Summer - Georgia Organics

The Quarterly Newsletter of Georgia Organics – Fall 2012

The Heart of a Farmer

Growers are connected to the earth by more

than their hands.

Continued on page 8

Farm-FresH Food in s. GeorGiaOur Farm to School spotlight shines on Dougherty County 6

THE DIRT Summer 2013 We connect organic food from Georgia farms to Georgia families.

Chris JacksonJenny-Jack Sun Farm,

Pine Mountain

Walking alongside the buckwheat last week just before the lunch bell, I

stopped to admire the blazing white buds bursting open in perfect symphony. Their

physical beauty, upright posture, and belonging demeanor first intrigued me, but it was the sound

surrounding the flowers that made me pause.It was a harmonic hum, like a fast-moving ceiling

fan or the distant rush of wind from rush hour traffic. I immediately guessed bees. Not swarming, but evenly spread out, thousands foraging nectar, purposefully and gracefully floating from source to source unencumbered by the entranced human. Nothing particularly wise or

Some growers farm solely to make a living, to turn a profit, to provide for themselves and their families. There ain’t a darn thing wrong with that.

There are other farmers, though, who’ve been pulled to the land by an unknown force, who’ve been nudged to-wards it by an unseen hand.

The connections these farmers feel towards the earth, the soil, and the natural systems that produce healthy, nutritious food are as powerful as they are in-tangible. Whether you believe in God, or don't, farming is a spiritual act.

We asked a few farmers in the Georgia Organics family to tell us a little about their connection to the land. We like where their heads are at.

a neW daY For UrBan aGUpdated Atlanta zoning could serve as model for region 14

reClaiminG orGaniCGetting back to our movement's roots 2

2 THE DIRT SUMMER 2013

Every time I look at the certified organic acreage data in Georgia, I wince.

Sure, we have had 2,000% growth since 2003, but when you start with just 273 acres, it’s easy to make the data sparkle. In reality, our state has experienced minimal growth. That’s tough to swallow when you run an organization called “Georgia Organics.”

Our state has definitely seen a growth in the number of sustainable farms. We have more farms that are Certified Naturally Grown (CNG), a less rigorous certification, than any other state. Georgia Organics’ workshops, conferences, and mentoring program continue to see strong participation, with new faces every year.

So why the lackluster statistics? Two things are going on here. The first is that many

of our sustainable farms are not interested in getting certified organic. These farmers have developed a direct customer base, and don’t see a real need to go through the process or pay the cost to become certified organic.

Unfortunately, the USDA and other agricultural establishments don’t get to see what we see—a vibrant, growing movement—because there is little data to show them. Not to knock CNG, but no one from the USDA or Georgia Dept. of Agriculture has called me to ask about CNG growth in our state. I wish they would, because then I'd have a lot to brag about.

The second factor is that we have not successfully penetrated conventional agriculture or had much growth in what is called “ag in the middle,” the 100-200 acre farms that could be supplying increasing wholesale and institutional demand. Certainly, there are some pioneers farms that have been paving the way—White Oak Pastures, for instance, and Miles Berry Farm. Making farms this size viable is extremely tough when the marketplace is still undeveloped and infrastructure is lacking.

Tangible growth and economic data are important to politicians. We can tout the number of farmers markets, annual conference attendees, and CNG farms, but what institutions really needs to see is a dramatic rise in organic acreage in the state, certified acres that are without a doubt free of GMOs and toxic chemicals.

I can’t think of a louder statement our movement could make than for our farmers to get certified. That

political stance would echo through the hallways of the agriculture department, across the campuses of universities, and even in the Gold Dome.

That is when we start to have institutional influence. That is when we speed up the investment, research, and infrastructure that is currently lacking.

I hear more and more people using the term “organic”—not “sustainable,” but “organic.” And not just from consumers, but nutrition directors and chefs.

“Local” food is a muddy term as local, conventional offerings become more commonplace. Local food is great for local economies, but it doesn’t change the way we chemically grow food in Georgia.

Organic farms will have an upper hand in the future, but they will need our help to figure out logistics, solve production challenges, and get certification— things we could better advocate for if we showed elected officials and ag regulators that the number of certified organic farms doubled, then tripled.

In many ways, our movement has abandoned certified organic. Believe me, I understand why so many farms aren’t certified. But we would not be

where we are today if the National Organic Program had never come along. It was big, bold, and messy, but it kickstarted our momentum, and certified organic will be crucial in the fast-growing GMO fight.

We are not that little food movement that represents less than 1 percent of Georgia’s agricultural acreage. We are bigger than that. But we need to reclaim “certified organic,” even for small farms. If you are a farmer who is not currently certified, but would consider going organic, we can help you make that happen. We need you to make that happen.

It is time for us to stand up and be counted.

