “some of the fertilizer is being used to grow cilantro for a Taco Tuesday taste test.”

Martha and Mr. Davis are hoping to continue this vermicomposting project and extend this opportunity to other students in FCMS! Martha shares that she and Mr. Davis are working together to expand their vermicomposting system beyond the classroom activities and hope to, “[include] some of the cafeteria’s waste stream for his nutrient source. The by-products of the vermicomposting will be used as fertilizer when potting plants for FCMS greenhouse.”

Lastly, Martha shares, “we are excited to foster this symbiotic relationship between man and the environment. Fueling Georgia’s future while providing meaningful, hands-on experiences is an awesome opportunity for all stakeholders!” Keep up the good work Fannin County!

To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org, and follow us on social media @GeorgiaOrganics and at facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics. To learn more about Fannin County School System visit: www.fannin.k12.ga.us and to see updates of their ongoing Mini-Grant follow them: https://www.facebook.com/fannincountyschoolsystem/

Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grant Spotlight: Cultivating a Hands-on Experience for Elementary Students

By Diana Pena

Diana Pena is a CDC Public Health Associate serving as the Farm to School Coordinator at the Georgia Department of Public Health. She also supports the Georgia Farm to School team in our work to achieve Georgia Farm to School Alliance and Farm to Early Care and Education strategic plan goals

Georgia Organics and the Georgia Department of Public Health (GA DPH) have partnered to establish the Farm to School Innovation Mini Grants Program. These funds support farm to school initiatives that:

All photographs provided by Dorothy Dupree

• Increase access to local, fresh, organically grown food,

• Include culturally responsive food and education,

• Increase local food procurement,

• And/or benefit Georgia-certified organic farmers in other ways.

To learn more about the Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grant Program click here.

We are pleased to highlight Mini-Grant Awardee: Savannah Chatham County Public Schools!

School Nutrition Coordinator Dorothy Dupree is leading a farm to school project that focuses on sustainability. Innovative thinking requires identifying gaps and leveraging assets to help bridge the disparities identified. This is exactly what Dorothy Dupree’s leadership did.

Dorothy noticed that Gould Elementary School and Windsor Forest Elementary School had robust school gardens, passionate teachers, and curated hands-on lesson plans that incorporate composting/vermicomposting (use of worms to break down organic material). All they needed was extra funding to make their project come to fruition.

Dorothy is excited to share that they have completed the assembly of their new compost barrels and vermicomposting bin. Recently, Dorothy visited one of the elementary schools and conducted a hands-on compost lesson with them. She shares: “the students were able to harvest radishes out of their garden and composted radish leaves/stems in their tumbler.” They learned about “browns and greens and set up the vermicompost.”

Some of the challenges Dorothy has encountered in this project is the students’ “aversion to the worms,” but she reminds the students that the worms “won’t jump out at them.”

Dorothy shares, “I have found that students may come into these outdoor lessons with different mindsets, but by the end of the lesson they are all extremely engaged and are excited to see what they have learned in this classroom come to life.”  

In the spring Dorothy and Savannah Chatham County School students will continue incorporating composting into their lessons by utilizing the book Compost Stew by Mary McKenna Siddals. The Mini-Grant funds have helped them purchase books for both schools for this project.

“It’s important to consistently elevate school gardens and farm to school initiatives as part of the toolbox in educations,” she continues.

“I believe school gardens and outdoor classrooms are essential in education and should be invested in by school districts. They provide practical, hands-on experiences that students cannot get in the classroom alone.”

Savannah Chatham County Public Schools’ Farm to School project truly merges innovation and sustainability through outdoor learning.

Check out their project in the local WJCL Savannah 22: bit.ly/SCCPSSNews

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

To read more about Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, visit www.sccpss.com, and keep up with their Mini Grant updates at: facebook.com/SCCPSS.

Family Farm Share: Collaboratively Championing a Resilient Local Food Movement & Farmer Prosperity

By Mary Elizabeth Kidd 

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

Example of Family Farm Share weekly seasonal contents. Photo by Kimberly Della Donna.

