An Academy Rooted in Baltimore
Springtime in Baltimore always means farmers and gardeners are planting their crops for the season. This year, the Farm Alliance of Baltimore is planting another kind of seed: We have been awarded a two-year, $252,000 restricted grant from the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) program of the USDA to launch our training academy for farmers from Baltimore's majority-African American communities. Honoring the groundbreaking sociology work of Dr. Lawrence Brown, we have named it the Black Butterfly Urban Farm Academy!
We are proud to share that our Deputy Director Denzel Mitchell will be leading this new program, which will have four major components: Classroom instruction, a paid farmer-to-farmer mentorship, field learning days, and planting and harvesting actual crops here in Baltimore. The grant also provides paid opportunities for mentor farmers, trainees, and farms that agree to host hands-on field learning days at their sites. Research will be conducted throughout the two year grant period by our friends at the University of MD Extension Service!
With our team of farm support professionals including Program Coordinator Alison Worman and Repair the World Fellow Zohar Berman, as well as Executive Director Mariya Strauss, we are committed to providing our usual high level of support and leadership for our 16 farm members and 9 community garden members.
What Can I Do?
We can't do it without you, our supporters and friends! In the coming seasons your cheerleading and support will be critically important as we get underway:
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