Alice RollsexeCutive direCtor

reclaiming our rootsYou Say Sustainable Tomato, I Say Organic Tomato

Letter from the direCtor

200-A Ottley Dr. Atlanta, GA [email protected]

BOard OF direcTOrsRashid Nuri, President

Mandy Mahoney, Vice President

Ed Taylor, treasurer

Linda DiSantis, secretary

James Brown Robert CurreyNaomi Davis Dee Dee DigbyKurt EbersbachCheryl Galway Julia GaskinRoderick GilbertDiane Marie HarrisJenni Harris Connie HayesGina HopkinsCarroll Johnson Melissa LibbyEllen Macht Cashawn Myers Anne Quatrano

Staff donn cooPerFarmer Services Coordinator

erin croomFarm to School Director

suzanne GirdnerConference Coordinator

stePhanie hassMembership & Volunteer Coordinator

Brooke hatfieldCommunications Coordinator

andrew laddDirector of Operations

sandy laytonDevelopment Director

alice rollsExecutive Director

emily roseFarm to School Assistant

michael wallDirector of Programs

anika whiteAdministrative Assistant

the DirtSummer 2013 • Published QuarterlyGeorgia Organics, Inc. 200-A Ottley Dr., Atlanta GA 30324, Volume 15 Issue #2 Copyright © 2013, Georgia Organics, Inc. All rights reserved.

@georgiaorganics

www.facebook.com/ GeorgiaOrganics

i can’t think of a louder statement our movement could make than for our farmers to get certified.

GEORGIAORGANICS.ORG 3

Nine Piedmont Center • 3495 Piedmont Road, N.E. • Atlanta, GA 30305-1736 • 404-364-7000 60121209-A 03/13 ©2013 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc.

Here’s to GrowinG a

HealtHy futureAt Kaiser Permanente, we’re committed to helping you achieve total health — both inside and outside the exam room. As a nonprofit health plan, we’ve proudly invested in the total health of the communities we serve for over 25 years and counting. That’s why we’re a proud supporter of Georgia Organics.

kp.org/georgiaKaiser Permanente is dedicated to providing affordable health coverage — and state-of-the-art care from our own, carefully selected doctors — in 29 convenient medical facilities throughout metro-Atlanta, and in Athens.

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Dougherty County5 miLLion meaLS SpotLight

Dougherty County is in the heart of southwest Georgia, and southwest Georgia is in the heart of Georgia farm country. Its proximity to so much agriculture makes the county a crucial proving ground for farm to school programs. Blaine Allen, School Nutrition Director of Dougherty County School System (DCSS), has teamed up with Southwest Georgia Project for Community Education, a social justice organization that advocates to spearhead farm to school efforts in the region.

Southwest Georgia Project (SWGAP) began its farm to school initiatives out of a desire to help small farmers reach a larger market. Through their partnership with DCSS schools, the schools have introduced new vegetables, held taste tests, and built school gardens tied to core curriculums. “We feel that it is our obligation, our responsibility, to not only find markets for our farmers, but to help shift the way we think about food in this region,” Daa’iyah Salaam of SWGAP recently told a cafeteria full of community members.

DCSS serves 21,000 meals every day. Their nutrition department’s farm to school goal is to purchase 20 percent of the produce

served from farms within 100 miles of the county. Directing resources to those kinds of local purchases would give the region’s economy a huge boost. SWGAP is also seeking to establish a processing and distribution center so that products don’t have to travel all the way to Atlanta to get washed, cut, and packaged before heading back to Albany’s schools. Besides the economic advantages, Allen, the DCSS nutrition director, sees another benefit: produce that is recently harvested is much higher in nutrient content. “Farm to school will create a healthy student body in the Dougherty County School System,” he said.

In early May, Georgia Organics partnered with DCSS and SWGAP to lead a Community Meeting for parents, teachers, school nutrition staff, and others interested in current farm to school work and in helping craft the future vision for farm to school in their community. We also helped lead a Farmers’ Forum for several local growers to meet directly with Allen and discuss what they can grow for the school next year.

from left: Blaine allen, dougherty County School nutrition director, emily rose, georgia organics farm to School assistant, Shirley Sherrod, director of the South-west georgia project, erin Croom, georgia organics farm to School director, and daa'iyah Salaam, Business development Specialist for Southwest georgia project.

this year, georgia organics launched the 5 million meals Campaign to encourage school nutrition directors to serve local food. an amazing 40 districts pledged to serve local this year!

LeaderS who have taken the pLedgeAppling County School SystemAtlanta Public SchoolsBaldwin County SchoolsBarrow County School SystemBleckley County School DistrictBurke County Public SchoolsCarrollton City SchoolsCity Schools of DecaturClarke County School DistrictClayton County Public SchoolsCobb County School DistrictCoffee County School SystemColquitt County Schools

Commerce City SchoolsCrisp County School SystemDecatur County SchoolsDeKalb County School DistrictDougherty County SchoolsFulton County SchoolsGrady County SchoolsGwinnett County Public Schools

Habersham County SchoolsHall County Schools

Harris County School DistrictHart County School SystemJackson County School SystemLaurens County SchoolsLowndes County SchoolsMadison County School DistrictMarietta City SchoolsMorgan County School SystemNewton County SchoolsOconee County SchoolsPickens County SchoolsPierce County SchoolsRockdale County Public SchoolsSavannah-Chatham County Public School SystemThomas County SchoolsTift County SchoolsWilkes County School System

Farm to schoolClarke County kids enjoyed the fruits (and vegetables!) of their labors in an end-of-year garden party.

