Knowledge, Education, and Elevation for Producers in North Carolina (Keep-NC) October 15th Event

Introduction: 

It is integral that we continue to provide opportunities and resources for sustainable agriculture as it plays a significant role in our society. However, due to the climate-sensitive nature of the agricultural industry and current societal pressures, there has been a steady decline in small, private sector farmers. Within this decline, none understand this more than the African American farming community. Southeast Raleigh Vicinity Emerging (SERVE) and Key Environmental Consulting are working with minority farmers across North Carolina to address these issues and promote Knowledge, Education, and Elevation for Producers (KEEP). Below is one of the many events and workshops the team has created to achieve their goals and promote a healthy and equitable future.

Summary: 

The goal of this KEEP-NC event was to bring beginning and minority farmers together to learn more about the extensive resources available to them that will help address their needs. The workshop began with a welcome from the program director, Demetrius Hunter, and the owner of Old 30 Dirty Family Farm, Afraka Yates. They discussed their own unique experiences as minority farmers, the challenges they have faced, and the resources that have provided them a path forward.  

The team then switched things over to USDA staff members to discuss various governmental resources and answer famer-specific questions and concerns. This open dialogue generated healthy discussions on topics such as loans and disaster relief options, crop reports, how to obtain a farm number, equipment options, and more. USDA staff also provided essential information on who to contact and where the local offices are in each respective county. These interactions proved vital as many farmers previously explained the difficulties in accessing USDA resources and information. The goal of this portion of the workshop was to not only provide farmers with the knowledge of available resources, but to begin building a beneficial and trusting relationship with the government agency. This portion of the workshop concluded with lunch and more one-on-one time to meet with USDA staff, ask questions, and gather contact information for future collaborations.  

The final segment of this workshop featured two hands-on activities. The first activity, demonstrated by Josie Walker from the Black Seed Saving Collective, highlighted the importance of seed saving and the value it brings to beginning and seasoned farmers. Members received information on the various types of seeds, best practices for planting in a Southeast climate, and the economic benefits associated with seed saving.

The workshop concluded with a member of the KEEP-NC team, Dr. Derrick Sauls, demonstrating the process of creating your own muscadine vineyard. In this interactive activity, attendees were able to examine the entire process, from construction to planting.  Dr. Sauls provided advice on several essential components of constructing your own vineyard, from the height and distance of the post to how to make your own compost.  

Be on the lookout for upcoming events and our newsletter to stay up to date on all things agriculture and how you can get involved! The KEEP-NC team would like to personally thank Old 30 Dirty Family Farm, USDA, Josie Walker, and the farmers for their hard work and dedication for making this workshop such an enjoyable and important experience. We look forward to continuing our work and providing beginning and minority farmers the resources necessary to be successful in the agricultural sector.  

How to get involved: 

Need assistance? Interested in having a workshop tailored toward your needs and goals? Contact the KEEP-NC team today to get involved and learn about our upcoming events!  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southeastraleighvicinityemerging/ 

Website: https://servecommunities.org/ 

Email: servecommunities@gmail.com