LAUNCHING FAMILY FARM SHARE 

In September 2021, Georgia Organics announced a new program: Family Farm Share (georgiaorganics.org/familyfarmshare). Family Farm Share is funded by the Georgia Department of Early Care and the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation to address childhood food insecurity for children ages birth to five in communities across Georgia. 

Georgia Organics’ Family Farm Share team is made up of staff members representing each facet of Georgia Organics work: Director of Programs Suzanne Girdner and Kimberly Della Donna, Kimberly Koogler, and Lena Enciso from the Farm to School program, as well as Lauren Cox, who leads Farmer Services, and Director of Communications Mary Elizabeth Kidd.  

The program launched with a pilot in Waycross (Ware County) as a collaboration with local partners and key players “on the ground” to ensure that Georgia Organics can facilitate and support a program that will live on in each community and will hopefully create a model that other cities and towns can replicate. 

HOW IT WORKS

Family Farm Share will activate and connect local networks of early care & education centers, local food organizations, and nearby farmers to deliver an affordable weekly farm share sold on-site at early care centers.

The program aims to strengthen local food economies, communities' connection, and nutritional access for families with young children.

The Waycross Family Farm Share Pilot is comprised of partners Action Pact, WayGreen, Inc., Ware Children’s Initiative, and Georgia Organics.  

This program represents goals that have been laid out in our new five-year strategic plan: organic farmer prosperity, resilient local food movement, investment in local farmers and food systems, and organizational strength.  

With partnerships like this, there is a clearer, more achievable path to a more resilient Georgia food system. 

EVOLUTION OF GEORGIA ORGANICS’ COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS WORK 

The Family Farm Share program marks a transition from our six-year running Georgia Food Oasis outreach initiative which sunset in Dec. 2021.  

Similar to the Family Farm Share program, Georgia Food Oasis focused on identifying and bolstering local partnerships that connect families and farmers across Georgia communities. 

Georgia Food Oasis (GFO) communities—Augusta, Columbus, Rome, Savannah, Walton County, and Waycross—continue to demonstrate the collaborative power when farmers, educators, nutrition leaders, and local food advocates connect to share and grow knowledge, resources, and opportunities.  

Thanks to pre-existing GFO relationships like WayGreen, Inc. And Action Pact, Waycross represented a perfect launchpad for Family Farm Share. 

FAMILY FARM SHARE: UPDATES AND WHAT’S NEXT 

In November 2021, members of Georgia Organics’ Family Farm Share team met in Atlanta for the long drive to Waycross. 

During the visit, we met with family advocates and surveyed families at Action Pact’s Head Start campus to determine their current and aspirational habits with fruits and vegetables, locally-grown and store-bought. Some of that data is shared below. 

Part of the Georgia Organics Farm to School team’s mission is to also support serving and education on local food, so we visited classrooms with squash snack cups and spoke to an adorable crowd of interested young veggie-lovers (and non-veggie lovers!). We also hosted two training sessions with teachers and school nutrition staff to begin ongoing education on local food sourcing, serving, and learning. 

Action Pact Family Advocates along with Family Farm Share liaison Carol Clarke, Training & Literacy Specialist at Action Pact (second from left). Photo by Mary Elizabeth Kidd.

Farm to School Director Kimberly Della Donna knows these partners are ready for the challenge: “Action Pact is very ready to successfully implement the Family Farm Share Program. Carol Clark, our key contact, is an experienced Farm to ECE Champion, familiar with Georgia Organics and a natural over-achiever. She has infectious, positive energy and loves her work. She's got the Family Advocates invested, who are the primary contacts with families and meet with them once per month.”  

Farmer Services Director Lauren Cox meets with Roger and April Westover of Greenway Gardens and Connie Oliver of WayGreen, Inc. to discuss seasonality, availability, and preferences for Family Farm Share families. Photo by Mary Elizabeth Kidd.

Members of the Georgia Organics team visited Waycross small organic farmers to discuss how Family Farm Share will allow them to connect more deeply with their community members and to determine the logistics that will make this a profitable program for them. 

Key takeaways from team members confirm that this is a group of willing and able partners ready to create something powerful for the Waycross food system.

