2016-2017 Model State Program University of Kentucky

What impressed me most about the gathering was the wide variety of farmers and agricultural specialists, representing an array of methods, backgrounds, and settings of operation--rural, urban, academic, and extension agents.  I tried to weave my way into this unique opportunity to become acquaintance with so many, especially those with a different perspective than my own.  

For instance, I was especially impressed to see so many farmers of color and specifically black farmers--I've never seen so many in one place; and I attended the session led by the keynote speaker from the conference dinner, Rashid Nuri of TLWUrbanAG, to learn about how their NGO is operating in the urban center of Atlanta.  The New Roots and Fresh Stop organizations in Lexington and Louisville are also doing excellent work in food justice, providing fresh food in non-privileged urban communities, and so I attended their session to learn more about that and how it might relate to similar areas in Bowling Green and surrounding counties.  I also sought out discussions with those from Kentucky State University, and made acquaintance with Andre Barbour and Tehran Jewel, who led a discussion on pastured poultry.  I have since followed up with them to communicate possibilities for collaboration on a project just now beginning here in Warren County at a 40 acre field owned by the Bowling Green Housing Authority, which was recently registered as a farm.  Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District has asked me to draw up designs for a demonstration garden that conserves water, builds soil, and plants polyculture; the designs that I'm drawing up include possibilities for pastured poultry, and I'm hoping to connect again with Andre and TJ in the near future to see if they may assist us at the Housing Authority as we progress, although we are just now breaking ground.  We also may be collaborating this fall to assist the Bowling Green International Center in developing and expanding their refugee community garden; so far we've had one meeting about that and the next one is coming up.  I don't own any land, but I have collaborated with several organized efforts to create urban and rural gardens in under-served neighborhoods and communities.  I sought out relevant presentations and sessions.

KSU experts on pawpaw growing, propagation, and production were also present, and since over the last two years I have planted over 300 asimina triloba, the native pawpaw, I sought their advice and experience on growing habits, and finding other cultivars.  Angela Whitehouse was particularly helpful; she connected me with Cliff England of England's Orchard Nursery, from whom I have since purchased several varieties of pawpaws and other fruit and nut shrubs and trees.  I'm hoping to visit his farm this fall.  I would like to visit KSU too.

In a similar vein, I attended discussion sessions and sat at dinner tables with extension agents and academic researchers to hear what sorts of innovations, challenges, and analysis of agricultural landscapes and operations they presented.  When the discussion turned toward large-scale monoculture rotations, something I find deeply unsustainable, when it came my turn to speak, I briefly presented 100 acre plus perennial agricultural systems, silvo-pasture and agro-forestry systems from around the nation, and particularly relevant to the oak savannah biome that characterizes Western Kentucky, where I live, where most of Kentucky's scaled agriculture happens.  I asked if they knew of any silvo-pasture research or programs; some suggested a couple sources in Missouri, but I couldn't find a lot of information.  When I returned home I approached our Warren County USDA-NRCS to see if they knew of any research or funding opportunities for silvo-pasture on small, mid, or largescale acreage.  Seeing as they couldn't provide me with much information, I followed up by assembling pictures, videos, and descriptions from farmers operating scaled silvo-pasture and agro-forestry systems appropriate to an oak savannah biome and presented them to Warren County agricultural and land use authorities in meetings that we have since had regarding county-sponsored agricultural initiatives.  Timothy Bartee, Supervisory Natural Resource Manager with USDA-NRCS took particular interest in learning more of these systems.  I am scheduled to meet with him in his offices to discuss further.  I will be presenting him with this book and this video tutorial of how and why to set up such systems:

I also attended workshops and sessions geared more toward what I am already doing, such as the 2 day workshop on Permaculture led by the farmers from Radical Roots Farm in the Shenandoah Valley, VA.  Over a 2 day course they over-viewed and we discussed permaculture ethics, principles, and practice.  Although their farm is mostly a certified organic vegetable operation, they did an excellent job of leading the workshop in such a way as to aid farmers in designing their variety of farms using the permaculture approach.  We each were to bring a satellite image of our landscape of operation; then to work alone outside the class and in small groups during the class to draw up and envision permaculture-inspired designs for the landscape and farm operation.  Since this is what I do for a living for small farms and urban properties throughout the Barren River Counties, I very much enjoyed these interactive design discussions among the working groups.  After the 2 day class ended, I deepened the connection by going out to dinner with the owners of Radical Roots Farm, and together with a young farming couple from just outside Louisville, who had recently purchased a 10 acre farm, we drew up possible designs for their new farm.  

The session on agricultural cooperatives, "Fair Prices for Farmers and Good Food for All," greatly influenced my thinking.  At that session we mostly discussed cooperatives of produce sales aggregated by regional growers, similar to the model of the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association, or the Organic Valley Cooperative.  It made me consider other possible forms of aggregating cooperatives.  Since then I have thought a lot about organizing an agricultural and natural building cooperative, which would aggregate the skill sets of worker-owner-designers in biodiverse agricultural systems and vernacular building, an aggregation of worker-designers that would be hired to author and help implement such design systems on landscapes of various sizes and settings--it's what I already do as an individual consultant.  Instead of aggregating the cooperative around the sale of produce, this cooperative would be aggregated around the design and implementation of agricultural and natural building systems.  I have secured affirmation from a lawyer in Louisville who would help those interested go through the legal processes of creating by-laws and legitimizing the cooperative under commonwealth statutes.  Just last week in Berea I met with and worked as a volunteer on a project with some friends who are skilled natural builders, and we discussed this idea at forming a cooperative; I have also had some preliminary meetings with gardeners and builders in the Barren River counties.  I am very interested to know what sorts of assistance UK SARE or any agricultural institution may offer in that regard, advice/assistance on forming cooperatives.