Diversity - The Continuing Face of Sustainable Agriculture

Diversity - The Continuing Face of Sustainable Agriculture

Summary

This project seeks to assist North Central Region of SARE to reach out and serve limited resource and minority farmers in underserved communities.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Objective: This project seeks to assist North Central Region of SARE to reach out and serve limited resource and minority farmers in underserved communities.

Short-term goal:
Identify and create partnerships with leaders/early adopters within communities of underserved groups and local service providers.

Leaders and early adopters/partnerships:
Cornelius Williams, Vandalia Gardens, 9/08
Leslie Huffman, Vandalia Gardens, 4-H Club, 10/08
Morse Brown, Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) Multi-Cultural Farmers, 9/08
Barbara James Norman, Project Director, MIFFS Project Assistant

Partners working with the groups: USDA/Natural Resource Conservation Service, (MI State Office, Monroe County), Michigan State University (MSU) Student Organic Gardens, MSU Extension, the Greening of Detroit, Wayne Community College, Wayne Metro, and limited resource farmers/urban gardeners in Metro Detroit area.

Accomplishments/Milestones

SARE Diversity grant sponsored events hosted by Detroit Urban Garden Project:

9/16-17/2008, Hopkins Park, IL, SARE Diversity Group Project Planning Retreat, Barbara Norman, Johari Kewli-Cole, Cornelius Williams, Leslie Huffman, 11 participants MIFFS/SARE

10/21/2008, Farm Bill Update with Detroit Urban Gardeners and IYABO Farms, Wayne CC,Detroit, MI, Sandy Penn, Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS), State Outreach Coordinator, Al Norwood, Steve Olds Kelly Loosey, Farm Service Agency (FSA) Outreach Coordinator, 41 participants, USDA/NRCS/FSA, MIFFS Staff, Wayne Community College, SARE National Outreach Staff

11/05/2008, SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant Writing Workshop, Wayne CC, Belleville, MI, Barbara J. Norman, Morse Brown, 26 participants, SARE Diversity, Cord, MIFFS staff, MIFFS MCFP Project Director, Wayne Community
College

11/8/2008, SARE Fall Harvest Festival: “Putting Your Garden to Bed,” Detroit, MI, Cornelius Williams, Leslie Huffman, Vandalia Gardens, 4-H Youth, 148 participants

1/17/2009, Michigan Family Farms Conference Youth Sustainable Workshop, Battle Creek, MI, Johari Kewli-Cole, Presenter
Leslie Huffman, Youth volunteer, SARE grant recipients, 31 participants

1/24/2009, Urban Gardens, Detroit, MI Vandalia Gardens, Vandalia, MI

SARE Diversity grant sponsored events with Kansas Black Farmers Association:

2/21-22/2009, Growing Teff for Sustainable Research for
Nicodemus, KS farmers

“The Changing Climate of Agriculture Conference,” Grandville, OH, Cornelius Williams, Leslie Huffman, Kwesi Huffman

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

I. Urban Farmers – Detroit, MI, (Cornelius Williams/Leslie Huffman, Vandalia Garden)

• Planning meetings with staff, resource persons. Identified and created partnerships for Fall 08 SARE Outreach sessions.
• Sustainable agriculture organic hands-on field training for Vandalia Garden leaders’ staff in planting, harvesting, packaging and marketing. Training provided by Lee/Laurie Arboreal of Eater’s Guild Organic Farm, Bangor MI.
• This project has to date had three SARE sponsored outreach events:
1. SARE 2008 Farm Bill Update, October 21, 2008, with Partners USDA/ NRCS, FSA, and MSU, Wayne Community College, Detroit, MI, Attendance: 43: Programs and Assistance geared to Organic Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops (NCR-FRG proposal, SARE bulletins in handouts, SARE books on display).
2. SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant Writing Workshop, November 5, 2008, Wayne Community College Detroit, MI, Attendance: 29: (SARE bulletins in handouts, SARE books on display)
3. SARE Urban Farmers Vandalia Gardens Fall Harvest, November 8, 2008, 4-H Community Center, Detroit, MI, Attendance: (including youth) 105: SARE bulletins available, books on display

II. Small-scale African American Farmers in Illinois (The group is led by Casemmie Cole of IYABO Farms. IYABO Farm, a certified Organic farm, has been used as a demonstration area and learning center for Farmers.
• Several planning meetings via phone and e-mails
• IYABO student intern, staff and U of IL partner attended Friends and Family Farms Field Day August 6, 2008 in Covert, MI
• Project Coordinator and Detroit Urban Farmers made a two-day sight visit to IYABO Farm in Hopkins Park, IL September 15-16, 2008. This was a collaborating partner, planning meeting. Attendance 16
• Plans are being made for a on going project and several demonstration days for spring and summer of 2009.

III. Kansas Black Farmers Association: The audience is African American farmers in Kansas. This project will assist the Kansas Black Farmers Association (KBFA) to increase their effectiveness in serving under represented and minority farmers.
• This project will kick off December 18, 2008 in Nicodemus, KS Project Coordinator, partners and resource persons will gather for their first strategic planning session on the afternoon of 19th. Barbara Norman will continue with one-on-one family farms meeting. Identifying barriers and other concerns.

Collaborators: