Support

It is possible through help from you.

Spring Valley EcoFarms Incorporated is a Non-Profit organization operating within the 501(c)(3) section of the Internal Revenue code. Our primary interest is to educate (and cross-pollinate!).

Click here to inquire about information on how to make your tax-deductible contribution.

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September 2008

 

Carl Jordan speaks about Spring Valley EcoFarms and how you can help.

 

I began my professional career in 1966, with the Atomic Energy Commission (now DOE) studying radioactive fallout in tropical forests.  In 1974, I had the opportunity to join the University of Georgia as a research scientist to study the impact of deforestation for agriculture on the ecology of tropical forests.  For five years, my family and I lived in South America, but by 1979, it was clear that to obtain a permanent position, we would have to move to Athens,  home of the University.  I continued research in South America and SE Asia, but I commuted to the field research sites, and maintained an office at the Institute of Ecology.  As luck would have it, the office was adjacent to that of Eugene Odum, founder of the Institute and widely recognized as the “Father of Modern Ecology”.  Whenever I was in Athens, I would chat with Odum about my research.  Often he would say that he appreciated the research that I was doing abroad, but that I really should consider doing something that would directly help the people of Georgia, people who are paying my salary.

 

The question for me then was, given my specialty in tropical agriculture, what could I do that would have meaning in Georgia .   The most important thing I had learned in the tropics was the importance of soil organic matter to maintain crop production.  Then during my time in Georgia , I noticed how similar the climate and soil was to that of the lowland tropics – a hot, humid climate with highly weathered soils.  I also noticed that almost all farmers in Georgia cultivated their soils with methods that are highly destructive of soil organic matter.   So in 1993, I acquired a 100 acre farm near Athens, and began a research program on methods of farming that would build instead of destroy soil organic matter. 

  

I was successful in obtaining a series of research grants that would help improve soil organic matter management.   One of the grants was to determine how perennial legumes (nitrogen fixing plants) could make organic agriculture more efficient.  To do this, I needed to establish a commercial organic farm.  I formed a partnership with an organic farmer who started farming on about 6 acres of the 100 acre farm.  The research partnership was successful, and it soon became clear that there were many students at the University of Georgia, both undergraduates and graduates, who wanted to learn about organic farming.  In 2003 we offered an intensive University-accredited course for three weeks in May.  It was immediately successful, and the next year, more students applied for the course than could be accommodated.  We decided to continue the course.

 

We knew that there was a big demand for education in sustainable agriculture, and this belief was confirmed at an “Agriculture Summit” held on June 12, 2008 at Fort Valley State University in cooperation with the University of Georgia and Southern SARE. The purpose of the Summit was to obtain stakeholder input on the critical needs for sustainable agriculture in Georgia. At the end of the day, participants were asked to vote for their top priorities.

 

Education emerged as the number one priority. The top ranked priority was education in sustainable agriculture for young people including FFA, 4H, and Young Farmers.  This priority included more farming classes for the new generation and capitalizing on the desire of young people to connect with the land. Another high priority was better education on sustainable agriculture for Extension agents. This included the need for Extension agents to have better information on cultural practices, weed, disease, and insect control as well as marketing and profitability. A third education topic focused on the need to educate children, consumers, and producers about sustainable agriculture as a lifestyle. Some participants thought education of public school teachers and legislators was also important.

 

Education on sustainable and organic agriculture is something that we do on a small scale.  We do it free.  We give classes to University students.  We have field days for organizations such as Georgia Organics.  We host groups of elementary school children for excursions on the farm. We would love to expand our capability.  We would like to offer an intensive course in organic agriculture for conventional farmers who would like to go organic, for organic home gardeners, and for citizens who are concerned about their food and environment. 

 

So that is why we have established Spring Valley Ecofarms as a non-profit organization that could receive support from foundations, corporations, and individuals.  Spring Valley Ecofarms is positioned to meet the demand for training courses in Organic Agriculture.  One element is Full Moon Farms , a commercial venture that supplies organic vegetables to restaurants in Athens, and in an agreement with Spring Valley EcoFarms, is a centerpiece for current University of Georgia courses in organic agriculture.  Another is the ready availability of guest lecturers from the University, with specialties ranging from environmental history through plant pathology and integrated pest control.  A third element is a host of enthusiastic interns and students eager to participate in a “hands-on” activity.  A fourth is a new research project on “Management Intensive Grazing” for beef cattle. The purpose is to allow cattle to graze for a few days on one pasture, but then move them to another before a pasture becomes overgrazed.  An important element is our close association with Georgia Organics, the umbrella organization for organic farming in Georgia, and with dozens of organic farms in North Georgia that have cooperated in establishing an organic farmer's market in Athens. Finally, we have the expertise to create training modules for organic agriculture that could be posted on the web.

 

However, there is a much bigger audience out there for organic farming than just students at Univ. of Georgia and neighboring colleges. 

• There are conventional farmers who would like to go organic.
• There are young people who would like to become organic farmers or simply home gardeners.
• There are high school science teachers who would love to learn more so they could teach their students more.
• There are grade school teachers who want to bring their classes to a farm so the children can actually see where their food comes from.
• There are people who are interested in wholesome food and environmentally sound methods of producing it.
• There are extension agents who would like to teach farmers the skills of organic farming, but the University offers no courses for these agents.

Establishing courses and internships, and giving field days for children takes support.  While it is possible to charge participants for enrolling, the amount that we could reasonably ask is considerably less than the support needed to maintain infrastructure of the farm, and for honorariums for guest lecturers.  Therefore we are looking for help – individuals or foundations that might have an interest in supporting education.  We would also welcome individual tax- deductible contributions, and as a reward for such, we give tours with pick-your-own vegetables and fruits in season.  So if you are looking for a way to contribute, please contact us at info@springvalleyecofarms.org

Your contribution will help us to educate people of all generations about agriculture that does not pollute land and waterways, that restores biodiversity which keeps ecosystems healthy, and that leads to a healthier lifestyle.