Newsletter - Summer 2007 by Mike Lorey

the

D I RT

The Quarterly Newsletter of Georgia Organics

Growing Healthy Foods, Farms, & Families • Summer 2007 Tomato Dinner at Woodﬁre Grill July 18, Atlanta Revel in the fruits of summer as Chef Michael Tuohy of Woodfire Grill ‘iron-chefs’ four courses from local and heirloom tomatoes in a benefit for Georgia Organics! More info on page 15.

New Workshop! Business Planning For Small Producers July 31, Macon Learn the essentials of farm business planning in this course designed for limited-resource, diversified agricultural producers. Dr. Marion Simon, Kentucky State Extension Specialist for Small Farm and Part-time Farmers, instructs. More info on Page 9.

Agroecology Lab Partnership The University of Georgia’s Agroecology Lab and Georgia Organics join forces to broaden the dialogue on sustainable agriculture practices and impacts in Georgia. Page 4

Georgia Organics Annual Conference The call is out for conference topics, artwork, and volunteers. Submission deadlines and more info on Page 2.

In This Issue: From the Ground Up Page 1 Georgia Organics Program Update Page 8 Water-wise Home Gardening Tips Page 11 Event Calendar Page 15

From the Ground Up:

Digging in to Increase Georgia’s Organic Supply by Tucker Berta

aomi Davis and her husband, Bennie, were new to organic and sustainable farming and they had a heap of questions. “How do we create a successful CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program? Is our plan for rotations a good one? What about irrigation? What’s wrong with my broccoli?” Then Naomi came across some information about a mentoring program for new farmers. She was intrigued, and placed a call to Georgia Organics for more information. Two years later, the Davis’ are in their second year of the Georgia Organics Farmer-to-Farmer mentoring program, and they’re operating a successful farm in Roberta, complete with a CSA program and healthy broccoli.

As “mentees,” the Davis’ and the other twelve farms participating in the program are paired with veteran farmers who provide their time, talent, and brains to help new farmers tackle any problems their operations may present, and take their organic and sustainable farms to the next level. The arrangement honors the experienced organic farmers by compensating them for sharing their wisdom with newer farmers. The Davis’ are paired with two mentors: Nicolas Donck of Crystal Organic Farm in Newborn and Daniel Parson of Gaia Gardens in Decatur. “It’s great to have two mentors, and we’ve learned from both of them—by visiting their farms, we learned more about rotations, irrigation, planning and all of those types of details,” says Naomi. It was this group of mentors that converged at Davis Farms last fall to diagnose the broccoli’s troubles. “They discovered that there was a mildew in the soil and helped us ﬁgure out how to work with that until we got it eradicated,” says Naomi.

Farmer mentee Omar Rasheed at his Lake Oconee Garden.

“Mentoring has proven to be one of the most effective ways to educate new farmers and help them maximize their potential, while minimizing the obstacles,” says Karen Adler, the mentoring program coordinator for Georgia Organics. “It’s a very valuable aid in the learning process that can provide crucial hands-on knowledge for the new or transitioning farmer.” If Georgia’s farmers are going to meet the burgeoning demand for locally grown organic food, these new and transitioning farmers will be instrumental. At present, 1,560 acres of Georgia’s agricultural land are certified for organic production. In a state that ranks twelfth in total U.S. agricultural output, that’s less than one-half of one percent of Georgia’s total agricultural land. Compared with other top agricultural states—such as California, with 222,557 certified organic acres—the potential for growth in organic production in Georgia is considerable. Cont’d on page 5

From the Director

Georgia Organics

have been thinking a lot about the weather. Not just any weather, but all kinds: cold snaps, storms, droughts, and resulting ﬁres. Perhaps it is my blueberry malaise or peachless haze getting the best of me, but Mother Nature has me reﬂecting on a more global scale.

P.O. Box 8924 • Atlanta, GA 31106 678.702.0400 info@georgiaorganics.org www.georgiaorganics.org

Board of Directors goboard@georgiaorganics.org Barbara Petit, President Daron Joffe, Vice President Leeann Culbreath, Secretary Leslie Fellows, Treasurer George Boyhan, Ph.D. Juan Carlos Diaz-Perez Jennifer DuBose Mike Gilroy Will Harris Jay Lazega Daniel Parson Rick Reed Mary Reilly Alex Rilko Mike Smith Charlotte Swancy Edward Taylor Michael Tuohy

GO Staff Alice Rolls

Executive Director alice@georgiaorganics.org

Karen S. Adler

Mentoring Program Coordinator 404.633.4534 karen@georgiaorganics.org

Lynn Pugh

Curriculum Coordinator lynn@georgiaorganics.org

Today is the official start of hurricane season. As I look up to the ceaselessly sunny skies, I reflect on the summer of 2005. The skies swirled counterclockwise that summer. I’ll never forget it. This year’s predictions are for another lively season. A hurricane almost sounds refreshing right now as I survey my thirsty garden. The only precipitation we are getting these days is the steady rain of leaves from trees making a desperate attempt to conserve resources. To deal with dwindling water supplies, the City of Atlanta announced dramatic restrictions in May. No watering from Monday through Friday. Period ... except if you have a food garden. How interesting that our policies favor agriculture over lawns, and food over aesthetics for a change. Perhaps Georgia Organics needs to start a new campaign: “Can’t water your lawn? Become a farmer today!” All this crazy weather naturally leads me to the big picture—climate change. A friend recently sent me the book Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert. He said the book would change my life. Well, maybe not quite, but it did cause me to seriously pause. I have been reading a lot about climate change for years; however, I don’t think that I’ve focused as intensely on climate change as it dramatically relates to agriculture. The unpredictability of weather and climate will make farm planning more difﬁcult in the future. Climate extremes will stress an already fragile food production system, and agro-ecological zones will shift, forcing farmers to alter what, how, and when they plant. Pests and diseases will also take up residence in areas where they were previously unknown. These climate change triggers are already beginning to surface around the globe. Georgia needs to start talking about solutions to these issues now in order to prepare for the years to come. In the meantime, I’ll continue to survey the weather and long for a good, old-fashioned summer thunderstorm. Yours in sustainable foods and farms,

Alice Rolls Executive Director

Relinda Walker

Program Coordinator for South Georgia relinda@georgiaorganics.org

Suzanne Welander

Communications Director suzanne@georgiaorganics.org

Mary Anne Woodie

alling artists, speakers, researchers, and all organized to-doers! Starting this summer, you can help shape next year’s Georgia Organics Annual Conference in three important ways:

Newsletter Editor

Session Proposals: Session abstracts are due August 15. Artwork: Create a customized work that illustrates the conference theme. Volunteer: Many assignments can be completed in advance of the actual conference; some larger assignments can qualify you for a full discount—a $210 value!

