Farmstory.org is a new website dedicated to sharing stories by and about successful farmers working in concert with their local communities to create healthy food choices for all. The website is backdropped by the truly profitable, environmentally sound and socially just Eckerton Hill Farm; the success story of one farm in particular will germinate the telling of many.
Farmstory.org is comprised of a team of family farmers, writers, grassroots activists and educators intent on changing the food system from the ground up by empowering communities to work toward grassroots local food security and food sovereignty. By sharing the success stories of our own local farms and communities – and by offering others a vehicle to do the same – we will connect food communities across the country and create a venue for the robust exchange of empowering ideas and ideals. Farmstories.org will offer inspiration, insight and practical advice through compelling feature stories, journals, blogs, videos, podcasts, deep-caption photographs and reader-mail exchanges chronicling the struggles and triumphs of family farmers and communities working to fix the food system one bite at a time.
Eckerton Hill Farm (Farmstories.org’s “mother ship”) grows heirloom vegetables, sells direct to customers and was started 14 years ago on rented land by farmer/author Tim Stark, who was recently able to purchase a historic 57-acre property in southeastern Pennsylvania solely with profits from his farming operation. Farmstories.org will chronicle the multifaceted and mutually beneficial give and take between the farm’s bounty and the community surrounding it: the sharing of fresh and ethically grown produce, the exchange of useful and practical information and the grassroots promotion of good living.Tim Stark is author of “Heirloom: Notes from an Accidental Tomato Farmer” (Broadway, 2008) and dozens of magazine and journal articles. He’s been featured on and has written for NPR and has been making a living predominantly as a farmer for the past 14 years. Tim Holds a BA in English from Princeton University, which he attended on a wrestling scholarship. Tim will be writing about his observations as a farmer with a focus on how he stays in business while maintaining respect for people (his farm crew) and the land.
Wayne Miller has been the farm manager at Eckerton Hill for the past 12 years and will be chronicling the day-to-day changes at the farm through his whimsical prose and fabulous pictures. Tim has a rather dry sense of humor and holds a BA in English.
Tianna Dupont is a county Extension agent specializing in sustainable agriculture education. Tianna earned her master’s in sustainable agriculture at UC Davis, runs a small CSA and loves to cook for friends.
Dave Wilson is a research soil scientist, cover-crop expert and farmer educator. He holds a BS in agronomy and tends to wax on like a preacher in a penitentiary when it comes to building and maintaining soil health (but keep listening, you just might learn something).
Genevieve Slocum is a Columbia University master’s-degree candidate in Public Policy and the Environment, a wicked and insightful writer and seasoned farmhand. She will be blogging about food justice and food access issues … and whatever else pops into her mysterious mind.
Katie Olender teaches nutrition in Philadelphia public schools through the Food Trust. She formerly ran a school garden and corner-store program in Michigan and holds a BS in agricultural communications from Michigan State University. Katie and I also have a longtime professional relationship going back to her undergrad days at MSU, where we first met when I was there doing a story on the Student Organic Farm.
Melinda Hemmelgarn, M.S., R.D. is a registered dietitian, “investigative” nutritionist, and award-winning journalist with 30 years’ experience in clinical, academic and public-health nutrition. I consider Melinda to be a female Michael Pollen, with one caveat – Melinda holds the credentials and the invaluable insider’s perspective that goes with them. We are so honored to have Melinda be part of this project.
Renee Ciulla is currently completing a master’s degree in agroecology. She studied in Norway but is back in New England, where she is finishing up her thesis and doing her best to apply the lessons imparted to her across Europe about local and sustainable food production right here at home. Renee and I also go back a little ways professionally – I call her “Coolio” because I never could learn to pronounce her name.
Dan Sullivan is a seasoned journalist and editor with a background in newspapers, magazines and web publishing. He worked five years at the Rodale Institute writing farm and farmer profiles, reporting on sustainable farming research and practices and networking; Chris Hill was his hiring editor. Before that Dan worked 3 ½ years as senior editor of Rodale’s Organic Gardening magazine. He holds a BS in journalism and is in the process of earning a MSES (master of science in environmental studies) with a focus on writing and communication.