Dear friends and family,

Will you take time this year to invest in our collective future? 

Eight years before starting my job at Georgia Organics in 2019 I knew of the organization as a convener of farmers. I was 'green' (with little farming experience) but wanted to get my hands dirty and find community. I pondered whether or not I should take a career and life in farming seriously and had just moved to Georgia with my two pups and partner in search of a way to live closer to the land and realize the full meaning of food sovereignty. 

Luckily, I was able to attend the annual Georgia Organics conference that year and felt awe-inspired entering a room filled with over 600 farmers from across the state. That weekend I took away not only tons of technical knowledge but also a fortified passion for the work and numerous friends that I consider to be my community to this very day. 

Fast forward to now and my new relationship with Georgia Organics. I have come to know the organization as not only a convener but also a 'seeder' of programming that supports farmers in everything from strategic investment capital, to coaching for their businesses, to even free health insurance. Although I am no longer running a for-profit farm, I am continually inspired and motivated by the farmers Georgia Organics touches and feel like now more than ever we have important work to do. 

Check out more about Georgia Organics purpose and goals below and help us raise 150K to continue cultivating this important work.  

We all have the power to participate! 

Thank you for your support, 

Lauren 

(Photo of the Farm to Restaurant cohort meeting up for the first time to talk about selling to restaurants)

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.