Cousins, a good garden conversation can send you home with more than a planting tip. It can introduce you to somebody growing food nearby, somebody solving a problem you have, or somebody who needs a skill you already carry.
When I visited Seals Family Farm in Riverdale, Georgia, that was the value of being together. We talked about local food and the people doing the work to make it available.
Meet the people behind the work
Lawrence “Nature Boy” Seals shared the thinking behind Farm Fresh 24/7, an app connecting people with farmers, bakers, and artisans. Our conversation came back to food sovereignty: having more say in how our food is grown and how our communities get it.
Malcolm “Big Steele” Steele of Big Steele Farm was part of that conversation, too. His work in urban agriculture brought the focus to what people can grow close to home.
These are memories from that visit, rather than current service listings. Check directly with any farm or business before planning a visit or placing an order.
What does that look like in your neighborhood?
Start with a real question. Who grows something nearby that you eat? Where can you buy it? Is there a community garden accepting new members? What could you contribute without stretching yourself too thin?
You might buy from a local grower, help a neighbor label seedlings, or share a planting lesson. Ask what is useful. Good intentions still need directions.
Give yourself one manageable job
At Plant & Heal, I want people to see a place for themselves in growing food. That may be a pot, a bed, or learning alongside somebody with more experience. You do not need to arrive knowing everything.
Grow with what you got. Get to know who is growing around you.
— Erica Plants
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