Many local Farmer’s Market shoppers see tables at the Farms For Families (FFF) booth heaped with locally-grown, chemical-free vegetables throughout the summer growing season, and stuff their market bags with hundreds of pounds of produce from FFF’s Demonstration Farms. But the non-profit organization Farms For Families nurtures a yield beyond the fresh weekly cornucopia at the market, using small-scale, local farming as a base for a renewal of community, and evidence a commitment to restoring the tradition of a local food culture in Park County.
“Building healthy communities by growing local food systems” is the mission of Farms For Families. It works toward this goal by its collaborations with other community groups using farming, education, and outreach to expand farming opportunities, markets, and consumer awareness of locally-grown, healthy food.
FFF’s most recent collaboration includes the submission of a USDA Community Food Projects grant, with the support of the Livingston Public Schools, the City of Livingston, Montana State University’s Sustainable Food and Bioenergy program, local youth-based organizations, the Livingston Food Pantry and many others. The grant aims to establish a community-wide hands-on educational network, increase markets and demand for local produce, and to establish a processing facility to extend the benefits of local produce beyond the short growing season, increasing local food security by infusing the food system with produce grown right here in Park County.
The organization also works throughout the year on its other farm-based community development projects, including the Incubator Farm project, Victory Garden programming in local schools, its Mobile Processing Unit for small-scale poultry growers, and the Community Food Assessment.
FFF’s Incubator Farm Project offers the use of land, water, equipment and guidance to support local small-scale farmers in growing locally and marketing their harvests. This relationship further infuses Park County’s economic system with extra capital. FFF has some farmers signed up for next year’s growing season, but welcomes more farmers looking for full-time growing opportunities within the project. Also, the Livingston Food Pantry uses their volunteer labor to help grow healthy produce for those who most need food resources, bringing the food system full circle.
FFF has used its Mobile Processing Unit for trainings around the state, and worked closely with the Department of Livestock in identifying issues for small-scale poultry growers in the areas of food safety and production methods.
Victory Garden programs now underway in conjunction with local schools include: the facilitation of on-site school garden installation; networking with school administration and faculty for the development of experiential curricula on small-scale agriculture; farm field trips; and future planning to expand these programs throughout the school system.
The ongoing Park County Community Food Assessment is a community-led research process in measuring aspects of the local food system, establishing baseline data on strengths, weaknesses, resources and barriers to sustainable,local food self-reliance with access for all segments of the community. Results will be used to create additional programs that meet the goal of strengthening our local food culture and ensuring food security.
To pledge money or donate directly online, check out the links on Farms For Families website at farmsforfamilies.org.
—Jen Eames
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