WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE SPONSORED BY THE SOUTHERN RURAL BLACK WOMEN’’S INITIATIVE

SOUTHERN RURAL BLACK WOMEN’S INITIATIVE FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE SOUTHERN RURAL BLACK WOMEN’S INITIATIVE FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE Three State Collaboration Three State Collaboration - Children Defense Fund (Mississippi) - Federation of Child Care Centers (Alabama) - Southwest Georgia project for Community Education (Georgia) Major Contributors: Ford Foundation, MS Foundation, Margarite Casey Foundation Major Contributors: Ford Foundation, MS Foundation, Margarite Casey Foundation Operates in 77 counties across the Black Belt Operates in 77 counties across the Black Belt

THREE STATE COLLABORATIONN

SOUTHERN RURAL BLACK WOMEN’S INITIATIVE FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE SOUTHERN RURAL BLACK WOMEN’S INITIATIVE FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE Three State Collaboration Three State Collaboration - Children Defense Fund (Mississippi) - Federation of Child Care Centers (Alabama) - Southwest Georgia project for Community Education (Georgia) Major Contributors: Ford Foundation, MS Foundation, Margarite Casey Foundation Major Contributors: Ford Foundation, MS Foundation, Margarite Casey Foundation Operates in 77 counties across the Black Belt Operates in 77 counties across the Black Belt

MISSION OF SRBWI TO PROVIDE NOURISHMENT TO PROVIDE NOURISHMENT TO ENGAGE WOMEN IN ADVOCACY AND POLICY INITIATIVES TO ENGAGE WOMEN IN ADVOCACY AND POLICY INITIATIVES TO ENGAGE WOMEN IN AN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENDA TO ENGAGE WOMEN IN AN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENDA TO DEVELOP ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO DEVELOP ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO BUILD LINKAGES WITH WOMEN’S GROUPS COMMITTED TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE TO BUILD LINKAGES WITH WOMEN’S GROUPS COMMITTED TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

OUR RESOLVE… Secure employment or skills that will provide families a higher income Secure employment or skills that will provide families a higher income Identify services needed in each community and create self-employment or small business opportunities to meet those needs Identify services needed in each community and create self-employment or small business opportunities to meet those needs Develop programs to help young people and senior citizens Develop programs to help young people and senior citizens

LATEST GROUP AGRICULTURE PROJECT SMALL ACREAGE AND LIMITED ACCESS TO FARM EQUIPMENT SMALL ACREAGE AND LIMITED ACCESS TO FARM EQUIPMENT WOMEN WORKING AS A GROUP WOMEN WORKING AS A GROUP LOCAL MARKETING OF PRODUCE LOCAL MARKETING OF PRODUCE

STEPPING OUTSIDE THE BOX NON-TRADITIONAL FARMING FOR WOMEN PECAN GROVES PECAN GROVES SOUTHERN ALTERNATIVE SOUTHERN ALTERNATIVE

SOUTHERNALTERNATIVES AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE, INC.

PECAN PROCESSING PLANT

Southern Alternatives Worker and Farmer owned cooperative Worker and Farmer owned cooperative Five members Five members Grow and process pecans Grow and process pecans Pecan Candies Pecan Candies

Technical Assistance Provided by Federation and SRBWI Provided by Federation and SRBWI Production Production Product Development Product Development Plant Operations Plant Operations Marketing Marketing Business Development Business Development Funding Funding

Funding Equal Exchange (2006, 2007) Equal Exchange (2006, 2007) Oxfam America (2006, 2007) Oxfam America (2006, 2007) Presbyterian SDOP (2007) Presbyterian SDOP (2007) SRBWI Seed Capitol (2007) SRBWI Seed Capitol (2007)

Markets Fair Trade Wholesale Market Fair Trade Wholesale Market Equal Exchange Equal Exchange Co-op Grocery Stores Co-op Grocery Stores Bakery Bakery Mail Order Mail Order

New Packaging & Product

New Equipment Heavy Duty Lift & Stacker

Hydraulic Drum Lifter & Pallet Jack

Color Sorter - Separates out dark pecan pieces and halves from batch

Women in Agriculture Three counties (Clay, Dougherty, Worth) with five to eight women actively growing produce Three counties (Clay, Dougherty, Worth) with five to eight women actively growing produce Eight counties participating in 2008 Eight counties participating in 2008 Non-traditional crops Non-traditional crops Joint marketing of produce with Flint River Farmers Cooperative Joint marketing of produce with Flint River Farmers Cooperative