Check out

the photo

album on

Facebook!


heirloom Society leave a legacy with Planned GivingAt Georgia Organics, we dream about a food revolution that shortens the distance from farm to fork, values organically grown food, and honors the livelihood of small family farms.

You can be integral to this future food chain by making a planned gift to Georgia Organics today. Leaving a gift might actually save your family money by decreasing inheritance taxes through charitable gift deductions. A simple directive in your will can bring welcome support to Georgia Organics and the difference we make in the health of our citizens, our country, and our environment.

Please consider supporting Georgia Organics’ mission by making a charitable bequest. For more information on how to make a planned gift, contact a financial advisor or Andrew Ladd, our director of operations, at [email protected] or 678-702-0400.

Grow the revolution!Seed saving special in our online General StoreGet The Seed Underground: A Growing Revolution to Save Food by local author and poet Janisse Ray and The Organic Seed Grower: A Farmers Guide to Veg-etable Seed Production together for $45 for a limited time only!

WWW.GEORGIAORGANICS.ORG

nominate the next Georgia organics Board memberMembers of Georgia Organics are invited to nominate candidates for the Board of Directors. The Board supports Georgia Organics’ mission to connect organic food from Georgia farms to Georgia families by:• Offering strategic leadership and policy development• Providing ideas and creative input• Fundraising and recruiting members

• Providing strong fiduciary oversight• Advocating on behalf of GO and its members• Assisting in the work of the organization

Board nominations are a competitive process, and nominees are carefully vetted by the nomination committee to create a slate that will match the skills and needs of the organization. There is no guarantee that a nominee will be selected for the final slate. We strongly invite nominations of can-didates with diverse backgrounds and geographic locations and candidates who have fundraising, farming, logistics and/or financial expertise.

To nominate an individual, please fill out the form available online at www.georgiaorganics.org/nominationform.pdf and submit by Aug. 1.

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Walker comes to driver's aid

Farmer Services Coordinator Donn Cooper, our man in the field.

With each edition of The Dirt, I have too many farmers

to thank for their time, generosity and dedica-tion to the good food movement. However,

after a recent trip to southeast Georgia, there is one person I’d like to single out.

Coasting into Sylvania, I was not surprised to see the blue lights right behind me. My black Dodge Charger, a rental with DeKalb plates, had a little more gettyup than I was used to.

I stopped on the shoulder, gathered my li-cense and rental receipt and handed them to the patrolman as he approached the window.

“How fast was I going?” I said.“Sixty-eight in a 55.”“Oh, wow,” I said, starting to sweat. Didn’t

he know I would never speed intentionally? This car just goes too fast, officer.

He studied my license. “Do you know where you’re headed?”

“Relinda Walker. Walker Organic Farms,” I said, worrying how that word “organic” would be taken in this part of the state. The previous day I had driven past countless fields of con-ventional onions curing in the sun.

“OK,” he said, handing me my things. “You’re going to want to take a right up here on Route 21. It’s about five miles down the road.”

Now, I’m sure the ticket would have been written had I not said Relinda Walker’s name, which, I think, is the moral of the story.

The statistical indicators are inconclusive, if not disappointing, for the progress of organic farming in Georgia. Support from legislators sits between nonexistence and passing acknowl-edgment. Yet here is an organic farmer whose person and farm are integral parts of her com-munity and landscape.

Integration within the local community is the first measure of big-picture success for organic agriculture. And it’s happening every-where: from Elberton to Jeffersonville to New-ton. Progress starts with people.

We’ve got a movement afoot. Thank you, Relinda.

on may 9, five farmers met for a coastal growers field day at Cumberland island. growing on the coast presents a unique set of challenges, and we wanted to connect them so they could share resources and build a com-munity. from left: ryan graycheck, garden manager at the greyfield inn in Cumberland island, aaron Bell, the new farmer at Little St. Simon's, mat-thew raiford of gilliard farms in Brunswick, gerard krewer of harriet's Bluff farm near woodbine, and amy Schuster, departing farmer from Lit-tle St. Simon's.

georgia organics hosted a pastured poultry field day at Brandon Chonko's (left) grassroots farm in reidsville on may 22. Lee Lancaster, above right, a senior compliance specialist in the food safety divi-sion of the georgia department of agriculture who's heading up the new on-farm poultry slaughter regulations for the state, was one of the 25 people in attendance.

in The Field number of young and beginning farmers in this year's mentor program 30


Bluffton, GA

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number of young and beginning farmers in this year's mentor program


Continued from page 1

earth-shattering fluttered through my brain. There was no deep, soulful realization. But the mo-ment itself was right and pure and settling.

The bees were doing what work-er bees were designed to do— lo-cate, harvest, and return nectar to the hive so that the collective might survive the cold days and even colder nights.