GETTING TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY 

This program will be open to Action Pact community members: Head Start families, teachers, administrators, and neighbors. Through surveying this audience, the team begins to gather data on their habits and preferences for fruits and vegetables. 

Currently, we’re working with farmers to determine how we can best align the desires of the community with their current and potential growing plans. 

Surveying Action Pact families to determine preferences along with a squash snack “thank you.”

ACTION PACT FAMILIES’ FOOD HABITS & PREFERENCES

Survey results from 102 respondents in the Action Pact Head Start campus community:

• On average, respondents answered that their family eats fruits and vegetables 5.39 days per week. 

• When asked “If cost, availability, or other limits were not a factor, how often would your family eat fruits and vegetables?” respondents answered that they would eat fruits and vegetables an average 6.4 days per week. 

• For the question “Would you be interested in a Family Farm Share that includes the following items” we gave an answer of “never” a score of 0, “sometimes” a score of 1, and “yes, all the time” a score of 2. The following table contains the average score for each item. 

• For the open response question on what vegetables families eat most often, there were 41 unique items provided and 102 respondents. The following table shows the top five vegetables from at least 20 respondents.  

• When asked what fruits and vegetables families would most like to see in their weekly farm share, the following top five, respectively: 

• Fruits: apples, bananas, strawberries, grapes, and oranges 

• Vegetables: green beans, broccoli, corn, squash, and cabbage 

Through the ongoing collection of feedback and preference data from involved participants in the Waycross Family Farm share, we’ll be able to grow and evolve the program for sustainability and replicability. 

We look forward to sharing our challenges, wins, and key takeaways as we grow this collaborative effort to bring delicious local-farmer-grown vegetables and fruits to families across Georgia! 

Stay tuned and please consider supporting this work by becoming a member or donor at georgiaorganics.org/staylocal!  

Thriving greens at Family Farm Share participating farm Greenway Gardens. Photo by Mary Elizabeth Kidd.

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.

Spotlight on Farm to School Innovation Grantee Jones County Schools

By Diana Pena

Diana Pena is a CDC Public Health Associate serving as the Farm to School Coordinator at the Georgia Department of Public Health. She also supports the Georgia Farm to School team in our work to achieve Georgia Farm to School Alliance and Farm to Early Care and Education strategic plan goals.

Touring the World with Locally Grown Items: Spotlight on Farm to School Innovation Grantee Jones County Schools!

Georgia Organics and the Georgia Department of Public Health (GA DPH) have collaborated to establish the Farm to School Innovation Mini Grants Program. These funds support farm to school initiatives that:

·         Increase access to local, fresh, organically grown food,

·         Include culturally responsive food and education,

·         Increase local food procurement,

·         And/or benefit Georgia-certified organic farmers in other ways.

To learn more about the Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grant Program click here.

We are excited to highlight Farm to School Mini Grant Awardee Jones County School System.  Matoshia Grant, School Nutrition Director of Jones County Schools, leads the work of this culturally responsive food education project.

With only seven schools, Jones County School system is small in comparison to others in Georgia. Their geographic locality limits students’ exposure to cultural and ethnic food, which prompted Matoshia Grant to propose this project, “to allow students to tour the world with locally grown foods.” Matoshia and Jones’s County Schools’ personnel have worked together to create taste-tests, host cooking lessons with a chef, and secure a field trip to a local farmer’s market. 

Images courtesy of Matoshia Grant, School Nutrition Director of Jones County Schools

Pandemic response measures have resulted in a number of challenges for congregate meal sites that make hosting taste tests challenging. Reduced participation coupled with social distancing requirements have forced a reimagining of how taste testing events are held. Matoshia and her staff found a work-around by inviting groups of 10 students from each grade to participate. Despite this solution, some students are still not able to attend the taste test events. This does not deter Jones County School System from continuing to create and offer more Farm to School activities.

Matoshia shares they recently hosted a cooking lesson using locally grown kale from a nearby farmer’s market. She said that students have “fun seeing the kale transform from a ‘yucky’ vegetable to a crispy chip.”

