Setting Intentions for the Growing Season
Welcome to the second issue of The Sow and Grow! As we prepare for the upcoming season, we’re focusing on setting clear, actionable goals to ensure success. In this issue, we’ll cover creating a sustainable farm plan, essential tools and supplies for the year, a special Black history spotlight, and some exciting farm updates.

Honoring Black History Month: Agriculture & Legacy

February is a time to honor the deep-rooted agricultural contributions of Black farmers, scientists, and land stewards. From George Washington Carver’s innovative crop rotation methods to Fannie Lou Hamer’s Freedom Farm Cooperative, to the lifetime of advocating for Black farmers by civil rights activist Shirley Sherrod, Black growers have shaped sustainable farming practices for generations. At Locs and Heritage Farm, we are proud to continue this legacy by nurturing the land, growing organically, and exploring traditional and experimental farming techniques.

This month, we encourage you to support Black-owned farms, learn more about the history of Black agriculturalists, and reflect on how their work continues to shape our food systems today.

Farm Prep: Gearing Up for the Growing Season

Winter may still have its grip, but February is a crucial month for farm preparation! We’ve been busy planning our 2025 season, organizing seeds, researching amendments, and mapping out our planting schedule. One big change this year: we’re moving away from raised beds! After much thought, we’ve decided to focus on in-ground growing to maximize space, improve soil biology, and create a more sustainable system for our farm’s long-term health. 

We're gathering all the parts for the geodesic dome greenhouse and we'll be putting it up in March as planned.

We’re also fine-tuning our volunteer program, and we appreciate everyone who has signed up so far. If you’re interested in lending a hand, check out our volunteer sign-up system here!

SOWTH 2025: Growing, Learning & Connecting

Next up, I was able to attend the SOWTH Conference this month thanks to a scholarship from Georgia Organics! It was a 3-day event. The first day was a farm tour on our farm. I was able to help out with the tour by handing out flyers and sharing my experience as a farmer on the property with the visitors. The next two days' events were held at the Georgia Congress Center in ATL. Visit my social media pages if you’d like to see pictures from the conference!

This was a fantastic opportunity for me to learn from experienced farmers, attend workshops on sustainable agriculture, and connect with fellow growers. As someone who is still growing in confidence as a farmer, I was excited to step out of my comfort zone, network, and bring back fresh insights to implement on the farm. 

I learned about things like improving soil health, black farmer history in Georgia, and how to grow bulb onions from seeds. I enjoyed listening to this year’s keynote speaker, Farmer “Cee” Stanley. It was my second time hearing her speak. The first was this past December at a workshop on the GGN Rockdale farm. She has a lot of knowledge to share about marketing, and being unapologetically black and female in the farming community space. 

I also really enjoyed listening to Sherley Sherrod speak about her life experiences that led her to be a Black farmer advocate in Georgia. Black farmers in the South have been through so much injustice, and we’ll likely to experience more. I gained strength by listening to her story. 

Flax for Linen: An Exciting Experiment

This year, we’re exploring fiber farming by planting flax for linen production! I’ve just purchased flax seeds and can’t wait to see how they grow in our Zone 8b climate. This will be an experiment in both farming and fiber processing, with the goal of learning traditional methods of linen-making. Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this new adventure!

What’s Next?

🌱 Finalizing planting plans & seed starting
🌱 Building the geodesic dome greenhouse
🌱 Preparing the fields for in-ground planting
🌱 Experimenting with flax for natural fiber production

Thank you for being part of our journey! Stay connected with us on social media and feel free to reach out if you have questions, want to volunteer, or just want to chat about farming.

Until next time—happy growing! 🌿

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