Hannah Cowart

Contact Mary Anne Woodie at maryanne@georgiaorganics.org, or 770.720.9690 to volunteer your time, talents, or thoughts.

Conference Coordinator maryanne@georgiaorganics.org Suzanne Welander

Summer Intern hannah@georgiaorganics.org

Graphic Design

Stephen R. Walker www.srwalkerdesigns.com

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2008 Georgia Organics Conference

Post-Move Wish List Help us feather the new nest—and give visitors a place to sit and rest an elbow. If you can donate any of the following items, please contact Georgia Organics at 678.702.0400, or email at info@georgiaorganics.org. • Guest chairs • Small couch • Small meeting table • Modern-era copy machine • Bookshelves • Water cooler • Hand truck • Vacuum cleaner • Small refrigerator • Landscaping mulch • Shade tolerant vines the DIRT • www.georgiaorganics.org

Summer 2007

The 2007 Local Food Guide

A Member Benefit

ven a broken-down delivery truck—stocked with 50,000 copies of the new guide—couldn’t keep the hard-working production team from beating this year’s publication deadline! The Guide, completed with sponsorship from Whole Foods Market, Les Dames d’Escoffier, and the USDA Risk Management Agency, is free to consumers and can be downloaded from www.georgiaorganics.org; print copies have been distributed to natural food stores and farmers’ markets throughout the state.

Over 200 guests celebrated the release of the Local Food Guide at JCT Kitchen on June 4.

“The Local Food Guide plays an instrumental role in establishing a local food system where all Georgians have access to healthy, sustainable, and locally grown food,” says Alice Rolls, Executive Director of Georgia Organics. “Supporting local farmers not only reduces your carbon footprint while putting tastier seasonal food on your plate, it provides economic support to the families producing it, helping to sustain farming as a way of life.”

For a limited time, a copy of the 2007 Guide will be mailed to new members of Georgia Organics. See the membership form on the back page of this newsletter, or sign up online today at www.georgiaorganics.org.

Field of Greens Be Part of the Excitement!

ith live music, local chefs, an organic market, educational and family activities, the stage is set for the second annual Field of Greens, an organic farm aid event. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 6, and join Georgia Organics at Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm in Walnut Grove (near Covington), for this day-long festival. Proceeds help local farmers through Georgia Organics. We’re signing up farmers and other interested businesses to participate in the Organic Market that will operate on-farm that day. Farmer participation is free of charge. To reserve your space, or to volunteer, or to become an event sponsor, contact info@ﬁeldofgreensgeorgia.org today!

Goin’ to the Chapel Ivey Doyal

our new ofﬁce is both stylish and toxin-free. Let’s hear it for environmentally responsible businesses!

We would also like to thank Benjamin Moore for donating ﬁve cans of Eco-Spec paint and InterFace Flor for donating half of our carpeting needs. Thanks to these two companies,

Finally, we would like to thank our contractors, Michael Powell and Todd Calhoun for doing a bang up job and for being all around good guys. Not only did they give us a great deal on our build out, they also offered to donate their landscaping skills free of charge. Thanks Guys!

believe it was the Village People who said, the Y is “a place you can go, when you’re short on your dough.” For the past two years, that little aphorism has held true for us, but all good things must come to an end. Last week we moved our Atlanta ofﬁces from the YWCA on North Highland to the Episcopal Church of Our Savior just two blocks away. Since we’re still short on our dough, the church generously offered us three years of rent-free space. As they well know, God loves a cheerful giver (and so do we)!

And, of course, we never would have been able to move at all if it weren’t for Omar Rasheed’s trusty trailer. Because of his truck and Kristina Lefever’s sheer brute strength, we were able to move our entire ofﬁce in one trip.

New Ofﬁce, New Face

eorgia Organics welcomes Hannah Cowart, our über-intern, who kicked off her summer internship on June 4 by hefting boxes, stocking tubs of beer, and recycling bags of the empties at the Local Food Guide release party. Now on to the serious work: Hannah will be helping Georgia Organics craft an organizational development plan. In addition to satisfying part of her degree requirement, this internship will provide Hannah with nonproﬁt experience while applying contemporary theory to realworld operation. Welcome, Hannah! Summer 2007

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Georgia Organics and UGA’s Agroecology Lab Join Forces By Dr. Carl Jordan and Jason Mann

“T

he whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Those words are inscribed on the bronze bust of Eugene P. Odum that rests in the lobby of the University of Georgia’s Institute of Ecology. An ecological and historical perspective, heightened by his awareness of the profound changes wrought by human impact over the previous 200 years, informed Gene Odum’s affections for Georgia’s landscapes. He knew that the change in landscape represented more than the sum of the separate human decisions on how to manage a field or a forest; the cumulative result of all decisions produced an impact that could not have been predicted by an analysis of each individual action. Decisions related to agriculture are the primary source of the cumulative impact we observe in Georgia today. Today, the University of Georgia’s Institute of Ecology fulfills Gene Odum’s vision for an ecological research institution studying Georgia’s changing landscapes and ecology. Emerging from that same commitment is the UGA Agroecology Laboratory, dedicated to advancing ecologically sound agricultural practices by adapting functions of natural ecosystems to improve soil, control weeds, reduce pests, and enhance yield and crop quality.