Jones County Schools is also working on creating a fruit stand.

Matoshia shares she was able to connect with a local farmer’s market to source satsumas (pictured below), a type of Japanese mandarin. These fruits will be offered to students in taste tests and on the fruit stand. Procurement of these satsumas has even led to a vendor partnership, and now satsumas will be distributed in all seven schools, in addition to their fruit stand.

Matoshia is excited that, “Chef Michael Davis will be coming out to school to do a taste test and presentation on how to incorporate vegetables into tasty desserts!” Their plan is to create sweet potato tarts using carrots and potatoes.

Lastly, Matoshia and her staff have successfully secured a field trip for students to a local farmer’s market! The goal of this farmer’s market visit is to allow students to explore new and different types of food.

Although the pandemic has created limitations for Jones County Schools, their hard work and perseverance to create opportunities for their students can be observed through their abundant farm to school programming. 

To see updates on Jones County Schools, visit: jonescountyschoolnutrition.com  and follow them on social media at facebook.com/JonesCountySchoolNutrition and @JonesCoSchoolNutritionGa on Twitter. To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org, and follow us on social media @GeorgiaOrganics and at facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.

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 

Georgia Organics Board of Directors, 2022 Election

GEORGIA ORGANICS MEMBERS ELECT NEW & RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS

Every year, we engage our invaluable Georgia Organics members to vote for new and returning members of our Board of Directors.

This week, thanks to many votes from our members, we confirmed the following slate of four new nominees and four incumbents, meet them below!

As a non-profit, we rely heavily on our incredible Board of Directors for oversight, accountability, and guidance in our daily programmatic work. Meet the full Board of Directors at georgiaorganics.org/board.

Want to play a part in shaping Georgia Organics’ future and the work we do? Become a member today at georgiaorganics.org/growwithus.

Top (left to right): Akia Lewis, Shari Martin. Bottom: Tripp Pomeroy, Sed Rowe

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: NEW MEMBERS

The following individuals will serve a three-year term on the Georgia Organics Board.

Akia Lewis (Atlanta) – Akia Lewis is a lover of food and nature who believes access to life-sustaining food is a human right. Since 2014, she has supported strategy, partnerships, and community capacity building at Georgia Family Connection Partnership, the only statewide network in the country dedicated to the health and well-being of families and communities. As a staunch believer in the mission and vision of Georgia Organics, Akia has been a volunteer and member for several years and has been serving on the organization’s program committee.

Shari Martin (Roswell) – Shari Martin, together with her husband Tony Martin, embarked upon farming in 2015, having reclaimed former farmland in downtown Roswell. With the help of young farmers, Martin’s Garden has grown into a small urban organic farm providing vegetables through CSA memberships and farm stands. Martin’s Garden is also committed to using the farm to support local charities through hosting events and donating food locally. After a decade as a Corporate Banking Executive with Bank of America and Wells Fargo, followed by another decade as a Fintech executive for New York based firms, Shari is happy to put down local roots. She is responsible for strategy, marketing and acts as CFO for Martin’s Garden and is excited to contribute her small business banking and technology experience to Georgia Organics.   

Harlan “Tripp” Pomeroy (Americus) – Tripp Pomeroy is the CEO of Cafe Campesino, Inc., a fair trade organic coffee company, and a board member of Cooperative Coffees, through which Cafe Campesino sources all of its coffee. A unique fair trade organic green bean importing cooperative of small to medium-sized North American roasters, Cooperative Coffees is committed to deep, long-term partnerships with small-scale coffee farmers and their exporting cooperatives. Since 2004 Tripp has played an active role in Cooperative Coffees, including participating in numerous roaster-farmer workshops and leading delegations to connect Cafe Campesino customers directly with the women and men who grow their coffee. These connections provide a unique and important opportunity to learn first-hand about coffee farming and, in particular, the critical role of organic farming practices. Tripp has over twenty years of experience in international business and trade and has an MA in International Development from The American University's School of International Service.

