Introducing Global Growers’ New Farm!
GGN’s new farm will be home to 15-20 small farm enterprises operated by refugee, immigrant and BIPOC farmers. The property features multiple fields, a spring-fed pond, and barns that will be renovated as a farm operations center and event space.
The journey to land ownership.
More than 50% of resettled refugees come from agrarian backgrounds and are expert food producers. However, once in the U.S. most new Americans face critical barriers to accessing land and opportunities to sow their talent. Global Growers Network (GGN) creates the conditions for these talented food produces to thrive by connecting them to land and agricultural resources to grow fresh, culturally familiar food.
From 2010 to 2019, GGN operated Bamboo Creek Farm. There, five new American families operated small farm businesses through a cooperative farming model. The farmers shared common infrastructure to reduce capital costs and sold to local markets through GGN’s sales enterprise. Operations were halted in 2019 after a devastating flood, but a successful proof-of-concept model had been established.
After a thoughtful and thorough land search, GGN found our new dream farm: a beautiful 23-acre property in Rockdale County. Through an innovative lease-to-own partnership with The Conservation Fund’s Working Farms Fund, GGN will own the land outright in three years.
GGN acknowledges the Muscogee (Creek) Nation as the original and rightful custodians of the land this farm is located on.
What was previously a horse riding arena will serve as an event space and gathering spot for GGN’s diverse network of growers and the broader community.
The vision of a more equitable food system.
Our new farm will provide a permanent home and new opportunities to farmers who have endured transience and limited opportunity. The farm will:
Establish a cooperative system that will reduce costs for talented farmers who face barriers to accessing land and capital.
Preserve and share the multicultural traditions and foodways of our diverse grower network and metro Atlanta community.
Support growers in producing fresh food for local consumption and developing new markets for their farm products.
Create a vibrant and inclusive agrotourism destination and community gathering space that celebrates local agriculture and global food culture.
The soil is turned over in preparation for planting a mix of cover crops that add nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
The action plan.
All good things start below the surface. As plans for the farm take root, we are first investing in building healthy soil by planting cover crops that add organic matter to the fields. Our plan for 2022 is to onboard and offer full-season technical support for an initial cohort of 5 farmers. We are actively working to finalize a site design, build out a post-harvest wash and pack station, and pursue organic certification.
The journey ahead is exciting, and will only be possible with the support of our community. Please read our Case for Support for more information on how you can be involved!
