They say that there’s nothing better in life than companionship. … or, at least, someone does. We don’t know who “they” is. But we can say one thing for certain: that we are lucky to have such a wonderful community rooting for our growth!
During hard times, plants wilt. They shrivel inwards on themselves. They aren’t entirely social with their neighboring plants. Luckily for us, Homosapiens are just a little more complex than plants. We grow, both literally and metaphorically. We persevere. We adapt. Most importantly, we can turn to our peers for help.
As a part of our initiative to become more climate-resilient, we’ve been reaching out to the other farmers of the mid-atlantic to share some of their wisdom with us. So many amazing farmers showed up to the Advanced Growers Gathering held by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture this past fall. The growers included in this panel were:
Jeff Frank: Liberty Gardens
Marty Renner: Down to Earth Harvest
Kirstie Jones: Pennypack Farm
Trey Fleming: Two Gander Farm
Liz Krug: Endless Roots Farm
These growers had so much valuable advice to share. The highlights of the session were that:
Growing Seasons are changing. Different crops prefer to grow at different times, and are starting to struggle at peak summer temperatures.
Water Sources are changing. The amount of water that any land will receive is becoming less and less predictable as gradual rainfall becomes droughts and storms that flood the area.
People are changing… or at least being incredibly challenged. The extreme conditions that climate change brings has taken a toll on many workers without adequate resources.
The knowledge we’ve gained from our fellow farmers has been paramount in helping us navigate climate change. With their valuable insights in mind, we’ve been beginning to piece together an image of LEAF’s future.
There may be better things than companionship in your life – and that’s okay! However, its presence during a crisis is all-important. By leaning on our community (and diverging from the plant lifestyle), we not only receive data, but the support that we need to adapt.