for a scientific perspective to inform management practices within a larger context of uncertainty and change. The Agroecology Lab is uniquely positioned to bring together the joint resources of ongoing university research with the commercial accountability of community-supported farming, all within a context of ongoing dialogue between farmers, educators, researchers, students, and the larger community. Through the integration of objectives at all levels in the farming and research system, the Agroecology Lab seeks to develop a functioning model for adaptive management that can serve the growing sustainable agriculture community of Georgia. However, to achieve this goal the lab needed a partner to strengthen its ability to communicate with the agricultural community of Georgia. It found that partner in Georgia Organics. The partnership between the Agroecology Lab and Georgia Organics will leverage the strengths of both organizations–the research capability of the Agroecology Lab, and the outreach and extension capacity of Georgia Organics. This partnership will serve Georgia through linking ecology, socioeconomics, and culture in an attempt to sustain agricultural production, farming communities, and environmental health.

The new partnership took root in a presentation at the March 2007 Georgia Organics’ annual conference where members of the Agroecology Lab emphasized that organic agriculture in the Southeast is perhaps more difficult than in any other region because the hot humid climate causes rapid organic matter decomposition. There was a great deal of interest in the experimental management techniques discussed as a means to conserve soil organic matter. As a result of this interest, the Agroecology Lab will be promoting a statewide dialogue on all aspects of soil organic matter management, between farmers, educators, researchers, extension agents, and the larger community. Watch upcoming issues of The Dirt for opportunities to participate in the dialogue. Dr. Jordan is a Professor in the E.P Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia. For 40 years he has studied nutrient cycles in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Jason Mann is a biodynamic farmer, social/ environmental entrepreneur, agroecological researcher and community organizer. He is the farm manger of the University of Georgia’s Agroecology Laboratory and founder/farmer of Full Moon Cooperative and Farm255. For more information on the UGA Agroecology Lab, visit http://www.ecology. uga.edu/facilities/assocfacil/agroecologylab/ agroecology.htm.

The Agroecology Lab relies upon an adaptive management model that integrates ecological theory, farmer participation, and systematic adaptation based upon farmer observation and feedback. Adaptive management has been developed as a method to incrementally improve land management by treating choices as a series of experiments. Through continual feedback, both from the results of ongoing research and through collaboration with farmers, adaptive management offers the opportunity 4

the DIRT • www.georgiaorganics.org

Summer 2007

From the Ground Up •

One Farm at a Time

Cont’d from page 1

It takes time to develop a farm capable of producing a reliable and high quality harvest of organic food. It’s an intricate process that requires the self-starting initiative of the farmer coupled with techniques and strategies customized to that farm’s individual ecosystem and needs. Even a piece of land that’s never been farmed commercially requires time to build the soil fertility; retaining the soil’s organic matter is one of the biggest challenges to organic farming in the South.

Thinking about the next generation gets program coordinator Pugh excited. “It’s very important that we integrate organic curriculum into high schools,” says Pugh. “Kids are idealists and want the world to be better. We can tap into that idealism and educate them.” The course is structured so that students can construct a garden and observe the course’s teachings ﬁrst-hand.

Both Lynn Pugh and mentoring program coordinator Karen Witnessing the emerging interest Adler advocate a self-moderated in local, organic food, Alice Rolls, course of study for anyone Executive Director of Georgia interested in organic farming. Organics, recognizes Georgia’s “The first step is to read The need for more farmers. “The New Organic Grower by market forces are in play. Organic Eliot Coleman,” suggests is the fastest growing sector in Pugh. Georgia Organics’ the food industry, and consumers Adler emphasizes attending are hungry for these products,” workshops and conferences, she says, “which is why we have noting “We’re working to make to have the resources in place to the best possible education educate interested farmers—to and support opportunities farm more farmers.” available.” Those workshops Tucker Taylor (right) of Woodland Gardens describes often feature regional and construction and utilization of hoop houses. In addition to the mentoring national sustainable farming program, those resources include The Fundamentals of Organic experts who share their experiences firsthand. In 2006, workshops Farming and Gardening Curriculum compiled by organic farmer included: vermicomposting with Will Allen, director of Growing and educator Lynn Pugh. This instructor training program, Power of Milwaukee and Chicago; aquaculture—growing one of the first of its kind in the country, helps educators create tilapia—with Will Allen and Dr. Pat Duncan of Fort Valley State hands-on programs to teach adults and high school students University; an innovative hands-on, interactive pest management the science behind organic growing. In 2006, this program session with educator and farmer Dr. Rose Koenig of Gainesville, was distributed free of charge to every extension office in Florida; farm business planning and recordkeeping, and separately, Georgia, and is now available via download a shiitake mushroom cultivation course with from the Georgia Organics website at Daniel Parson of Decatur’s Gaia Gardens. www.georgiaorganics.org. In addition to learning course content, participants learn from talking with others The curriculum forms the centerpiece for in attendance, building their own support an eight-day class taught by Pugh. Recent network in the process. graduates have already put into practice key principles as they start or expand their Digging Deeper food-growing operations. Participant Jake with Mentoring Egolf’s specialty herb, flower, and microHands-on experience is crucial to any new farm green business, Keystone Organics, is already enterprise. The Farmer-to-Farmer mentoring benefiting from the course’s emphasis on soil program is the cornerstone program that science. “With the drought, I’m finding that Rose Koenig works with participants (many secures access to the local expert pool in a way my soil can retain more water since I’ve added mentees) on a planning exercise at the 2006 that would not otherwise be possible. pest management workshop. much more organic matter than in years past,” says Egolf. Both Egolf and participant Terri Jagger Blincoe “The program is most effective for farmers who have done are integrating edible landscapes into their already-successful their homework,” says Adler. “They already have land, businesses. For Jagger Blincoe, of Ladybug Farms, growing food they’ve attended workshops, read books, talked to other is an extension of the garden design and installation work that she farmers. The most successful mentees started out by taking was already doing. “How am I using the course?” she asks. “I advantage of Georgia Organics workshops and outreach am farming now.” This year, Jagger Blincoe began marketing her programs and have spent some time on a farm; now they’re produce and eggs at area farmers’ markets. ready to take it to the next level.”