Their busyness in preparation is noteworthy because they were engaged in the very life-giving talent bestowed upon each bee to perform daily. This picture, I be-lieve, breathes volumes into our daily pursuit of vocation, calling and purpose.

A farm is certainly a good place to watch nature make these con-nections. Pigs rooting and rolling in mud, chickens hunting a juicy worm, bees and insects fulfilling their innate desire to be fruitful.

There is comfort in witnessing an animal relishing its intended function, unashamed and deliber-ate in its movements, careful but overwhelmingly confident.

I have been encouraged to watch many of you humbly live out your callings, as Frederick Buech-ner said, “where your deep love meets the world’s deep needs.” As for us, Jenny and I were remind-ed last week while pulling red and white sweet potatoes from the chocolate-colored earth how fortunate we were to be digging, making constant contact with our beginnings and our end. May our continual search for purpose find power in prayer, community, and the natural world.

lynn PughCane Creek Farm, Cumming

I use organic production methods because I believe that we must learn to feed ourselves in ways that are life-giving to creation.

Experiencing and working with nature all day, most every day will change a person if they pay atten-tion! Time for reflection is built into every day, as some tasks are repetitive and leave plenty of time

for thought. I have become more inclusive and less judgmental as I come to understand my signifi-cance and my insignificance in this world.

It is a sacred moment for me ev-ery time I see a seed germinate. I know the science of the process, but the whole thing is clothed in miracle, as far as I am concerned, and I feel the presence of God.

Sometimes in my classes, I hear and see students of diverse back-grounds with different dreams sharing and enjoying each other in a truly wonderful way. They are brought together by their mutual love of growing and nurturing cre-ation. God is present in such love, whether people realize it or not. It brings me great joy to be a part of such a community.

I have always called myself a Christian, though maybe not in the popular understanding of the word. Better to say, I believe in following the example of Jesus.

I believe in God as the Creator of everything including the forces of nature and evolution. I believe that humans have been given a special mission and challenge to learn to sustain and nurture the world we are a part of. Part of that mission is accomplished in the mindful and considerate production of food.

rashid nuriTruly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture, Atlanta

So many people get up in the morning and when they go to work they feel like they are go-ing to hell. They hate it. I can see it on people’s faces. They have to gird themselves to be able to go into the office because they don’t like the dynamics that are there.

Me, I come out to the garden in the morning and I know I meet God right out here, in these plants, and I can hear [and] see God speak, see all the miracles that take place:

Clockwise from top left: darby weaver and elliot Smith of Sun dog farm. Jenny and Chris Jackson of Jenny Jack Sun farm. rashid nuri of the truly Living well Center for natural urban agricul-ture. Lynn pugh of Cane Creek farm.


the connections between us, the plants, and the soil, and the people that relate here. Peo-ple come out here just for the peace that they experience here.

We work very hard to keep the vibra-tions at a very mellow level. The garden does not support disharmony. It doesn’t support discord. These are all things that are not here. So you can come in and have peace and be able to commune with na-ture. People say that, but when you are communing with nature you are really communing with God.

darby WeaverSun Dog Farm, Blairsville

Even with the unpredictable weather pat-terns and bouts of heavy rain, life on our farm has found its course and navigated

the extremes with grace. After just five months on the property, Sun Dog Farm is finally shaping up to be a productive ven-ture and thriving farm organism.

And here I am on a daily basis soaking in the beautiful expressions of this valley. On a golden morning harvesting radishes, I was amazed to realize how much the farm is an extension of my own consciousness.

There are moments as a farmer when you look about all of your work and feel a great sense of pride. There are maybe just as many moments when you look at all the incredible life forces around you harnessing energies all their own and you simply feel grateful.

I have come to realize that my role here on the farm varies, but it is certainly never “master” or the “boss.” I am but one part of the farm organism.

The adage “know your farmer” truly ex-presses the importance of purchasing food from the very people who put the seeds in the ground. When someone loves their land and crops enough to not only put their name on the label, but to put their face be-hind the table at the Farmers Market, it is quite clear that they are doing what they love and that love is what grew what they are offering.

That love is what ensures that the crops receive proper nutrition, as well as the people who eat them, and that love car-ries over into the farm organism as a whole. Love is as dynamic a force as a farm is an organism, and the relationship between the two is the best source of medicine available today.

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GeoRgia Organics

Good Food Guide2013-2015 edition� � � � � � �

→Your essential guide to←FaRm-FResh & ORGanic Food in GeORGia⋆Farms⋆restaurants & caterers⋆Farmers markets⋆and more!⋆

the Good Food Guide —Are You in?Production is underway for the 2013-2015 Georgia Organics Good Food Guide, the most comprehensive re-source on Georgia's sustainable farms, restaurants, farmers markets, grocery stores, and other businesses!

Make sure your farm, community garden, market, or business is listed. The deadline for submissions is July 16. Farms need to be members in good standing at the Farm level or higher. Businesses and Restaurants need to be business level members in good stand-ing at the $250 level or higher.

