Love is Love Cooperative Farm Mansfield, Georgia - February 2024

Greetings Friends!

Just reaching out to highlight a few recent visitors to the farm and share some updates and news about upcoming events.

We’ve had two terrific groups visit the farm over the past month.

The first was an assemblage of extension agents from all over the state who stopped by to learn more about how UGA extension agents might serve organic farmers in Georgia. They were accompanied by two superstars (at least to us): UGA Professor and researcher Tim Coolong , and our Newton County extension agent, Ashley Best , both of whom have been incredibly supportive resources to our farm over the past 2+ years. The agents toured the farm to learn about how we started and how the business works. Agent Best had the idea to highlight some products from our CSA so we invited chef and CSA member Ulrike to prepare some bites. Peep the agents ogling our Oggun above and below, you can see the delicious watermelon radish bite with creamed Odessa cheese from Rockhouse Creamery on sourdough crostini from Colette Bakery.

The second group included students and faculty from the School for International Training’s IHP Food Systems Program . This group came to learn more about how our cooperative farm functions to serve our local foodshed before traveling abroad to Ecuador, Malawi and Spain to study other cooperative models and food systems. We were literally their last stop in the states before boarding a plane to Ecuador.

It’s an honor to be seen as a place where folks can come to learn. A few photos from the SIT student’s visit can be seen below.

Coming Up!

We’re looking forward to hosting Georgia Organics and the Georgia Acre Collective along with partners The Conservation Fund and The Common Market SE.

for a Farmer Field Day to take an in-depth look at harvest, post-harvest and packaging processes on Monday, February 26th. Visit the Georgia Organics website to learn more or register.

SPRING PLANT SALE!

We also have our Spring Plant Sale on the farm on Saturday April 6th ! Pre-orders are live on our website now . ?Shop the site to be sure you get the plants you want for your spring and summer garden, then come out to the farm for pickup as well as live music, gardening workshops, farm tours, good vibes and loads of other enriching fun.

Purchase Plants Today

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE!

Our Spring/Summer CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) group will begin the week of April 22nd. We offer several convenient pickup locations on the east side of Atlanta and on our farm in Mansfield. Learn more and sign up here. Please help spread the word if you can. ?

We’d love to see you:

• Wednesday afternoons at Sceptre Brewing in Oakhurst, or
• Thursday afternoons on the farm in Mansfield (Newton County), or
• Saturday mornings at Wood’s Chapel BBQ in Summerhill, or
• Saturday mornings at Community Q BBQ in Decatur

This will be our 17th year offering a CSA to our community. The CSA is not only the cornerstone, but also one of the most joyful parts of our business. Here are few reasons our members join year after year:

• Eat healthier food
• Try new veggies
• Enjoy fresh, high quality, superior tasting vegetables
• Support a local business
• Know a farmer and where food comes from
• Help take care of the earth! ?
• Belong to a vibrant and kind community and build relationships with vibrant, kind and interesting people
• Receive exclusive perks like you-pick strawberries and gatherings on the farm
• Introduce children to a farmer and build a relationship with a farm
• Savor the add-on shares – everything from milk, bread and cheese to coffee, peanut butter and rice are available — and of course limited flower shares from farmer Monica.

Sign up to Join CSA Today

FALL PLANT SALE - SAVE THE DATE

Our Fall Plant Sale will be Saturday, September 7th. (Web store early August).

As usual, we plan to provide activities, workshops, vendors, music, farm tours, food and fun! We hope you will plan to join us. ?

GRATITUDE!

Thanks so much to everyone who applied, or helped spread the word about our employment opportunities. We had many, many great candidates apply and come out for working interviews. It’s an honor to have so many folks interested in working with us.

A TRIBUTE

Our local food community was stung by an enormous loss early in the year when we lost our farmer friend, ally and inspiration, Chris Edwards. Chris was not only a tremendous agricultural talent, but also a remarkably deep, kind and truthful human being. He was the kind of person whose presence alone elevated the conversation. Here’s a sweet video that our friends at Small Bites Adventure Club made featuring Chris. It gives a lovely sense of his charisma and intelligence.

We’re sad and confused that he’s gone. We trust that his deeds and spirit will live on to inspire many more. We are grateful to have walked with him when and how we did, and we know we are not alone in mourning his death. There is a memorial service on February 18th at 2pm. Here’s a link to learn more. The family is asking for support through contributions made to cashapp $KenyaMan or Zelle Kenya Edwards 404-290-6262.

Peace, Chris. We love you.

We send all of you love and gratitude from all of the worker-owner farmers at Love is Love Cooperative Farm and we hope to see you sometime, somewhere very soon!

p.s. Don’t forget SNAP / EBT customers get 50% off of plants and CSA shares thanks to our partners at Wholesome Wave Georgia .