Summer 2007

Cont’d on page 7 the DIRT • www.georgiaorganics.org

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Since 1946 Adams-Briscoe Seed Company has been serving agriculture and the seed industry with all types of seeds, many of which are difficult to locate elsewhere. We stock all types of seeds for cover crops, forages, erosion control, wildlife enhancement, vegetables, land reclamation and other uses. As a dealer for National Garden Wholesale we also supply a good assortment of organic fertilizers and plant protection products. Please contact us for a seed and product list. You may visit our website at www.ABSEED.com

Phone: (770) 775-7826 FAX:(770) 775-7122 E-Mail : ABSEED@JUNO.COM Jimmy Adams Mail Orders Welcome * Credit Cards Accepted Greg Adams

From the Ground Up •

Cont’d from page 5

Now in its fourth year, the main goal of the mentoring program is to help beginning and transitioning organic and sustainable farmers in Georgia reduce their risk and increase the chance of success by providing direct support and quality mentoring. The mentoring program, which along with general-attendance workshops is made possible through a partnership with the Risk Management Agency (RMA) of the USDA, begins with an orientation meeting where mentors and new participants are introduced and information is shared. Plans are made for the mentees to visit the mentors’ farms, and vice versa. Throughout the year, participants attend the Georgia Organics Conference, in-depth workshops, and farm tours. “The mentoring program provides an ongoing, invaluable connection for new farmers to have access to professional farmers, giving them the freedom to ask questions, see a successful business plan in place, observe production methods, learn more about the marketing side, and how they’re making the farm viable,” says Alice Rolls.

Farms. “Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about the importance of buying local, organic food, so the demand is only going to increase. There’s a great opportunity out there right now for organic and sustainable farmers, and we don’t want Georgia to miss out on it because we don’t have enough growers.” Alice Rolls concurs, optimistic about the emerging interest among potential organic and sustainable farmers, thanks in some part to an informal poll: “I polled ﬁfteen people in the farming industry, asking them how many calls they get in a year from people who are interested in organic farming. Between those fifteen people, they got an estimated 700 phone calls. Georgia only has about thirty-six certiﬁed organic farms right now, so even if only 200 of those 700 calls were serious, what an amazing interest level that is! Our responsibility is to help those potential farmers.”

Just as building soil fertility takes time, so does growing new organic farms. Witherington is seeing the positive results The best part, say many of the of her farming start to mentees, is the direct access blossom with this year’s to their mentors. Farmer harvest. Despite the record Mike Akin of Evie’s Country drought, she says “The Gardens partners with his farm is having a terrific mentors, Skip and Cookie year. We’re realizing the Glover of Glover Family Will Allen of Growing Power demonstrates vermicomposting and aquaculture systems at a workshop held at Fort Valley State University in August 2006. benefits of all the work Farm. “Hardly a day goes by we’ve been doing to build that I don’t talk to Skip,” says Mike. “It’s just like talking to an encyclopedia—I’ve never asked him the soil.” As more new and emerging farmers start their own a question that he couldn’t answer.” According to Akin, Glover has operations, those benefits—and Georgia’s sustainable and helped him come up with creative solutions that have tremendously organic harvests—will continue to grow. helped his farm. “He got me some sunn hemp, which Skip said was a good soil builder because it puts nitrogen in the soil. I’d never heard For now, Naomi Davis offers this advice for future organic of it before,” he says. “And, yes, the drought is bad, but there’s light at and sustainable farmers: “Jump right in and do it! There’s a the end of the tunnel for me. Skip called me from Utah last year and huge market out there and growers can’t produce enough. If said, ‘Go right now to the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation you feel that farming is your calling, just put some seeds in the Service) and apply for a new program that will provide irrigation on ground and use Georgia Organics as your educational forum your farm.’ So we did, it got approved, and as soon as the bureaucrats and university for growing organically.” get through doing whatever bureaucrats do, we’ll have an irrigation system. I can’t say enough about Skip and Cookie being our mentors. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to our farm.” Tucker Berta is the Director of Communications for Serenbe, a sustainable community just south of Atlanta with a certiﬁed The mentoring program is beneficial for the new farmers, but organic farm, three restaurants, inn, art gallery, and residential the experienced mentors are also well aware of its value. “I’m community. more than happy to be a mentor and lend a hand to a new farmer For more information on Georgia Organics programs, visit because we need more organic and sustainable farmers in Georgia! www.georgiaorganics.org or call 678.702.0400. For more As more and more people are buying local, organic products, information on the Farmer-to-Farmer Mentoring Program supply in Georgia is getting tighter and tighter,” says Paige contact program coordinator Karen Adler at 404.633.4534 or Witherington, mentor and farm manager for Serenbe Organic Karen@georgiaorganics.org. Summer 2007

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Georgia Organics Program Update & Accomplishments (March – June 2007)

Conference: Georgia Organics’ 10th annual conference in Douglas attracted a record 465 attendees in March. Twenty-three workshops were conducted including a memorable ﬁeld day at Jim Hudson’s farm, C & M Earthworks, with keynote speaker, Joel Salatin. Farmer-to-Farmer Mentoring: This program is supported by a partnership with USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). Conference scholarships were awarded to 47 new and transitioning farmers, and an in-depth session, The Road to Organic, sponsored at the conference. Twelve pairs of mentor-farmers and mentees held on-farm meetings, and a class, Introduction to Organic Growing, was presented at North Georgia Technical College on June 1. Local Food Guide: The 2nd edition of the Local Food Guide was published (with sponsorship support from the USDA Risk Management Agency, Les Dames d’Escofﬁer, and Whole Foods Market) and 50,000 copies printed. This year’s guide lists 103 sustainable and organic farms, a 55 percent increase over last year. The guide has been distributed to outlets throughout the state; 200 people attended the Local Food Guide Release Party hosted by JCT Kitchen. Farm-to-Institution: Georgia Organics continues to work with Emory University in support of their Sustainable Food Initiative, and attended a Food Fair held on campus in April.

