Spring Farm Tours... and the crops have arrived!
In mid May, the Montgomery County Food Council had the opportunity to participate in a spring farm tour organized by the Office of Agriculture. One of the farms on our tour was Common Root Farm, also one of Community FarmShare's farm partners, where Farmer Ryan shared about his passion for farming in harmony with the earth. He talked about the critical need to build up soil health and the direct scientific correlation between healthy, rich, soils and the nutrient density level and taste of the vegetables grown with these organic practices. The plants he grows are for the benefit of the body, not their ability to last thousands of miles on a truck.
Farmer Ryan is also our key partner for the Food Is Medicine program that we are piloting this year in partnership with Mercy Health Clinic. This program focuses on providing highly nutrient dense fresh produce to people who are both experiencing food insecurity and also suffering from poorly controlled diabetes. We started delivering Common Root's produce to the Food Is Medicine participants about 3 weeks ago and already we are hearing so many positive words about the weekly bags from our participants (and getting text pictures of meals!).
Ryan sums it up beautifully, "Farming is challenging work and you must have a deep sense of purpose to get through and continue on. I can't think of more purpose-filled work than growing food for those without easy access to truly healthy, nourishing food, grown locally, with love. Many thanks to Community FarmShare for providing this opportunity, which also immensely helps our business".
Well, right back at you, and much gratitude to all the farmers in our network, for doing what you do every day to make such a real difference!
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Earlier in May, One Acre Farm had their Spring farm tour, where the bravest-to-face -the-cold-and-rain trekked out to the farm for a still fantastic day!
Farmer Mike shared all about the importance of cover crops to protect the soil, drip irrigation to conserve water, and the value of making and adding organic compost to build healthy soils... which produce healthy crops!
Mike not only grows veggies for his CSA (and our program), but he has also linked up with specialty producers including Stefan Brady, a local mushroom farmer who grows at One Acre, and Joe Long, a local honey producer, who keeps bees at the farm and which help with pollination.
Truly, One Acre Farm is buzzing,...with life and health and simply amazing fresh produce.
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