Farmers Markets and Community Gardens do not need to be members in order to be listed, although it is encour-aged. If you meet the criteria above, you will be listed in both the online interac-tive Good Food Guide and the printed version set to debut this fall.

Please re-submit your listing informa-tion if it hasn’t been updated in 2013.

If your business or restaurant has sev-eral locations, please submit the appli-cation separately for each location.

FOr MOre iNFOrMAtiONwww.georgiaorganics.org/be-come-a-member-today/good-food-guide


School Garden Creation - Curricula - SupportResidential - Commercial - Design - Implementation

www.sustenancedesign.net - ph: 404.377.2843

Masters AgricultureMasters Landscape Architecture

Certified Permaculture Design

Back when I became Georgia’s first and only certified organic farmer, no one re-ally knew what organic agriculture was.

Back then, there was no organization like Georgia Organics, so I didn’t have any technical assistance, education, or marketing support. We are lucky to have a group like Georgia Organics. How I would have loved to have participated in their farmer mentoring program back when I started, or attended a local confer-ence with 1,000 other farmers, consumers, and advocates.

It has been amazing to watch their progress in educating farmers, launching farm to school, promoting local food, and building the good food community.

Georgia Organics has been working long and hard, and now it’s time to support them.

That is why I would like to ask that you join me in supporting Georgia Organics’ $1.1 million, three-year capacity campaign that will grow this crucial organization so that our statewide movement becomes more influential and reputable.

If we want more organic farms and healthy, toxic-free food, then we must support groups who are working statewide to truly change agriculture. Georgia Organics is our best hope to do that.

Georgia Organics has raised 70 percent of its goal, but those last dollars are always the hardest. Please consider the most generous gift you can make. If you can give $1,000 consider a three-year pledge of $3,000. If you can give $50, consider pledging $150. We are creating a new future for agriculture in Georgia. It’s time we all pull out our pens and seize this important moment.

Please give online by going to www.georgiaorganics.org and clicking “Join/Donate.” Select “Make a Donation” from the drop-down menu and write “Capacity Campaign” in the special notes field. For further information and to participate in our Capacity Campaign please contact Sandy Layton at [email protected] or 678-702-0400.

Why i Support Georgia

Organics' Capacity

CampaignBy Shirley Daughtry, Heritage Organic Farm

We are creating a new future for agriculture in Georgia.

GeoRgia Organics

Good Food Guide2013-2015 edition� � � � � � �

→Your essential guide to←FaRm-FResh & ORGanic Food in GeORGia⋆Farms⋆restaurants & caterers⋆Farmers markets⋆and more!⋆

Are you listed?

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$1-$99

John Ahern

Laura Strickland, Aker & Doug Acker

Allie Armistead

Judy Ashley

Don Babb

Giana & Eden Bader

Lolly Beck-Pancer

Gena Berry

Grace & Bill Boling

Ellen Bouchard

Cheryl Brady, Foster-Brady Farm

Rosemarie Braun

Tammy & Bill Burnell, Burnell Farms

Jenn & Mike Burns

Rebecca Burns

Janie & Tommy Carmichael

Kate Cassity

Brooke Carter & Naazir Yamini

Pascale Chambers

Carrie & Alan Chandler, New Dawn Farm

Quentia C. Chester

Nancy Coveny

Judy & Mike Cunningham

Jodi Daley

Lydia Dalton

Karen Davis

Kathryn DiMenichi

Nema Etheridge

Ashley Blake Ferguson

Sherry & Edward Fletcher

Sara Fountain

Kerin Fraunfelder

Mark Galvin

Danyelle Gilbert

Joy Goetz

Stephanie & Peter Gordon

Ryan Graycheck, Luke Graycheck & Maya Velasco

Amy Handler

Peter Hartel

Stacia Hendricks

Catherine Holmes & David Berle

Carol Hunter

Karen Hurtubise & John Clarke

Julie Jacobson

Jerlyn Jones

Diane & Bill Jordan

Carolyn Kennedy

Tori LaConsay & Ramsey Yount

Holly Lang

Mitch Lawson, Rise ‘N Shine Farms

Todd Lister, Veribest Farm

Jaime Lozano, Crossed Arrows Farm

Jule-Lynne Macie

Bruce Mathis, The

Home Gardener

Mellonee Mayo

David McCandless

Vanessa, Matt, & Ethan McIntyre

Sarah McQuade

Holli Medley

Julia Metzker

Karen Minvielle

Raabia Muhammad

Mushroom Mountain

Priscilla Mustin

Joshua Neuman

Chase & Joe Parks

Patchwork City Farms

Karen Pazol & Stu Lipkin

Donna Pennington & Robert Beard

Sandi & Earnie Philips

Juby Phillips

Matt Pieper

Phoenix Gardens

Ron Prather

Gretchen & John Quarterman, Okra Paradise Farms

Holly Rand

Constance Roberts

Crus Rodriges

Karen Rose

Kathryn L. Savoie

Katherine A. Shelton

Emily & Michael Shively

Joel Smith

Sara Smith & Stephen Gardner

Smithson Mills

Lois & Paul Swords

Jennifer Teems

Noela & Ignatius Thang

Christine Tholl

Jessica Toral & Bryan Price

Liz & Trey Towery

Alice Varon

Charli Vogt

Eleanor Walker & Dennis Mason

Helen Wall

Grace Nyabura Gatundo Wandu

Belinda & Jason Waters

Peter Webb

Jess & Robert White

Brent Wilson

$100,000 +Suzy & Robert Currey

Wilbur & Hilda Glenn Family Foundation

The RFP Fund

Robert W. Woodruff Foundation

$10,000 – $49,999RFF

Alice Rolls

$5,000 – $9,999

The Mendez Foundation

$1,000 – $4,999

Linda DiSantis & Bob Kerr

W.F. Ingram Family Foundation

Les Dames D'Escoffier Atlanta

Melissa Libby

Linda Moore

Denise Poole

Julie Shaffer

Barbara Brown Taylor & Edward Taylor

Eric Wagoner, Locallygrown.net

$500 - $999

Easterlin Farm

Brittany & Matt Gove

Dorothy Kirkley

Ellen Macht

Barbara Petit & C.J. Bolster

$250 - $499

Margaret, Matt, Fin,

& Ella Connelly

Carrie D. Lawson

Matt O'Shea

Elaine Poirier & Michael Elliott

Ann Walter & Derek Economy

Woodie Wisebram

$100 - $249

John Bare

Nancy Bock & Bonnie Edwards

Suzanne Burnes

Kelly Campbell-Abel

Harvest Farm

Cheryl Carson

Tamie Cook & Deana Hilton

Creekridge Farms

Marti Breen & Cal Crutchfield

Decimal Place Farm

Down To Earth Foundation

Catherine Dragon

Madelyn & William Duke

Gloria & David Fagin

Craig Gilbert

Sandy Golden

Rebecca & Sanjay Gupta

Harvest On Main

Kimberlee & Brandon Ifill

W. Carroll Johnson III

Linda Jones & Ed Hunt

Susan Keller

Gloria Kemp

Jan Kozak

Ann C.W. Lam

Lila McAlpin

Mary Moore & Betty Willis

Liz Peterson

Picky Eaters Buying Club

Sarah & Brendan Prendergast

Deborah Shaw

Joan Sherwood & Debbie Fraker

Judith Smith & Rob Aaron

Joe Windish & Doug Keith

Capacity Campaign Donors

GeoRgia Organics

2013-2015 edition

NutritiON DireCtOr FArM FielD trip!On May 24, school nutrition directors for Jack-son County, Commerce City, and Jefferson City schools went on a farm field trip! Thirty cafeteria managers joined them to visit the farms inter-ested in selling to schools in Jackson County next year, including R2 Farm in Winder. They met the farmers, and saw first-hand where their cafeteria’s food will be coming from.

CApitOl StepSOn May 8, Georgia Organics Program Director Michael Wall and Farmer Services Coordina-tor Donn Cooper met with Chandra Harris, district director for Congressman David Scott, to request that the congressman support the Be-ginning Farmer & Rancher Opportunity Act. (For more information about the BFROA, go here: http://sustainableagriculture.net/our-work/beginning-farmer-bill/) Chandra was great, and very receptive, and we look forward to work-ing with her and the Rep. Scott in the future!

On May 29, Michael and Donn met with Rep. Austin Scott to thank him for the work he's done on the Farm Bill (he supported the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Develop-ment Program). We asked him to continue to support cost shares for organic certifica-tion and agricultural conservation programs and were extremely encouraged by his response: "I want to support your industry."

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Jefferson, May 6We hosted a Farmers’ Forum for growers in the Jackson County area to meet with the school nutrition directors for Jackson County, Com-merce City, and Jefferson City schools. The farmers supplied a list of products they can grow for the schools next year and the directors are planning their produce orders accordingly.

Americus, April 30Cafe Campesino hosted a screening of "Grow!" in their new community garden. While we were in the neighbor-hood, we stopped by Koinonia Farm to film another Field Trip! video with Anthony-Masterson Productions. This one featured Brendan Prendergast talk-ing about biological pecan production.

Atlanta, May 15There are some great farmers in Atlanta's West End, a hid-den gem inside the city limits where history and agriculture meet to empower the com-munity. We went to Patchwork City Farms, which is on the site of Brown Middle School. We also visited Haylene Green, the Garden Queen, who is grow-ing plants from her native Jamaica, like hibiscus sorrel.

Bluffton, May 1Anthony-Masterson, the talented team behind "Grow!" was onsite at White Oak Pastures to film two more installments in the Georgia Organics Field Trip! series. Farmer Tripp Eldridge demonstrated fast and efficient post-harvest processing and CSA box packing for the videos.


preSeNtAtiONSMacon, April 25 GO’s Farm to School and Farmer Services staff hosted a table at this year's annual FFA Career and Trade Show. Agriculture students and teachers from across Georgia participated in a "Name the Herb" activity and discussed farm to school programming at their schools. We also talked with students interested in entering the field of organic and sustainable agriculture after graduation.

