A Few Late Night Thoughts on Food Movement Success


Pushing three years ago, I clambered into overalls to earn my living encouraging and assisting folks to grow food for self and neighbor. I got my start standing beside the road with a pitchfork and sign that read, "Will Garden for Food."


On one level, I launched my business to earn an income*. On a deeper level, however, I got into food gardening, I reclaimed the overall-style of my grandfather because I sought to develop a platform of legitimacy from which I could support the food movement by connecting and aiding the many local players working to grow a resilient, community-based food system. (Much of my food movement facilitation work these days I do through the Tallahassee Food Network and with iGrow-"Whatever You Like," a Frenchtown-based youth-empowerment and urban ag project.)

The iGrow Team just after hearing the news that they had won the Junior League's Big, Bold Idea Grant.
The past few years have certainly been an exciting time to do food movement work. There's so much happening. I'll note a few highlights. (Just to be clear, I can in no way claim responsibility for all these happenings; I'm just privy to the info. Only in a few instances am I a co-conspirator in the work.)
If you'd like to connect with any of the efforts you see, let me know.

*Folks regularly ask, "How do you make money?"
I've consulted with folks about where, when and how to plant and maintain their food gardens; I've built raised beds, reseeded existing gardens, planted fruit trees, berry bushes, grape vines and herbs.  I've aided workplaces, neighborhoods, churches, schools, and recently, the Florida Department of Ag  to develop community food garden projects. As needed, I've provided community organizing, team-building, leadership development, design, supply sourcing, installation, planting, maintenance, instruction, and youth engagement services.