Sustainable Farming: wedding regional agriculture and community development in Coastal Georgia

Project Overview

CS06-042
Project Type: Sustainable Community Innovation
Funds awarded in 2006: $10,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2008
Region: Southern
State: Georgia
Principal Investigator:
John Littles, Sr
McIntosh SEED

Annual Reports

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Sustainable Communities: community development, community planning, local and regional food systems, public participation

    Proposal abstract:

    McIntosh Sustainable Environment and Economic Development (SEED) is a community-based initiative that focuses on economic development strategies and approaches. While the focus is on strengthening development practices, influencing policy and building philanthropy are important components of this approach. McIntosh SEED is a true grassroots initiative, created to explore strategies to raise the community out of decades of poverty. Its focus is on economic development while minimizing the impact to the natural environment. The project “Sustainable Farming: Wedding Regional Agriculture and Community Development in Coastal Georgia” is founded on the principles of linking sustainable agriculture and community development. Specifically this project will utilize results gleaned from a food system survey that will be developed and distributed by McIntosh SEED and its partners. This project will then engage public participation to assess the local food system, its inequities, constraints and assets. It will foster community dialogue on needs assessment and conduct a search conference that reflects a multi-stakeholder perspective and strategic action plans around various facets of that food system. One of the expected outputs is the expansion of local sustainable farming practices for five counties in coastal Georgia (McIntosh, Camden, Glynn, Long, and Liberty). This Food System Plan will be reviewed by all local government officials and an Advisory Council will be formed to implement the Food System Plan and increase public awareness and knowledge of the benefits of sustainable farming on the farmer, consumer, community, and environment. The project will build capacity through its partnerships with multiple local governments, state government, federal government, non-profit and community agencies and organizations. It will promote entrepreneurial opportunities that will benefit the agricultural sector as well as the community while having the potential to influence local government policy through ordinance development. By its very nature, the project will promote a long-term strategy that will be more productive and profitable to local farmers while integrating natural resource protection, cultural preservation and civic engagement.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    McIntosh Sustainable Environment and Economic Development (SEED) is a community-based initiative that focuses on economic development strategies and approaches. While the focus is on strengthening development practices, influencing policy and building philanthropy are important components of this approach. McIntosh SEED is a true grassroots initiative, created to explore strategies to raise the community out of decades of poverty. Its focus is on economic development while minimizing the impact to the natural environment.

    The project “Sustainable Farming: Wedding Regional Agriculture and Community Development in Coastal Georgia” is founded on the principles of linking sustainable agriculture and community development. Specifically this project will utilize results gleaned from a food system survey that will be developed and distributed by McIntosh SEED and its partners. This project will then engage public participation to assess the local food system, its inequities, constraints and assets. It will foster community dialogue on needs assessment and conduct a search conference that reflects a multi-stakeholder perspective and strategic action plans around various facets of that food system. One of the expected outputs is the expansion of local sustainable farming practices for five counties in coastal Georgia (McIntosh, Camden, Glynn, Long, and Liberty). This Food System Plan will be reviewed by all local government officials and an Advisory Council will be formed to implement the Food System Plan and increase public awareness and knowledge of the benefits of sustainable farming on the farmer, consumer, community, and environment.

    The project will build capacity through its partnerships with multiple local governments, state government, federal government, non-profit and community agencies and organizations. It will promote entrepreneurial opportunities that will benefit the agricultural sector as well as the community while having the potential to influence local government policy through ordinance development. By its very nature, the project will promote a long-term strategy that will be more productive and profitable to local farmers while integrating natural resource protection, cultural preservation and civic engagement.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.