Macon, March 25 Georgia Organics presented at the Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GAFCP) train the trainers workshop in Macon. This workshop was in partnership with PLAY, an initiative out of Georgia State University that focuses on policy change with childhood obesity. The GAFCP has staff in every county, in partnership with many organizations, who work toward healthier children, better graduation rates, improved economic situations for families, and more. They are responsible for developing the plan for the community. Not surprisingly, many counties have become more and more interested in improving childhood obesity statistics. The purpose of this meeting was to “train the trainers.”

hABerShAM COuNtY FArM tO SChOOl pilOt prOGrAMThis project is a collaboration between Georgia Organics and the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.

March 27 All 38 teachers at Wilbanks Middle School participated in a GO-led workshop on how to incorporate farm to school into their curricu-lum. Every teacher will teach at least one lesson in the school garden before the end of the year.

May 18, Clarkesville Students and staff from Habersham County participated in the 51st annual Mountain Laurel Festival in Clarkesville, educat-ing the public about and promoting their farm to school program. Students walked in the parade, and school staff gave out a turnip taste test and answered questions in their farm to school booth.

the MY MArket CluBWe traveled to six different markets across Georgia to launch the My Market Club, a grant-funded program that will encourage people to support their local farmers by committing to regularly shop at their local farmers markets. Participating markets include: the Decatur Farmers Market, the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market, the Forsyth Farmers Market in Savannah, the Grant Park Farmers Market in Atlanta, Mulberry Street Market in Macon, and the Mainstreet Farmers Market in Statesboro.

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ArOuND the StAte April–June 2013

Demorest, May 3Students at Wilbanks Middle School had a taste test of Hakurei Turnips from Mill Gap Farm, grown by farmers Amy and Chuck Mashburn. Stu-dents first tried a raw sample then moved down the table to where Chef Lindsey of Lind-sey's Culinary Market served up her famous Turnip Carrot Gratin. Students ended the tasting by voting their prefer-ences for the turnips. After lunch, Chef Lindsey taught the cafeteria staff how to make the gratin, which was served again the next week as a vege-table in the main cafeteria line.

Albany, May 8 -9In partnership with Southwest Georgia Project, we hosted a community meeting for parents, students, teachers, school nutrition staff, and others interested in farm to school programs in Dougherty County. We also joined them in hosting a Farmers’ Forum for growers in southwest Georgia to meet with the school nu-trition director of Dougherty County Schools.

Glenwood, April 22Georgia Organics' farmer services coordi-nator Donn Cooper is advising on a SARE grant to remove bermuda grass from Lola's Organic Farm, an organic, unmechanized vegetable farm in Wheeler County. Jerry Larson is leading the research for the grant.

Adams-Briscoe Seed Company “The ABCʼs of Buying Seed”

325 E. Second St. / P.O. Box 19 Jackson, GA. 30233-0019

Since 1946 Adams-Briscoe Seed Company has been serving agriculture and the seed industry with all types of seeds, many of which are difficult to locate elsewhere. We stock all types of

seeds for cover crops, forages, erosion control, wildlife enhancement, vegetables, land reclamation and other uses. As a dealer for National Garden Wholesale we also supply a good assortment of organic fertilizers and plant protection products. Please contact us for a seed and

product list. You may visit our website at www.ABSEED.com

Phone: (770) 775-7826 FAX:(770) 775-7122 E-Mail : [email protected] Jimmy Adams Mail Orders Welcome * Credit Cards Accepted Greg Adams

The City of Atlanta will release a new ur-ban agriculture zoning ordinance soon, which is welcome news—Atlanta’s cur-rent zoning law is outdated and doesn’t allow for community gardens and farms to thrive.

Current city law impedes urban ag by:• Preventing urban agriculture opera-

tions from obtaining small business loans.• Blocking urban farmers from getting

business licenses.• Refusing to allow farmers and com-

munity gardeners to enter into legal land lease agreements.

• And, most importantly, creating a risky environment where one complaint may jeop-ardize an entire project.

Farmers markets, community gardens, and urban farms are critical pieces of the city’s communal space.

Plus, urban agriculture offers job creation; Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture (TLW), the foremost urban ag operation in Atlanta, employs 35 people.

Urban farms are spreading across the city, with many getting national attention for in-novation and community service, especially

TLW’s Wheat Street Gardens in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic district.

Atlanta also has over 150 community gardens, including 20 through city-initiated community partnerships. Farmers markets are thriving in communities all around the city, providing ac-cess to healthy, local food in many areas desig-nated as “food deserts” by the USDA.

The Atlanta Public Schools are also work-ing to support local farmers and feed hungry kids healthy food. This year, Atlanta Public Schools will be sourcing their lettuce from an Atlanta-based farming operation on target to

serve nearly 5 million salads with lo-cal pesticide-free lettuce grown right here in Atlanta.

Atlanta needs to update its zoning code to reflect the true value of these businesses and amenities.

