By Dan Sullivan
Dear FarmStory.org reader,
Welcome to what is essentially a labor of love. What you see before you is a work in progress that represents, in part, my attempt as a master’s student in environmental studies to create a communication tool for sustainable farming and local-food communities so that they might learn from each other through shared stories. This includes our own story.
Eckerton Hill Farm (the physical home of FarmStory.org) is successful both agronomically and financially and has become a center for regional food activism and agricultural experimentation—a place where big-city chefs and Mennonite farmers and Philadelphia food activists and area extension agents and researchers meet to share food and ideas on a regular basis. Through journal entries, blogs, feature articles, videos and captioned photo galleries, we will share the honest and unfolding story of one farm that is at once profitable, environmentally sound and socially just as a way to germinate the telling of many more. For we intend for this honest storytelling to be the basis for a wide range of sharing and collaboration that will take place through the FarmStory.org web portal.
Now to explain the “we” part.
I’m currently reading Tom Sawyer with my homeschooled daughter, Jade, and when I got to the part about Tom cajoling all of his friends to help him whitewash the fence, I could not help but think of this project. These friends, those who happily picked up their brushes when asked, represent what makes this website so essentially unique and potentially powerful. The diversity of background and depth of experience combined with the passion and knowledge each brings to the table is at once mind-boggling and inspirational. How can we not help change the food system?” I ask myself when I consider our dynamic team and its collective enthusiasm … one bite at a time.
Chris Hill is an experienced editor who came up with the concept for and developed the website, NewFarm.org into a national resource for organic and sustainable farmers. He lives in Philadelphia, and is on the board of Mill Creek Farm and Weaver’s Way Food Cooperative. Chris is also the founding editor of Philadelphia’s City Paper. He designed and developed the FarmStory.org and will serve as website manager.
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. As you can see by this week’s journal entry, sometimes Tim’s mind wanders … particularly in wintertime.
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. Wayne 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 (I share this observation as her longtime editor) 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 the female counterpart to Michael Pollen, with one special 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 (that’s me): Well, what can I say? I’m a seasoned journalist and editor with a background in newspapers, magazines and web publishing. I worked five years at the Rodale Institute writing farm and farmer profiles, reporting on sustainable farming research and practices and networking (my specialty); Chris Hill was my hiring editor. Before that I worked 3 ½ years as senior editor of Rodale’s Organic Gardening magazine. I hold a BS in journalism (I know, I know) and hope to soon earn a MSES (master of science in environmental studies) with a focus on writing and communication.
You: That’s right, you – This is an interactive website, and we depend upon not only your feedback but also upon your contributions. We welcome and encourage your comments to the stories we post, general critiques about or site, questions you might have for any of our contributors and most of all your own stories, photographs and videos (I hope you like the first two videos we put together to get the ball rolling… “amateur” is the operative word here folks).
Comment on articles, respond to blog posts, participate in our forums, send us information, ideas, links and resources. Sign up for our biweekly newsletter, written to let you know what’s new on the site and in our little corner of Berks County, PA (and of course we would never share your email with anyone).
Whoops, the clock is ticking and I’ve got a grant proposal due at midnight!
Welcome, and dig in.
Dan Sullivan
Editor
www.FarmStory.org