Georgia Organics is seeking funding to work with Georgia farmers to source and supply for emerging institutional needs. Farm Bill: Georgia Organics is monitoring progress of the Farm Bill and is partnering with a select group of restaurants to raise awareness among their dining patrons on the importance of the Farm Bill. Georgia Organics has created a Farm Bill section on its website and will be sending out action alerts throughout the summer. Converting Southern Commodities to Organic Production: This program is funded through EPA’s Strategic Agricultural Initiative. Georgia Organics provided a full track of organic educational sessions for transitioning farmers at the Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable and Georgia Organics Conferences, with focus on Vidalia onions, blueberries, and peanuts. Working group meetings were held on these commodities during the winter and spring. A “Farming for the Future” session was presented at the Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers meeting. Buy Local Campaign: Georgia Organics is working to develop a brand and template materials for a statewide buy local campaign. Materials such as farmers’ market banners and point-of-sale signs will be printed later this summer.

Farmers’ Market Promotions: Georgia Organics submitted a grant proposal to the USDA to promote Atlantaarea farmers’ markets, and continues to drive traffic to new and existing markets through publicity efforts. Atlanta Local Food Initiative (ALFI): ALFI is currently working to define local food goals and policies that could be adopted by the City of Atlanta. Membership: Georgia Organics membership is currently 595 members, a 25% increase from the beginning of the year. Fundraising: Feast in the Field, hosted by Woodland Gardens, was attendedby 100 people and raised $11,000 for Georgia Organics. Special thanks to the farmers, participating chefs, sponsors, and volunteers who created a memorable and delicious afternoon. Faith & Foods: Georgia Organics is working with Heifer International to provide seed funding for a faith-based food garden project based in the metro-Atlanta area. New Office: Georgia Organics moved to new offices in the Virginia-Highlands neighborhood of Atlanta. The Episcopal Church of Our Savior donated 800 square feet of space for a term of three years, saving the organization over $20,000 in office rent.

“I Gave at the Office”

Earth Share of Georgia provides one simple way to support the environment . . . and Georgia Organics

id you know you could give to Georgia Organics at the ofﬁce?

Georgia Organics is a member of Earth Share of Georgia, a federation of 61 leading environmental groups. Similar in fashion to the United Way, businesses partner with Earth Share so their employees can contribute to environmental causes through payroll conributions or direct gifts throughout the year. Contributions can be directed toward all Earth Share members, or to selected member groups. More than 70 businesses currently partner with Earth Share of Georgia. If you can already give to Earth Share at work, consider a contribution to support Georgia Organics or other 8

environmental groups. To ﬁnd out how you can enroll your business, contact Alice Rolls at 678.702.0400. Check out Earth Share’s new video at www.earthsharega.org.

Leave a Legacy

More than 80 percent of Americans contribute to nonproﬁt groups throughout their lifetimes. But only eight percent chose to continue this support through a charitable bequest. Consider making a gift to Georgia Organics in your will today. To receive a planned giving brochure or for more information, contact Alice Rolls at 678.702.0400 or alice@georgiaorganics.org.

the DIRT • www.georgiaorganics.org

Summer 2007

Feast in the Fields

Upcoming

rofessional photographers call it “golden time”—those magical moments when the sun bathes green ﬁelds with honey-like rays. Golden time stretched for hours the afternoon of April 29 as Woodland Gardens hosted six of Georgia’s top chefs and over 100 guests for the Feast in the Fields. Each course simply could not have been more exquisite; many featured produce pulled fresh from Woodland’s manicured beds earlier that day. Guests glowed with complements for the farmers and Chefs. Truly, the collaboration culminated in an unforgettable afternoon. Georgia Organics would like to thank farmers Tucker Taylor and Celia Barss; the participating Chefs, including Angie Mosier of From the Kitchen of Angie Mosier, Ann Quatrano of Bacchanalia, Dave Roberts of Sam and Dave’s, Hugh Acheson of Five and Ten, Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene, and Scott Peacock of Watershed; Terrapin Beer and Square One Organic Vodka; and the many volunteers whose combined efforts raised over $11,000 for Georgia Organics!

The collaborating chefs: Chefs Scott Peacock, Linton Hopkins, Anne Quatrano, and Hugh Acheson (Chefs Dave Roberts and Angie Mosier not pictured).

Summer 2007

Workshops Business Planning for Small Producers July 31, 10am-4pm, Macon, GA Learn the essentials of business planning and management for the farm from Marion Simon, PhD, State Specialist for Small and Part-time Farmers with the Kentucky cooperative extension. Key topics of the “Risk-Assessed Business Planning for Small Producers” curriculum will be covered. These include: the roles of business planning; how to assess the farm’s resource inventory; how to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the operation; how to use and develop enterprise budgets; and basic ﬁnancial analysis for the farm. Workshop will be held at the Georgia Farm Bureau in Macon. Registration is $45, or $35 for Georgia Organics members, and includes a comprehensive how-to manual and lunch. For more info, or to register, visit www. georgiaorganics.org, or call 678.702.0400.

Introductory Course in Organic Farming & Gardening Starting August 11, 8am-4pm, Cumming, GA Offered in eight one-day installments held on alternating Saturdays, each day starts with morning lectures, discussions, videos, and power point presentations and ends with hands-on activities in the field, greenhouse or on a field trip. The course, taught by Lynn Pugh of Cane Creek Farm, is structured around the curriculum developed by Georgia Organics, Fundamentals of Organic Farming and Gardening: An Instructor’s Guide, and includes topics ranging from the basics of organic growing and soil biology to marketing and certification. Targeted to adults who want to know more about the science and art of organic growing, prior experience or education is not required. Registration is $450, or $425 for Georgia Organics members. For more info, or to register, visit www.georgiaorganics.org, or call 678.702.0400.