Sed Rowe (Albany) – Sed Rowe is owner of Rowe Organic Farm where he grows peanuts, sunflowers and hemp. He attended Fort Valley State University on a full football scholarship and received a B.S. in Plant Science with a concentration in Horticulture and later received an M.S. in Public Health. After college he worked at Southwest Georgia Project, a nonprofit founded by civil rights pioneers Charles and Shirley Sherrod. Although involved in agriculture since he was young, Sed is a first-generation farmer and started with 10 Certified Organic acres. He was among three farmers to grow Organic peanuts in 2019 and become a founding member of the Georgia Organic Peanut Cooperative (GOPA). He currently serves on the board of the National Young Farmers Coalition.

Top (left to right): Drew Belline, Kristin Russell. Bottom: Jennifer Taylor, Rebecca Williams

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: RE-ELECTED MEMBERS

The following four current board members will serve a second three-year term.

Drew Belline (Decatur) – Drew Belline is currently the Executive Chef / Owner of No. 246 in Decatur, Georgia; a restaurant that focuses on seasonally and locally sourced American-Italian cuisine. Chef Belline is also the Vice President of Creative Direction and concept development for the Ford Fry restaurant group in Atlanta and has worked in the past with chefs Anne Quatrano in Atlanta and Chef Tom Colicchio in New York City. As a chef, Drew is deeply committed to seasonal ingredients and supporting local farmers and has supported Georgia Organics through events such as Attack of Killer Tomato Festival and a foraged mushroom inspired dinner for patrons.

Kristin Russell (Savannah) – Kristin grew up on a family farm/ranch in north -central Kansas and followed the agricultural thread through college in Minnesota and an internship in South Africa. She came to Savannah to thaw out and to open The Sentient Bean- a fair-trade coffee shop, which evolved into the vegetarian, farm-to-table restaurant that it is today. She helped found the Forsyth Farmers' Market in Savannah in 2008 and continues to volunteer for that organization. In early 2020, she and her partner purchased Savannah's 41 year old independent natural grocery and next door neighbor, Brighter Day. The hope is to leverage the combined power of the two businesses to support good change in Savannah's food system and strengthen our beloved community.

Jennifer Taylor (Glenwood) – In 2010, Jennifer returned to her grandmother’s farmland and with her husband relaunched it as Lola’s Organic Farm. They grow delicious organic vegetables and fruits (and cover crops) all year and provide workshops from the farm on the benefits of organic agriculture, agroecology and organic farming systems. Jennifer studied agronomy at Florida A&M (FAMU) and Iowa State University, ultimately earning her PhD degree from Virginia Tech. Jennifer is passionate about building healthy soils and environments, healthy food systems and communities, inclusive of underserved small farmers and their communities. Jennifer previously served on the National Organic Standards Board from 2011-2016. She currently serves on boards of the Organic Farmers Association, Rodale Institute, Real Organic Project, National Organic Coalition Advisory, and International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.

Rebecca Williams (Chattahoochee Hills) – Rebecca Williams owns and operates Many Fold Farm, home to the Rodale Institute Southeast Organic Center and the agriculture and community non-profit, Three Magnolias. After nearly a decade of grass-based livestock farming and farmstead cheesemaking, Rebecca understood the need for more resources for established farms to grow and thrive. In 2018, she decided to leverage the farm in that direction. Her work now centers around generating useful research in regenerative organic farming practices, farmer education, and agriculture as a means of land preservation, carbon sequestration, and community cohesion and growth.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW & RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS!

From School Gardens to School Meals: Spotlight on Innovation Mini Grantee Treutlen County School District

By Diana Pena

Diana Pena is the Farm to School Coordinator at the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Pre-pandemic days, the annual Golden Radish Awards recognized Georgia school districts doing exceptional work in farm-to-school.

Discontinued for three years to the pandemic, Georgia Organics and the Georgia Department of Public Health (GA DPH) instead collaborated to establish the Farm to School Innovation Mini-Grants Program.

These funds support farm to school initiatives that:

• Increase access to local, fresh, organically grown food,

• Include culturally responsive food and education,

• Increase local food procurement,

• And/or benefit Georgia-certified organic farmers in other ways.

