The ecological wealth of the George Jones Farm and the logistics and distribution expertise of longtime leaseholder City Fresh provide a powerful opportunity to support new farmers and food-justice initiatives with a commitment to the local community.
Following the methods and orientation of environmental justice, our project hears and values the knowledge of Indigenous, diasporic, historically exploited/enslaved, Black, urban, and immigrant communities, including the expertise held by marginalized farmers, farmworkers, cooks, and food justice activists and advocates. We recognize the history of discrimination and exclusion from life with the soil and seek to foster opportunities to grow beyond these obstacles.
Through our collaboration, we seek to prepare the next generation of community and academic leaders to embody an approach to food justice and to build a community-academic network that will have lasting impact beyond the funding period for the local community of Lorain County, Ohio, as well as regionally and nationally.
The Vision
The New Farmer Incubator Program explicitly seeks to bridge the gaps created by historical barriers to land access by offering aspiring farmers the resources, mentorship, and support they need to build successful farm businesses. The Incubator works with academic and community leaders to grow new farmers by sharing agricultural land and resources, an established distribution network, and above-market purchasing for farm produce.
New Farmers
Our inaugural cohort will provide land for five (5) New Farmers who will receive a seasonal stipend of $1500 to support their participation.
Through their projects, New Farmers will develop skills and a deeper understanding of sustainable farming practices, which can include (but is not limited to):
- Regenerative farming (no-till/ low till, no or limited use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, cover-crop planting)
- Climate-protective agricultural practices
- Organic Pest Management
- Inter-cropping, companion planting and crop rotation
- Composting & Biochar production
- Fruit cultivation
- Culturally significant growing techniques (ex, Three Sisters)
- Culturally significant foods prized by immigrant and diasporic communities
- Native and heirloom plant selection and cultivation
- Herbs and medicinal plant selection and cultivation
- Natural fiber and dye plant selection and cultivation
- Pollinator plant integration
- Forest gardening and developing foraged food resources
- Soil rematriation
- Seed saving and rematriation + restoring ancestral seeds
- Spiritual/ embodied aspect of land and growing
Additional concepts New Farmers may choose to explore and express:
- Storytelling and oral history around agriculture and foodways
- Traditional plant-based medicinal practices
- Farm Accessibility (accommodating mobility, vision and hearing issues, sensory-friendly)
- Environmental art
- Mental health and mindfulness practices
- Circular and cooperative food economies
- Community dinners/ potlucks on the farm
New Farmer bios and project descriptions coming soon! Check back later for updates.
Get Involved
We love volunteers and could always use assistance keeping programs like these running. We invite individuals, teams, or groups (community or student) to come out to the George Jones Farm to help us with a variety of tasks, year-round. Tasks may include weeding, watering, harvesting crops, preparing City Fresh shares, natural building, sustainable energy projects, trail building and maintenance, and equipment and facility upkeep. Sports teams, church groups, corporations, and student clubs are all welcome to schedule service days with us.
Contact us or use our Volunteer Form to get started.
We are also currently hiring an intern to support the New Farmer Incubator program. This internship offers a unique opportunity for individuals interested in gaining hands-on experience in sustainable farming practices, contributing to the success of the incubator program, and supporting food justice on the farm.