Scaling Regenerative Agriculture For BIPOC Farmers
Nature For Justice’s Farmer Inclusion team is passionately committed to advancing regenerative agriculture, a transformative approach that not only fosters healthier soils but also minimizes input costs and enhances the resilience of farming systems against extreme and erratic weather conditions, as well as the broader impacts of climate change. Our strategy is grounded in a comprehensive multi-step approach that emphasizes co-creation and shared risk among farmers. We anticipate that scaling our initiatives will rely heavily on private sector investors recognizing the immense value of our bridge financing model, which effectively reduces both financial and ecological risks while ensuring competitive returns. This model ultimately aims to lessen our dependence on continual philanthropic support.
To date, in North Carolina, we have successfully engaged over 125 farmers who manage more than 7,000 acres dedicated to regenerative agriculture. This milestone has been achieved through the disbursement of over $1 million to these farmers, with an additional $2.5 million forecasted for distribution by 2025. We are also preparing to expand our initiatives into Virginia, with ambitious plans to extend our positive impact throughout the Southeast and Midwest.
An N4J Internship Experience – Investing in the Future
By Criss Carlota Berke This summer, three North Carolina State University students participated in Nature For Justice’s (N4J) pilot internship – Regenerative Farming with BIPOC Farmers. For ten weeks, they learned about how climate-smart, regenerative, and sustainable practices manifest on livestock and produce farms. Through tailored workshops, farm and market tours, and interactions with agricultural […]
A Summer Internship Experience at Beverly Bowens Farm
By Briggs Oldham This summer, three North Carolina State University students participated in Nature For Justice’s pilot internship – Regenerative Farming with BIPOC Farmers. For ten weeks, they learned about how climate-smart, regenerative, and sustainable practices manifest on livestock and produce farms. Through tailored workshops, farm and market tours, and interactions with agricultural specialists, these […]
The Brown Family Farm: Building Resilience and a Legacy
(Part 2 of 2)
In June, the US Farmer Inclusion Team welcomed Patrick Brown as our new Director of Farmer Inclusion. As a fourth-generation farmer, farm manager of his family’s farm, and active advocate for sustainable and profitable farming among Black farmers, Patrick is a jack of all trades and excited to continue his work through Nature For Justice. […]
Nature For Justice’s Farmer Inclusion Program: Ten Technical Impacts
“Patrick and N4J’s Program are helping us do things we haven’t done before in terms of improving the quality of the land, the quality of our crops and help with the cost of our labor. We don’t have to pay out of our pocket as much this year for inputs. These regenerative practices are absolutely […]
The Challenges Facing Smallholder Farmers and Nature-Based Solutions
Challenges faced by smallholder farmers trying to adopt regenerative practices. One of the biggest challenges for smallholder farmers, in general – and also regarding adopting regenerative practices – is the cost of farm inputs and the labor required to apply them. As a result, many smallholders tend to under-apply inputs and rely on family versus […]
The Brown Family Farm: Building Resilience & Legacy
(Part 1 of 2)
In June, the US Farmer Inclusion Team welcomed Patrick Brown as our new Director of Farmer Inclusion. As a fourth-generation farmer, farm manager of his family’s farm, and active advocate for sustainable and profitable farming among Black farmers, Patrick is a jack of all trades and excited to continue his work through Nature For Justice. […]
US Farmer Inclusion Meeting Updates and Take-Aways
This past April, Nature For Justice (N4J) met with 10 organizations and eight farm owners to discuss our U.S. Farmer Inclusion Program and receive input on improving our strategy. N4J aims to be additive in the agriculture justice space and strengthen climate resilience among Black, Indigenous, and other farmers of color (BIPOC). During our discussion, […]
Interview with Jasmine Gibson, Our Regional Hub Outreach Coordinator
Jasmine Gibson Working closely with Clarenda Stanley on our BIPOC Farmers Project and Farmer Inclusion is our new Regional Hub Outreach Coordinator Jasmin Gibson who took some time out of her day to let us get to know her better. Lisa Cloete (LC): Can you tell us a short story about your background and what […]
Interview with Clarenda Stanley, N4J’s MD of Farmer Inclusion (Part 2)
Clarenda Stanley is an award-winning fundraiser, communications professional, and CEO/Founder of Green Heffa Farms, the nation’s first Certified B Corp Black-owned farm. Clarenda hosted the first-ever W.A.S.H. event in North Carolina in early October. She took a break from her morning farming recently to give me the lowdown on what it was all about. Click […]
Interview with Clarenda Stanley, N4J’s MD of Farmer Inclusion (Part 1)
We recently welcomed Clarenda Stanley as the new Managing Director of Farmer Inclusion for Nature for Justice. Clarenda is a farmer herself who grows herbs and medicinal plants in North Carolina. Clarenda works in communications and fundraising as well, bringing in a multidisciplinary approach to running the N4J BIPOC Farmers Initiative. Lisa Cloete (LC): As […]
Our Program for BIPOC Farmers: 1st Update
In spring 2021, Nature For Justice (N4J) launched its Inclusive Climate Resource Network (ICRNet) program for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) farmers in the southeast U.S. This network aims to help these farmers access the essential technical and financial resources that they traditionally have been denied. These resources will enable BIPOC farmers to […]
