Reporter’s Notebook: New nonprofit executives, and maybe some local government kumbaya - Saporta Report

Reporter’s Notebook: New nonprofit executives, and maybe some local government kumbaya - Saporta Report

The Food Well Alliance, a collaborative network of growers, community and city leaders seeking to build thriving community gardens and urban farms, named Kate Conner as its new executive director. Conner, who has served as the organization’s senior director of strategic development, stepped in as interim executive director in September after the departure of Kim Karris.

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Lessons of 2020 hone food groups’ focus, momentum - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Lessons of 2020 hone food groups’ focus, momentum - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Food Well Alliance also did its share to keep growers growing, and to provide that food where it was needed. In 2020, the 5-year old nonprofit delivered seedlings, bulk compost and labor support to dozens of community gardens; deployed nearly 1,500 hours of labor support to urban farms; facilitated the distribution of more than 330,000 pounds of excess food donated by metro area gardeners; and helped to activate idle school gardens to grow food for families in need.

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School gardens are feeding families - Atlanta Journal Constitution

School gardens are feeding families - Atlanta Journal Constitution

When the pandemic turned idle school gardens into weeds, robbed urban growers of income streams, and created long lines at food banks, two Atlanta nonprofits joined forces to fight back. The response is Project Giving Gardens, where urban growers are being paid to turn 102 metro-area school gardens into a harvest of vegetables that is going back into the community to feed families.

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Small farmers quickly adapt to fill a need during pandemic - AJC

Small farmers quickly adapt to fill a need during pandemic - AJC

When restaurants closed, Levity Farms went from planning to provide 75% to 80% of their produce to chefs to spending one day a week traversing the metro area to deliver veggie boxes to private homes. “It is in the nature of farming to be resilient to changes in the market or changes in the climate,” said Ilana Richards as she made deliveries on a recent Tuesday. “It is one of our strengths in this industry if we are going to be good farmers or successful farmers.”

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Lawrenceville community garden ready to begin growing - AJC

Lawrenceville community garden ready to begin growing - AJC

The Lawrenceville Community Garden is the first of the community garden initiatives that make up the Harvest Gwinnett program. The gardens and programs are managed by Live Healthy Gwinnett and made possible through partnerships with Lawrenceville, Food Well Alliance, Gwinnett Department of Community Services, UGA Extension Gwinnett, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office and other community organizations.

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