NATHAN AND MICHELLE.
We have fallen madly in love with our Bowling Green farming community over the last year or so, and two of the leaders of that amazing local food movement are building a commercial kitchen. Michelle and Nathan of Need More Acres are absolutely irrepressible in their devotion to this community and they inspire us dearly. When people like Wendell Berry say "think globally and act locally," these are the people making that a reality. That is why we would like you to join us in helping them––as they helped us when we were in need––in funding their commercial kitchen on their brand new farm.Recognizing that not all consumers who want to support local food can cook all of their own meals, Nathan and Michelle's goal is to help give schools and customers a chance to buy prepared foods made with local ingredients. Of course, to sell prepared foods one must first meet the state and local requirements which is where the commercial kitchen comes into play.This wonderful new site they are using, Kiva Zip, allows you to loan or donate money to projects, and the loans are paid back over time and without interest. Please join us in supporting this amazing couple.- Jesse.
NEED MORE ACRES FARM.
When we first met Michelle from Need More Acres we were lucky enough to be set up next to her at the Kentucky Green Living Fair. But that was decidedly not our first experience with Michelle. The previous fall, she and her husband Nathan had donated all the profits from one week of their market sales to our Cabin Campaign long before they'd ever met us. And we were floored. It was, without a doubt, one of the more generous gifts we'd ever received––to receive such a large amount of money from a farm, and from strangers. So you can imagine how reluctant we were to apply for their Planting Seeds Program, which offered young farmers a portion of profits from the sales at this past week's Heirloom Tomato Festival, to be used for a project the young farmer can't afford. But at the behest of Michelle we applied, and this week they raised a great deal of money, to be dispersed among some amazing people with big ideas.Put simply, Hannah and I are deeply inspired by Need More Acres. They are not only building community, but helping many young farmers along the way. They want to feed. They want to give. And I don't know if they set out to inspire, but they are doing that, too.We can't wait to get to a point where we can give and feed and inspire as they do. It's a goal of ours. It's a goal to join Need More Acres in helping to build community and strengthen Kentucky's small farmers. And it's nice for us, and for Kentucky, to have such a great model farm to follow.Thank you, Michelle and Nathan, your actions do not go unnoticed nor unappreciated.- Jesse.AND - as a PS....Need More Acres do, in fact, need more acres! They are looking for land opportunities (buy or trade) to grow their year-round Bowling Green CSA. What they currently do with just 2 acres is incredible, so I can only imagine how they will continue to grow. If you have any ideas or suggestions, let them know!
YOUNG FARMER LOVE.
It would be thoroughly impossible to describe how moved we were to read this particular post from the wonderful family over at Need More Acres. If you live in Bowling Green, please support this family. And not just this weekend, but every weekend forever.
*photo from Need More Acres - some beautiful heirlooms!*