Struggles of Small Farms

Judith with Love is Love Farm at the Market

Farmers struggle to survive even with current trends to support local farmers and the movement to eat organic foods. I look up to the farmers that work hard so that we can have healthy, clean and fair food on our table everyday. It is hard enough for the farmers to produce the food, sell it at markets and connect with chefs in the areas, but they also encounter fires, bugs, animals and weather every year that sets them back.

Along the road with OITF I have seen farmers across the country have the same love and passion to their farm and crops. They have long hours and a certain kind of dedication it takes to keep their farms going. It always saddens me to see their struggles and hardships.

For example in Madison, WI at West Star Farm we witnessed a fire destroy a field of crops. In a matter of seconds we watched a whole field go up in flames due to a brush fire.

Due to recent weather in Georgia - Love is Love Farm has been severely damaged by the recent flooding. The GA area received 21 inches of rain from Sunday to Monday, which flooded the farm and many other area of town. Two-thirds of their land was submerged and most of their crops were lost. According to the NYT article his chickens were dry, but the lettuce, beets and cabbage from his fall harvest were deep under mucky brown water.

I love to see that the community is coming together on this. It is great to support local farmers and buy their product; however, it is another thing to help support them through these hard times. Julie Shaffer, Slow Food SE Regional Governor reaches out to the community to come together to help Love is Love and other farms hurt in the flooding. As the week goes on I am full of joy to hear all of the wonderful things people are doing to help. At the Farmers Market in 2 weeks Jim N Nicks and the Southern Foodways Alliance are selling plate lunches with all proceeds going to Love is Love. (Details To Come).

I also learned through a blog - that Woodfire Grill (Kevin Gillespie) will host a fundraising dinner for Love is Love on October 11th at 6PM. $100, 4 courses with wine pairings, with all proceeds going to Love is Love.

Please help in any way you can to support Love is Love Farm. Judith and Joe do so much for our community- it is time to give them a helping hand.