This Tuesday Triangle Land Conservancy is set to host another installment of its Wild Ideas…
By Olivia Garcia, TLC Communications Manager
From rising grocery prices to unstable federal assistance programs, food insecurity is a challenge in North Carolina. In Wake County alone, 11.1% of residents lack access to enough food, and across our state, over 1.6 million people are facing hunger. Local farms and farmers markets help address this gap by bringing fresh, affordable produce directly to communities.
Triangle Land Conservancy’s (TLC) land conservation work is supporting the Triangle agricultural community by working with landowners to protect vital farmland from rising development pressures. Additionally, TLC works to support small-scale farms through programs like the Williamson Farm Program, partnerships with other local nonprofits, and community events – including this year’s Land & Harvest Festival.
Below we’ve highlighted three TLC farm partners that are making it their mission to close the gap in food insecurity in Triangle communities. Check out their websites and their programs that are working to ensure everyone has access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods.
Urban Community AgriNomics
Urban Community AgriNomics (UCAN) is a local nonprofit that engages the Northern Durham community with skills based in agriculture and provides community space for access to fresh produce grown at their Catawba Trail Farm. Through their farm, UCAN works to reduce food insecurity, support community health and wellness, and empower families and individuals with resources to grow their own food using sustainable farming practices.
There are a number of ways you can support UCAN’s work! While their Winter CSA is sold out, some produce is still available to purchase, including honey, fresh eggs, and greens. You can also check out their merch shop, purchase UCAN’s Recipes from Catawba Trail Farm cookbook, or donate to UCAN directly.
Learn more about UCAN here and find them on Instagram and Facebook.
Transplanting Traditions Community Farm
Transplanting Traditions Community Farm (TTCF) supports food sovereignty in the refugee community through providing access to land, education, and opportunities for refugee farmers to address community food insecurity and the barriers they face in reaching their dreams of farming.
While TTCF’s Winter CSA has already sold out, one way you can still support their mission this season is through their “Share-a-Share” program. Using community member donations, TTCF purchases traditional Burmese vegetables and herbs from their farmers to donate to organizations like PORCH and the Refugee Support Center (RSC). This produce is then distributed to refugee families from Burma facing food insecurity.
Learn more about TTCF here and give them a follow on Instagram and Facebook.
Karen Community Farm
Karen Community Farm (KCF) is a community farm that supports Karen refugees in Wendell, NC by providing land access and resources to refugee farmers. KCF farmers are using chemical-free, environmentally responsible methods to grow Asian vegetables and flowers. This year, KCF moved their farming operations over to TLC’s Bailey & Sarah Williamson Preserve as part of the on-site Williamson Farm Program. As well as being a featured vendor at our June Land & Harvest Festival, KCF continued to host their own weekly Farm Stands at the Agricultural Pavilion.
Although KCF is not doing a CSA this winter, and their market season has wrapped up, you can still support the organization. Donations to KCF support an important community space for Karen culture through farming, community gatherings, and youth and adult programs.
Learn more about KCF here and check them out on Instagram and Facebook.
