Empowering our community through education: Making Regenerative Farming Accessible for All

Commodities

• Animal Products: eggs, honey, meat

Practices

• Animal Production: grazing - multispecies, grazing - rotational, pasture fertility
• Education and Training: display
• Farm Business Management: e-commerce, farmers' markets/farm stands, marketing management, value added

Our project is all about helping
our community discover the incredible benefits of supporting
regenerative farmers through an education campaign and a
regenerative farming marketplace. Many folks in our community
aren't aware of all the benefits of regenerative farming.
Healthier soil, fewer carbon emissions, more diverse wildlife,
and tastier food.

Even if some people do know these
benefits, it can be tricky to find regenerative products. There's
the limited availability of farmer's markets, which operate for
only a short period each year. Also, discerning whether products
at regular supermarkets truly originate from regenerative farms
is difficult. The absence of a centralized marketplace makes it
hard for consumers to ensure that they are supporting
regenerative agriculture, leading to skepticism regarding the
sourcing and sustainability of their food.

We want to make it super
convenient for everyone in our community to get regenerative
products all-year-round, and for everyone to understand the deep
benefits of supporting regenerative agriculture. Our project
about educating our community on the benefits of regenerative
farming. By making regenerative products more accessible and
showing how they're not just good for us but also for the planet,
we aim to empower our community to make choices that benefit us
all.

Solution and Objectives:

Our project's primary objective
is to educate and empower our local community about the many
benefits of regenerative farming practices, and to make regenerative food easily
available year round in a convenient way. To achieve this, we've designed a
multifaceted approach that combines both education and the
implementation of a physical marketplace.

Teaching Methods and Materials:

1. Direct Mail Educational
   Campaign: We will launch a comprehensive direct mail
   educational campaign targeting members of our community. This
   campaign will include informative newsletters and pamphlets
   that highlight the advantages of regenerative farming. We'll
   provide insights into soil health improvement, reduced carbon
   emissions, enhanced biodiversity, and the superior taste and
   nutrition of regeneratively grown food. By reaching residents
   directly, we aim to ensure that everyone has access to this
   valuable information. The topics explored will be:

   • "Our Food, Our Health:
     Understanding the Impact of Modern Agriculture"

   • "The Earth Beneath Our
     Feet: Soil, Water, and Sustainability"

   • "True Cost of Food:
     Economic and Social Perspectives"

   • "Power on Your Plate: The
     Consumer's Role in Shaping the Future of Food"

   • "Regenerative
     Agriculture: Healing the Land, One Farm at a Time"

   • "Cultivating
     Independence: Building a Self-Sustaining Regional Food
     System"

2. Farm Field
   Day: Partner regenerative farmers will play a pivotal
   role in our educational efforts. We will organize a farm field
   day event where these farmers will present educational talks
   and demonstrations. Attendees will witness sustainable
   agriculture practices in action, such as cover cropping,
   no-till farming, rotational grazing, and holistic land
   management. Through these on-farm experiences and farmer-led
   discussions, community members will gain firsthand knowledge of
   regenerative farming techniques.
3. Educational Posters at
   the Marketplace: At our brick-and-mortar collaborative
   marketplace, equipped with merchandisers and display shelves to
   showcase partner farmers' products, we will prominently display
   educational posters that convey the essence of sustainable
   agriculture and regenerative farming. These posters will be
   accessible to visitors year-round, serving as a continual
   source of information. Topics will include the positive impacts
   of regenerative practices on soil health, local ecosystems, and
   food quality.

Sustainable Agriculture Practices

Our project will actively
demonstrate and promote several sustainable agriculture
practices, including:

1. Regenerative Farming
   Techniques: We will showcase regenerative practices
   such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and minimal tillage to
   improve soil health, boost biodiversity, and sequester carbon.
   These practices are employed on partner farms and highlighted
   during farm field day.
2. Local Food
   Systems: By establishing a collaborative marketplace,
   we will emphasize the importance of local food systems.
   Supporting local farmers reduces food miles, lowers carbon
   emissions, and bolsters the regional economy. Our marketplace
   will exclusively feature products from regenerative farms,
   promoting sustainable sourcing
3. Reducing Food
   Waste: Through our investment in infrastructure like
   refrigerators and display shelves, we aim to minimize food
   waste by preserving the freshness and presentation of products.
   This aligns with sustainable agriculture's goal of reducing
   resource wastage.

Project Objectives:

1. Community
   Education: Educate at least 4500 community members
   through our direct mail educational campaign, farm field day,
   and marketplace posters, ensuring they understand the benefits
   of sustainable agriculture and regenerative farming.
2. Increased
   Awareness: Raise awareness among community members,
   with community members indicating greater knowledge and
   appreciation of sustainable agriculture practices after
   participating in our educational initiatives, through a
   survey.
3. Access to Regenerative
   Products: Ensure year-round access to regenerative
   products for the Franklin county and Chicagoland community
   through the collaborative marketplace.
4. Sustainable
   Purchasing: Encourage sustainable purchasing
   practices, with 60% of marketplace visitors expressing intent
   to buy regeneratively sourced products regularly, measured by
   sales at our marketplace and through a survey. 

By implementing these strategies
and sustainable agriculture practices, we aim to empower our
community with knowledge, access, and the motivation to support
regenerative farming.