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1235 Euharlee Road - Kingston, GA 30145 | 770-608-4093 | www.HoltFarmSupply.com

Words for the Water-Wise By Stephanie Van Parys

ardeners are very resourceful when faced with a challenge such as no rain. In the midst of our drought and watering restrictions, I’m going to share with you some tricks we use to keep a thriving garden despite the lack of rain.

Keep the Water on the Ground

Rain, Rain, Come Our Way

Deep or Shallow Roots?

Rainbarrels! My husband converted three 60-gallon, heavy-duty garbage cans into rain barrels and attached them to our gutters. The barrels sit on top of one-foot stands and have water spouts that can either fill a watering can or have a hose attached to them. You can make your own rain barrel or purchase one. Keep the lid on tight to discourage mosquitoes from laying eggs in the stored water, and if using Bt, to keep butterflies from drinking the water. Collecting rainwater provides a free source of water that is naturally soft and lacks minerals, chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals. According to an online source, a 1,000 square foot roof will yield 625 gallons of water from one inch of rain.

Save that Bathwater

Our shower uses almost 3 gallons of water before the hot water comes through. How do I know this? We place a bucket under the faucet to catch the cold water and dump the saved water into our ﬂower garden. We reuse greywater, which is any dish, shower, sink, and laundry water that is used in the home (except water from toilets). And if I’m up for dragging the water from the tub to the garden, I save my children’s bath water as well. I would rather send the water I’m paying for to satisfy thirsty roots than to the wastewater treatment plant.

Pump Up Your Soil with Organic Matter

The more organic matter you have in your soil, the more moisture that is retained from rainfall or irrigation and the more that is available to your plant’s roots. Organic matter is compost, aged manures, and leaf mold, to give you some ideas. In my own garden, you can compare beds that have had compost added, grew cover crops, and were properly mulched. Stick your ﬁnger in that bed two weeks out from the last rain and the soil is cool and moist. Stick your ﬁnger in a bed that has been forgotten, and it is hard and dry as a rock.

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

I know you’ve seen the neighbor come home from work every day and stand in the front yard with the hose spraying the grass for maybe ﬁve minutes because it hasn’t rained, thinking that spray is sure to keep the grass growing lush all summer long. Right? Wrong! Watering your garden several times a week for short periods of time can actually cause more harm than good to your garden. Shallow watering encourages your plants’ roots to hang out at the top of the soil. Roots at the surface are vulnerable to evaporation. A once per week deep watering encourages your plants to grow deep roots and mine for their moisture.

Drought Tolerant? Plant Me!

Looking out my window, I have a very clear idea of who can make it through a drought and who can’t. Phlox is just about dead. Pink coneflower, Baptisia, tiger lilies, Crocosmia, and daylilies? Doing just fine. Plant plants that can grow even under the harshest conditions. Or you can separate your garden into water-need zones that reflect low water, medium water, and lots of water requirements. Here are examples of plants that can grow on the dry side: Vegetables: okra, beans, basil, peppers, eggplants, sweet potatoes. Annuals: zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, amaranth, Gomphrena, sunflowers, Tithonia. Perennials: lavender, rosemary, thyme, coneflowers, black eye Susans, Amsonia, Liatris.

Weed Those Water Hogging Plants!

You have done all this work adding organic matter to your soil, mulching, lugging bucket after bucket of water from the bathtub and now those weeds think they can get a piece of the pie? No way! Weed the undesired plants out of your beds to make sure that every drop of moisture is available to the plants you want to see thriving for your enjoyment in the garden or at the dinner table. To make your own water barrel: http://www.swfwmd.state.ﬂ.us/conservation/rainbarrel/make-a-rain-barrel.html

Purchase a rain barrel:

If you leave your soil exposed, don’t waste time adding organic matter. Without mulch, organic matter will wash away with the rain, burn up under the sun, and ﬂy away with the wind. Cover your garden soil with whatever biodegradeable items you have on hand. We use large paper bags that orginally held animal feed or leaves. After adding compost to your soil, cover the ground with the paper and poke holes wherever you are planting. The paper not only holds the moisture in the soil, but suppresesses weeds as well. Other ideas for mulch are shredded leaves, straw, and newspapers. And though it seems labor intensive or tedious at the beginning, you will be well rewarded. Summer 2007

Put your overhead sprinkler in storage and focus water at the root zone using soaker hoses. If you are going to have to adhere to water restrictions and are paying for your irrigation, make sure every drop counts. Place soaker hoses around the root zone of your plants and water until the soil is moist down the length of your finger. If you mulched, then you probably don’t need to water more than once per week.

http://www.cleanairgardening.com/rainbarrels.html

Create a drought tolerant landscape: http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B1073.htm

Stephanie Van Parys lives in Decatur with husband Rob, children Oscar, Eleanor, and Benjamin, their two dogs, and chickens. She gardens anytime she can in their city garden, and shares her knowledge and enthusiasm for organics and gardening in many ways. Stephanie earned her degree in horticulture from UGA, and serves as the executive director for the Oakhurst Community Garden Project in Decatur.

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Growing Together with GO! Thank you to our New and Renewing members, benefactors, and contributors who made donations between April 19, 2007 and June 5, 2007.

eceiving The Dirt in your mailbox is one of the benefits of Georgia Organics membership. Renewing your membership—or joining—is now as easy as filling out an online form. Visit www.georgiaorganics.org and click on “Join.” If you prefer paper to bytes, fill out the membership form on the last page of this issue and mail it in.