Georgia Organics has retained Will Sellers (pictured at left with Geor-gia Organics Executive Director Al-ice Rolls) to usher the new urban ag zoning ordinance through the city’s Neighborhood Planning Units (NPU), the city council, and onto the mayor’s desk.

Sellers is working alongside the Atlanta Lo-cal Food Initiative (ALFI), the city of Atlanta’s Office of Sustainability, Turner Environmen-tal Law Clinic, a network of urban farmers, and other partners.

To follow this issue, and to help advocate for the legislation, sign up for the eDirt and Action Alerts at www.georgiaorganics.org and click “Sign Up for E-News” in the top right corner. You can also learn more at www.go-growatlanta.org. Follow along by checking out “The Daily Dirt,” at www/georgiaorgan-ics.org/news-center/blog/

updating urban Ag in Atlanta


Did you know that you can support Georgia Organics in your company’s employee

giving campaign? You can donate to Georgia Organics through EarthShare of Georgia and have a small donation taken out of your paycheck, which adds up to a significant contribution at the end of the year! Call Alice to enroll: 678.702.0400.

events Calendar For more information, visit www.georgiaorganics.org/events.

JuNe 17-28, JulY 8-19, JulY 22-AuGuSt 2 Summer Camp at Truly Living Well, Atlanta Truly Living Well’s Summer Camp at Wheat Street Garden is a place where dirt rocks and compost cooks! The camp promotes environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and self-discovery! Campers ages 6-14 will learn elements of organic gardening while engaging in critical thinking, team building and fun activities. $375 per camper/ per two-week session. Fee includes all activities and daily lunch. Scholarships may be available for those needing financial assistance. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 75 Hilliard Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30312. www.trulylivingwell.com

JuNe 29 Innovations In Organic Farming Field Day, Clayton This

free field day at Ladybug Farms will highlight progressive on-farm technology involving gravity-fed irrigation systems and solar energy. Doug Towery from NRCS will update attendees on USDA resources, and representatives from Georgia Organics, among others, will present on local and statewide nutrition initiatives.Rain or shine. Optional local farm-fresh lunch provided by Fromage. (706) 897-1676, www.ladybugfarms.net

JulY 10 Flower-Arranging Class at Cane Creek Farm, Cumming You will learn how

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Urban homesteading has never been more popular, and Georgia Organics is proud to be the fiscal partner for The Homestead Atlanta, an educational resource that has forged a community around urban homesteading. For the rest of our super-sizzlin' summer curriculum—including indigo dyeing, leather beltmaking, and chances to drive a team a draft-horses—please visit www.TheHomesteadATL.com.

JuNe 28 Healthy Animals, Healthy Soil: Rotational Grazing Want to learn how to increase your soil and livestock health all at the same time? Come learn the wonders of rotational grazing at EastWest Farm. Whether you have a small flock of chickens, multiple cows, or are designing a full, integrated homestead, discover all that you need to know from paddocks to fencing. (Show up early for a milking demonstration!)

JuNe 29 Hugulkultur: The Self-Watering Garden with a Crazy Name Hugulkultur not only makes you sound cool, but it lets you grow in raised beds that don't need irrigation or fertilization and sequester carbon. Come learn more about this elegantly simple permaculture principle in Piedmont Park with Kevin Frazier.

Georgia Organics members get reduced rates for classes!www.thehomeSteadatL.Com

to harvest, store, and arrange casual bouquets by doing it with farmer Lynn Pugh. General principles of design will also be covered. Lunch will be seasonal veggies, hopefully, tomato sandwiches. $25.11 a.m.– 1 p.m., (770) 889-3793 5110 Jekyll Rd Cumming, Ga 30040.

JulY 14 Making Salves and Syrups, Decatur The Funny Farm's Duane Marcus will teach you how to make healing salves for a variety of uses including wound care, lip balms, baby bottoms and overall skin care.You will also learn how to make delicious medicinal syrups you can use alone as tonics or put in teas, in yogurt, on biscuits, pancakes and waffles. All supplies are included in the workshop price, and you'll go home with two salves and one syrup. $75. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., (770) 527-0395, 4459 Allgood Springs Drive, Stone Mountain, GA, 30083.

JulY 18 Honey Harvest Workshop, Statham Each participant will help to harvest the honey from the honeycombs in our hives. Take a taste of honey, comb and all, and see what you think! The majority of the learning comes from hands-on experience. Each family will leave with a “thank you!” jar of honey to take home. $35 Registration: thelazybfarm.com/workshops/honey-harvest

JulY 21 JCT. Kitchen Attack Of The Killer Tomato Festival, Atlanta

Some of the South’s best chefs, farmers, and mixologists team up to benefit Georgia Organics. The festival will once again be held at JCT. Kitchen & Bar and will spread out over the pedestrian bridge that connects the two sides of Westside Provisions District to feature 35+ chef participants, 14 mixologist participants, and 30+ farmers. The event will also include live music from The Spazmatics and local chef band Five Bone Rack. $55 for general public, $50 Georgia Organic members. Tickets purchased after July 1 are $70 for everyone.

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