Keisha and Warren Cameron | High Hog Farm

Keisha and Warren Cameron

High Hog Farm

Grayson, Gwinnett County

On November 7, Food Well Alliance teamed up with 16 volunteers from AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE) and Kimberly-Clark for a volunteer event at High Hog Farm in Grayson, GA. Volunteers planted over 30 fruit trees and installed a compost bin. Keisha and Warren Cameron own High Hog Farm and run a fiber and textile operation where they grow food, raise livestock, and cultivate natural fibers.

“The AMBSE and Kimberly-Clark associates were grateful to be of help at High Hog Farm. Planting their fruit orchard and building a compost bin got us out of the office and into the soil!” said Dawn Brown, Sr. Manager of Stadium Tours, Education Programs, and Sustainability at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “Supporting food systems and our local farmers will always be a top priority for our sustainability partners.”

In addition to planting trees, volunteers added fencing and tree tubes around the plants to protect them from wildlife and the Camerons’ livestock, including sheep, rabbits, chickens, and ducks. “I was amazed at how much we accomplished in just three hours,” Keisha remarked. “It would have been a weeklong project for me to do by myself.”

The Camerons were interested in stewarding an orchard after learning about silvopasture, a farming practice that integrates trees with grazing livestock. Once they learned about Food Well’s Orchard Project they knew they had to apply.

With the help of local fruit tree experts Robby Astrove, Travys Harper, and Tixie Fowler—who connected them with Fabricio Camacho, an agroforestry expert from Costa Rica—the Camerons were able to map out where every tree was going to go.

This orchard will also serve as a resource for the community. The Camerons plan to offer classes on fruit tree maintenance and incorporate the orchard into their dyeing workshops, turning it into a hands-on learning experience for all. “I appreciate that Food Well took all of the heavy lifting of the administration and facilitation of the volunteer day off our shoulders,” said Keisha. “I got to actually experience talking with people and hearing a little bit about why they were interested in volunteering and their connection to the land.”