After a thorough application process in the Fall of 2021, Georgia Organics and GA DPH selected and awarded 15 Georgia School Nutrition Departments.

We are excited to spotlight our first Mini-Grant Awardee: Treutlen County School District!

All images courtesy of Treutlen County Schools

Under Red Barrett’s leadership as School Nutrition Director, the funds will support the school gardens in all the schools and grow produce for school meals in her district. Red has also incorporated school garden activities into the elementary and special education school lessons.

Red has taught Treutlen County School students about what is needed for seeds to grow (water, soil, and sun), about the plants they’re growing, how to adequately space them, how to care for their garden (weeding, watering), and what to do at harvest time. They have also examined soil and compost together.

Images courtesy of Red Barrett

She has made it so that the students are responsible for maintaining the garden, she always makes an effort to tie their garden into the school curriculum.

Red shares that, “Time is our only issue...[due to] the demands of the regular school curriculum...we have those challenges.”

Nevertheless,  they have successfully planted their seeds and are now waiting to harvest the produce!

To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org, and follow them on social media @GeorgiaOrganics and at facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics. To see updates on Treutlen County Schools, visit treutlen.k12.ga.us/ and follow them on social media at facebook.com/treutlencountyschools.

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.  

Organic Certification: The Trace Back Audit

By Porter Mitchell  

Porter Mitchell is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics.

For many fruit, vegetable, and row crop farmers, the records check is the most daunting part of an organic certification inspection. During an inspection, your inspector will review your records. They will perform what is called a “trace back audit,” which some certifiers call a “mass audit.” If they are not able to complete the audit, you may not be able to be certified. But never fear! The trace back audit is not as overwhelming as it seems, and if you keep decent records you’ll be able to pass with flying colors! 

What is a trace back audit?  

A trace back audit is a required component of the organic inspection process. The audit is designed to help prevent fraud and keep the integrity of the National Organic Program. During a trace back audit, your inspector will trace a product from when it left the farm all the way back to when you planted seeds or purchased transplants.  

Your inspector will look at your sales records and pick a crop. Let’s say they pick 20 lbs of arugula you sold during a farmers market. You and the inspector will trace the crop all the way back to seed purchasing and will check your records for each step. Here’s an example of how the process could go: 

Do I need to keep digital or paper records?                                              

Although digital records might be more searchable, paper records are perfectly acceptable and many certified organic farmers use them. Records don’t always have to be written either—photos taken with your phone in the field can be great records, especially since your phone will automatically record the date. 

How long do I have to find a record during the audit?  

Ideally, you would have your records prepared and ready to look through before your inspector arrives—however, you know things aren’t always ideal and your inspector knows too! The National Organic Program rules say you must be able to find your records in a “reasonable” amount of time. What’s considered “reasonable” varies, but a good rule of thumb is about 30 minutes. 

What if the organic inspector can’t complete the trace-back audit?  

Never fear! Your inspector will just move on and try to conduct a trace-back audit on a different product or from another time period. Although the number of attempts varies from certifier to certifier, many inspectors will typically try to conduct three different audits and will record the most complete one. 

If the inspector can’t complete an audit on any product, a few things may happen. Keep in mind, each farm, situation, certifier, and inspector are different, so don’t take the following information as a guarantee. Like most things in farming, the answer is “it depends!” 

If your inspector can’t complete a trace-back audit, they may: 

• Ask you to send the missing record as a follow-up if you need more time to find the record.  

• Put a note on your file that you were not compliant to the National Organic Program standard of record keeping and check that you improve your records for next year’s inspection 

IMPORTANT!  

Keep in mind that your inspector CANNOT approve or deny your request for certification. They simply report what they see during the inspection to the certifier. If the certifier decides your records are not adequate to prove that you are following the National Organic Program rules (called “in compliance”) they may deny your request for certification.  

How long do I have to find a record during the audit?  

Ideally, you would have your records prepared and ready to look through before your inspector arrives—however, you know things aren’t always ideal and your inspector knows this! The National Organic Program rules say you must be able to find your records in a “reasonable” amount of time. What’s considered “reasonable” varies, but a good rule of thumb is 30 minutes.

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