Benefactor

Jay & Susie Lazega, Atlanta, GA C.E. Mendez Foundation, Atlanta, GA Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA

Sustainer

Mr. John R. Adams, Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, Atlanta, GA William Beaman, RBS Greenwich Capital Foundation, Greenwich, CT Skip & Cookie Glover, Glover Family Farm, Douglasville, GA Ribbon Nutrition, Decatur, GA

Business

From the Kitchen of Angie Mosier, Atlanta, GA Bacchanalia, Atlanta, GA Five & Ten, Athens, GA Repast, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta, GA Sam & Daveʼs, Marietta, GA Watershed, Decatur, GA Patron James & Elizabeth Clause, Atlanta, GA Patricia Erbach, Atlanta, GA Debby & Baker Smith, Marietta, GA Carroll Smith Walraven, Rottenwood Farm, Roswell, GA Farm Whitley Abel, Ups & Downs Farm, Franklin, GA Karen Harper, Sweet Grass Dairy, Thomasville, GA Connie Horner, Horner Farms, Inc., Homerville, GA Floyd Keisler, Moss Hill Farm, Alpharetta, GA Koinonia Farm, Americus, GA Daniel Parson, Gaia Gardens, Atlanta, GA Liz Peterson, Patchwork Farms, Cartersville, GA John Pike, P.O.P.S. Pikes Organics Products & Services, Dawsonville, GA David & Teresa Taylor, Taylor Farms, Lakemont, GA Tucker Taylor & Celia Barss, Woodland Gardens, Winterville, GA Jonathan Tescher, East Atlanta Village Farmers Market, Atlanta, GA Family Toren Anderson, Woodstock, GA Teresa Angle-Young, Marietta, GA Kim & Pete Berry, Woodstock, GA Mark & Linda Bonelli, Sautee, GA Danna Cain, Atlanta, GA Judith Jones Carter & Marshall Lamb, Dawson, GA Frederick K. Duprey, Atlanta, GA Nita & Rick Epting, Decatur, GA Tim Forrest, St. Simons Island, GA Sara Fountain, Atlanta, GA Della & David Fried, Atlanta, GA Lorna Gentry, Atlanta, GA

Summer 2007

Earl Groover, Cumming, GA Jeanne-Marie & Robert Halley, Atlanta, GA Shane Haney, Atlanta, GA Carol & Keith Hartman, Lilburn, GA Stephen Hennessy, Decatur, GA Les Holland, Sandy Springs, GA Earnestine Ivey, Atlanta, GA James & Kim Kenney, Buford, GA Stella Lang & Charlie Burton, Atlanta, GA Judy Little, Atlanta, GA Marilyn & David Oberhausen, Dahlonega, GA John & Cassandra OʼNeal, Tucker, GA Julie Orologas, Marietta, GA Stephanie Ramsey, Chamblee, GA Tom Reed, Palmetto, GA Richard & Gia Sachs, Lawrenceville, GA Beverly Seckinger, Atlanta, GA Kay Todd, Atlanta, GA Brent & Sarah White, Decatur, GA Clay & Paula Yeatman, Lilburn, GA

Freya Simmons, Atlanta, GA Chris Simser, Decatur, GA Marianne Snyder, Marietta, GA Wyn Shoptaw, Atlanta, GA NIcole Taylor, Atlanta, GA Fran Travis, Alpharetta, GA Vera Vogt, Decatur, GA David & Melody Wilson, Atlanta, GA Daniel Wimbish, Atlanta, GA Judith Winfrey, Atlanta, GA Joshua Woiderski, Atlanta, GA Student/Retired Lauren Cogswell, Atlanta, GA Monica De Jesus, Lawrenceville, GA Mary Horne, Alpharetta, GA Howard Katzman, Atlanta, GA Sherwin Lo, Marietta, GA

Individual Melissa Bacon, Atlanta, GA George Boyhan, Statesboro, GA Caro Carter, Marietta, GA Doris Charnock, Augusta, GA Kelly Clonts, Atlanta, GA Christy Cook, Decatur, GA Kristin Costley, SauteeNacoochee, GA Carolyn Davis, Atlanta, GA Leslie Fellows, Roswell, GA Randall D. Fox, Atlanta, GA Lee Harris, Americus, GA Carl Jordan, Athens, GA Adele Kushner, Alto, GA Rebecca Lang, Athens, GA Jaime Lemieux, Midland, GA Marjorie Leventry, Athens, GA Jodi Lewis, Duluth, GA Mara Loftman, Big Canoe, GA Lynn Lott, Atlanta, GA Lorri Mason, Douglasville, GA Judy McVey, Twin City, GA Mary Moore, Atlanta, GA Mary Elizabeth Morgan, Atlanta, GA Harry Neumann, Alpharetta, GA Rashid Nuri, East Point, GA Barb Pires, Smyrna, GA Joseph Reynolds, Atlanta, GA Anna Rogers, Atlanta, GA Shelley Sawyer, Atlanta, GA

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Ask your garden center about Mr. Natural速 & PermaTill速 soil products: Mr. Natural CLM Complete Landscape Mix

Six ingredients perfectly pre-mixed and specifically designed for growing a wide variety of plants in our Georgia clay soils.

Mr. Natural WSM Woodland Soil Mix

Pre-fixed planting soil formulated for plants that grow best in acidic soils, such as rhododendron, azaleas, camelias, gardenias, ferns and most native shade garden plants.

Mr. Natual Hen Manure Compost

Contains one of the highest nutrient levels of any commercial domesticated animal manure. It is fully composted...nonburning and absolutely no manure odor.

Mr. Natural Worm Castings

Rich soil amendment for plants that prefer acidic soils. Excellent top-dressing for containers, native and shade perennials and houseplants.

PermaTill One Time

Permanently restores gaps and pore spaces in compacted soils so that air, water and roots move freely for better drainage, aeration and deeper root systems.

Complete Landscape Mix (CLM) Hen Manure Compost

Woodland Soil Mix (WSM)

Worm Castings

Permatill速

Mr. Natural is a registered trademark of Itsaul Natural. PermaTill is a registered trademark of Stalite PermaTill.

Organizations

Calendar Continued

EARTH SHARE OF GEORGIA • One simple way to care for our air, land and water. As Georgia’s only environmental fund, Earth Share partners with businesses and employees to support more than 60 leading environmental groups. 404.873.3173. www.earthsharega.org. HEIFER INTERNATIONAL works with communities to end hunger and poverty by providing families with a source of food rather than short term relief. Over the past 60 years, Heifer has given gifts of livestock to millions of families in 128 countries around the world, providing them with a sense of self-reliance and hope.

