Greetings, dear friends and family,

About one year ago today, I pulled into Georgia on my big move from Minnesota back home to the South. A three-day drive, and I’d finally made it. I almost knocked over some trash bins as I struggled to park the wrong way on a one-way street at the home of my hosts, Kathie and Alice. Kathie was out in the yard trying to help with the standard “Go forward… no back up… no… STOP!” motions.

As you imagine this, are you picturing me with a U-haul, parking on a busy street in downtown Atlanta? Nope! It was me, in my Prius, in the tranquil village of Pine Lake - a duck was trying to pass on my right!

Anyway, I finally park and get out of the car and Kathie says, “Well, you must be Emmy,” a dry chuckle of relief to know the car was in park. And that’s how I like to make an entrance.

Since then, I have moved to the “big city,” Midtown Atlanta, and I’m making my way through life and the traffic quite well, in case you were concerned. As a matter of fact, I’m having a blast! There’s one thing I’m quite proud of, and that’s the work I do daily for Georgia Organics.

As most of you know, after over ten years in the performing arts, I decided to make a shift. The pandemic shuttered venues, and the timing aligned with a deep increasing sense of urgency to educate myself about and to support regenerative agriculture and local food systems.

Georgia Organics is now in its 25th year of this work, and I am thrilled I found a home here. I joined the team in January and have been learning so much about our farmers, partners, and advocates, and how they work every day to be caretakers of our land and soil. This effort has a ripple effect that positively impacts the environment, food access, community and individual health and prosperity, and so much more.

Now, I’m asking for your support! In honor of the Anniversary of my one-year homecoming to the South, will you make a donation to Georgia Organics?

It would mean the world to me personally, and make a big difference to our work at Georgia Organics as we reach for our goal of raising $150,000 by the end of the year. Together, we can truly center and support our farmers, and empower the tremendous opportunities that lie in their role as stewards of our soil and future. Please join me!

Thinking about amounts? Here's a tip on the theme of Anniversaries - $25 in honor of Georgia Organics' 25th Anniversary? More or less is welcome, and of course, there is no pressure to make a gift if you are not in a position to do so! I already appreciate you in every way.

Thank you so much for all of your support this year.

With love,

Emmy

P.S. - Gray joined the team in September. He works hard for farmers, mostly eating exclusively expensive sustainably-produced treats. But also a little social media.

Our food system is dynamic, complex, critical. Every day, Georgia’s land, growers, and communities stand at the mercy of ongoing and increasing environmental pressures, social and economic gaps, and barriers to access. Deeply entrenched agricultural practices and policies make these challenges worse, further degrading the soil and access to land and food.  

Meanwhile, the champions in our local food system work daily to stem this tide. They make sacrifices to prioritize soil and community health. They lead the way, showing us that it is possible to build a future in which Georgia’s food is produced accessibly, equitably, and sustainably by thriving community farmers. 

Georgia’s land needs stewards like never before. 

This year, as Georgia Organics celebrates our anniversary milestone, we’re reflecting on our roots. While Georgia Organics was founded as a nonprofit in 1997, our organization dates back to the 1970s as a growers’ association—a group of farmers sharing their knowledge and resources to strengthen their collective efforts. Now in our 25th year, we’re dedicated to meeting today’s emerging challenges under these same historical auspices... 

To invest in our food future from the ground up. So, how do we do that? 

The answer is in the soil. 

Across the state of Georgia, our soil varies from region to region, even from plot to plot. That is why Georgia is one of the most biodiverse states in the country. The organic farmers throughout our state are experts in the care of this biodiversity and the land they steward.  

Georgia Organics invests in these farmers so that inch by inch, the soil gets the care it needs. We support these farmers so that they can grow in a way that heals the earth, increases food access across the state, and sustains biodiversity and life, from the soil itself (which is living and breathing!), to the plants, the people, and everything in-between.

Your donation will help us to:

• Grow the number of organic and regenerative farmers who are profitable and earning a living wage

• Grow an effective network of advocates who champion these farmers

• Grow investment in our farmers and regional food systems

• Grow our collective impact by centering the organization in equity, relationships, resource development, and accountability

By supporting Georgia Organics, you are investing in solutions to climate change, food access, and most importantly, the unique and varied challenges faced by organic farmers on the ground and at the forefront of our local food movement.

Please join us with a 25th Anniversary gift today!

Your support will nurture the food system – from the ground up.  

For more information about Georgia Organics, visit georgiaorganics.org.