LATEST FARMING PROJECT

Technical Assistance Provided by Federation and SRBWI Provided by Federation and SRBWI Production Production Marketing Marketing Partnership with Flint River Co-op Partnership with Flint River Co-op Farmers Market Farmers Market Local Retail Markets Local Retail Markets Co-op development Co-op development Funding from SRBWI Seed Capital Fund Funding from SRBWI Seed Capital Fund

TYPICAL PEANUT FIELD

HERBS

Herbs grown by the “Herb Maven” on the C & M Mini-Farm Herbs grown by the “Herb Maven” on the C & M Mini-Farm Herbs grown by the “Herb Maven” on the C & M Mini-Farm Herb Type ClassificationUse With Herb Type ClassificationUse With BasilAnnualCulinaryTomatoes based recipes BasilAnnualCulinaryTomatoes based recipes ChivesPerennialCulinaryEggs, meats, vegetables ChivesPerennialCulinaryEggs, meats, vegetables CilantroBiennialCulinarySalsa CilantroBiennialCulinarySalsa FennelPerennialCulinarySoups, salads FennelPerennialCulinarySoups, salads *GarlicPerennialCulinaryMeats, vegetables *GarlicPerennialCulinaryMeats, vegetables *Italian ParsleyBiennialCulinaryGarnish, salads, soup *Italian ParsleyBiennialCulinaryGarnish, salads, soup LavenderPerennialAromatic/Ornamental Dried flower displays LavenderPerennialAromatic/Ornamental Dried flower displays MarjoramAnnualCulinaryMeats, stews, salads MarjoramAnnualCulinaryMeats, stews, salads OreganoPerennialCulinaryMeats, vegetables OreganoPerennialCulinaryMeats, vegetables RosemaryPerennialAromatic/Culinary Meats, breads RosemaryPerennialAromatic/Culinary Meats, breads TarragonPerennialCulinarySoups TarragonPerennialCulinarySoups ThymePerennialCulinaryMeats, vegetables ThymePerennialCulinaryMeats, vegetables SagePerennialCulinaryMeats, sausage SagePerennialCulinaryMeats, sausage SpearmintPerennialAromatic/Ornamental Beverages, garnish, desserts SpearmintPerennialAromatic/Ornamental Beverages, garnish, desserts * Parsley and Garlic are actually vegetables * Parsley and Garlic are actually vegetables

Planting in Raised Beds SRBWI members and farmers from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina planting herbs in a raised bed at the Federation's Training Center in Epes, Alabama.

WIC Market 144 Farmers in Georgia participating 144 Farmers in Georgia participating Farmers sell produce grown in Georgia or within 25 miles of border Farmers sell produce grown in Georgia or within 25 miles of border Operates from May – October Operates from May – October Over $900,000 in revenue Over $900,000 in revenue

DOUGHERTY COUNTY HEALTH DEPT.

CAMILLA NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER

FLINT RIVER FARMERS COOPERATIVES Located in Baker County Located in Baker County Operated by Farmers from Baker and Brooks Counties Operated by Farmers from Baker and Brooks Counties Usually can produce 30,000 Pounds of Fresh Pot-Ready Collards Usually can produce 30,000 Pounds of Fresh Pot-Ready Collards Capable of Slicing Squash Capable of Slicing Squash Capable of Snapping Beans Capable of Snapping Beans Shelling Peas Shelling Peas

TRAINING RESOURCES SARE SARE RISK MANAGEMENT RISK MANAGEMENT

ALBANY FARMERS MARKET Located West Broad Avenue and North Jackson Street in Albany-Dougherty County Parking Deck Located West Broad Avenue and North Jackson Street in Albany-Dougherty County Parking Deck Opened Every Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm Opened Every Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm Only Southwest Georgia Fresh Vegetables and Fruits are sold Only Southwest Georgia Fresh Vegetables and Fruits are sold Produce sold grown by local farmers Produce sold grown by local farmers

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