Classiﬁeds

DESTINY PRODUCE, a certified organic Atlanta-area distributor located in the State Farmers Market,is seeking organic and locally grown produce from local farms. Destiny can offer local growers widespread distribution and marketing of their organic and locally grown produce. Contact Dee Dee Digby at 404.366.7006 or 866.366.7006: deedee@destinyproduce.com. ALL-NATURAL, NON-TOXIC HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS Get ﬁfty years of Shaklee’s impeccable environmental heritage in every product. Their earth-friendly integrity equals the powerful clean of their products. www.cleangreenathome.com. FOR SALE: 10’x10’ ez-up white display tent, with sides. $200.00. Contact Kristina Lefever at 678.209.7642 or kristlclay@bellsouth.net.

Calendar THE TOMATO DINNER AT WOODFIRE GRILL July 18, 6-10pm, Atlanta, GA It’s summer and that can only mean one thing—tomatoes! Join Chef Michael Tuohy for his annual tour of tomatoes to benefit Georgia Organics. This year’s dinner features four courses of locally grown and heirloom tomatoes paired with delicious wine. Tickets are $75 per person; call 404.347.9055 to make your reservation. SHORT COURSE ON MYCORRHIZAE July 23-25, 9am-5pm, Gainesville, FL In this three-day intensive workshop, learn the basics behind how to put mycorrhizae to work preventing root pathogens, nematodes, and increasing root mass up to tenfold.Topics include how to identify these beneficial fungi, evaluate their potential and status in soils, and use them as biofertilizers and to clean contaminated soils. In McCarty Hall B 3096 at the University of Florida. For more information and to register, call 352.392.5930. FLAVORS MAGAZINE COOKING CLASS July 23, 6:30–9:30pm, Atlanta, GA It’s all about getting ready for summer and outdoor entertaining! Les Dames d’Escoffier pairs with Flavors Magazine and food editor Dame Shelley Sawyer in an action-packed, fun-filled night of cooking at the Cooks Warehouse Midtown with some of Atlanta’s top chefs. Proceeds benefit the Atlanta Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier supporting women in the culinary industry and The Bridge, http://www.thebridge-atlanta.org, a nonprofit organization which supports severely at-risk and abused youth. To register call 404.815.4993 or email amber@cookswarehouse.com. BUILDING & SUSTAINING EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS FOR COMMUNITY FOOD WORK IN THE SOUTH July 25-26, Nashville,TN Bolster your organization’s effectiveness by applying skills learned in this two-day training, hosted by the Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee. Topics include organizing, partnership, and power sharing for more effective community food work; and building capacity for financial sustainability. Registration is $125. For more info, visit www.ssawg.org/ communityfood_.html, or call Keith Richards at 479.587.0888. Summer 2007

BUSINESS PLANNING FOR SMALL PRODUCERS July 31, 10am-3pm, Macon, GA Learn the essentials of business planning and management for the farm from Marion Simon, PhD, State Specialist for Small and Part-time Farmers with the Kentucky Cooperative Extension. Key topics of the highly acclaimed “Risk-Assessed Business Planning for Small Producers” curriculum will be covered, including: the roles of business planning; how to assess the farm’s resource inventory; how to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the operation; how to use and develop enterprise budgets; and basic financial analysis for the farm. Workshop will be held at the Georgia Farm Bureau in Macon. Registration is $45, or $35 for Georgia Organics members. For more info, or to register, visit www.georgiaorganics.org, or call 678.702.0400. CAROLINA FARM STEWARDS HIGH COUNTRY FARM TOUR August 4-5, North Carolina’s High Country Tour small family farms in North Carolina’s Watuaga and Ashe Counties. More info at www.carolinafarmstewards.org or by calling 919.542.2402. INTRODUCTORY COURSE IN ORGANIC FARMING & GARDENING Alternating Saturdays from August 11 through November 17, Cumming, GA Join farmer and educator Lynn Pugh of Cane Creek Farm in this intensive training structured around the curriculum developed by Georgia Organics. Targeted to adults who want to know more about the science and art of organic growing. Prior experience or education is not required. Each installment takes lessons from the classroom to the field. Registration is $450, and $425 for Georgia Organics members.Visit the “events” section of the Georgia Organics website to register, or call 678.702.0400. THE FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN COOPERATIVES’ 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION August 16, 7pm, Birmingham, AL Join the Federation in this celebration of 40 years of service to rural communities in the Southeast, and in recognition of the sixth Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Awards to be presented to Tavis Smiley and Hank Sanders. Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC) chairs. For more information, visit www.federation.coop, or call 404.765.0991. AN EVENING WITH BARBARA KINGSOLVER September 20, 7:30-9pm, Decatur, GA Celebrated author Kingsolver discusses her family’s experiences growing and sourcing their foods locally, and her new book, Animal,Vegetable, Miracle. At the Glenn Memorial Auditorium at Emory University. Tickets will be required for this free event; see the “events” section at www.georgiaorganics. org, or call 678.702.0400 for more information. FIELD OF GREENS October 6, 11am-10pm, Walnut Grove, GA Save the Date! A full day family festival of sustainable and organic foods, beer, and music with proceeds helping local farmers through Georgia Organics. Hosted by Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm. For more info, visit www.fieldofgreensgeorgia.org. SOUTHERN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE WORKING GROUP (SSAWG) ANNUAL CONFERENCE January 16-19, 2008, Louisville, KY The Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms conference returns to the Galt House in Louisville. Next year’s conference starts a half day earlier, and concludes Saturday evening. More info at www.ssawg.org. SHIITAKE MUSHROOM WORKSHOP December 8, Decatur All aspects of shiitake growing, from site selection and substrates to marketing fresh shiitake. Includes hands-on session and a log to take home. Limited capacity. $55/ members; $65/non-members (includes lunch and log). 678.702.0400 or www.georgiaorganics.org/events.

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Summer 07

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