Coming out of the pandemic, we learned how important our local farmers and producers are to maintaining a resilient food system. With the rising cost of food coupled with impending cuts in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), we see an impact on individuals and families, as well as our local grocers and food businesses. Now, it’s even more important our DMV farmers and producers have the important tools and resources necessary to ensure their long-term success.
Enter American University’s Health Studies department with a model that emphasizes regional collaboration to tie together food justice, environmental sustainability with a focus on community resilience.
An Innovative Pilot
Taking a leadership role on sustainability throughout the DMV, American University’s Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Lab launched an innovative pilot supporting local farmers and producers. The Agriculture, Infrastructure and Equipment (AIE) Grant Opportunity was designed to expand capacity of established farmers located in the Mid-Atlantic. The project was sponsored by Novo Nordisk, Inc., a supporter of American University and its collaborative effort in building an equitable and resilient food system around the Washington, DC region.
Through the purchase of needed equipment and infrastructure, farmers and producers realize an increase in the production of fruits and vegetables, subsequently improving access to high quality, local food in Washington, DC and neighboring localities.
Says American University Health Studies professor Dr. Stacey Snelling, “The Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Lab is pressing ahead in our work towards a more resilient local food system in DC. In the second year of this work, we have funded partners across production, distribution and consumption, while currently zooming in on equipment and infrastructure investments for 12 local farmers.”
Ranging from $2500 to $4999, the awards went to farms with at least three (3) years in operation and providing food access in Wards 7 and 8. The total investment exceeded $55,000 and each farm received an average of $4,600.
Impact for Local Farms
One grantee is in Upper Marlboro, Maryland at Deep Roots Farm run by farmer Gale Livingstone. Livingstone, a former finance professional, first worked as a volunteer and leased land prior to fully investing in her own property of over 50 acres. Now, she is contributing to the food system full-time through direct marketing at farmers’ markets and her Community Supported Agriculture model, bringing her beautiful produce and other agricultural products from area farmers to market in the District each week, including the Wednesday afternoon Watkins Farmstand (1300 E St SE) and the Saturday morning H Street Market (corner of 13th and H St NE).
While she raises chickens and grows a wide variety of produce, she plants and harvests a few varieties of potatoes – all by hand, a labor-intensive farm task. Through the grant, she was able to purchase a potato planter and harvester.
“We grow a lot of potatoes – two crops per season and harvesting the potatoes would take about a day-and-a-half. We knew we needed to realize more efficiency and reduce labor costs – the harvester we were able to get through the grant cuts our time down to a half-day. We are really so very thankful for this opportunity and grateful to have the support.”
In Virginia, the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture sees an impact on the regional food system through innovative programming. At Arcadia, they provide training for beginning farmers, many of whom are veterans.
Executive Director, Pam Hess speaks to the importance of a capital grant opportunity. “A farm equipment grant is exceedingly rare and extremely valuable – it can super-charge a small operation.”
Hess says the equipment they purchased through the grant was all related to the farm’s transition toward more fields with no- and low-till practices and include pieces or add-ons for use on a smaller tractor. While also being able to fit in the farm’s high tunnels, the smaller tractor can protect and build soil structure, improve drainage, and support positive microbial activity.
Sean Matthews of Sean’s Veggie Garden received a grant for acquiring a paper pot transplanter and a generator for his vegetable farm and echoes the sentiment, “The grant was perfect timing for me. The turnaround time from grant application to receiving the equipment was really fast – and American University also took care of placing the equipment order and following up to make sure we received everything.”
Headquartered in DC and with work focusing on Wards 7 and 8, Dreaming Out Loud brings programming and innovation – from a CSA, food hub, and youth programming at their Kelly Miller and Fort Stanton Farms.
Says Autumn Herbert, farm manager for Dreaming Out Loud, “Relationship building is a very important part of being successful. These connections and financial support — like the Agriculture, Infrastructure and Equipment Grant from American University where we were able to add a 5-row seed planter, tool shed and salad spinner for greens – is key for us to do our work more efficiently.”
Feeding the DMV Region
The Franciscan Monastery’s gardens have been an oasis in the District for over a century and the Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild (FMGG) has been raising produce for donation since 2014. On its two-acre urban DC farm, FMGG grows and harvests about 8,000 pounds of vegetables annually – 95% of which is donated to area nonprofits like DC Central Kitchen, the Father McKenna Center and other nearby food pantries.
FMGG board member, Peter Quinn notes how impactful grants are to their work. “The grant we received through American University has made it possible for us to acquire items like heat mats for germinating seeds earlier in the season inside the greenhouse, as well as elevated beds on wheels that help with accessibility concerns for older adults volunteering in the garden.”
These donations to area food pantries are becoming increasingly important to the DMV, as the Capital Area Food Bank’s latest report from September 2024, noted that 37% of the Washington region (nearly 1.5 million people) didn’t always know where their next meal would come from, an increase of 5 percentage points over 2023.
Continued Collaboration for Success
As we see greater need in the realm of food insecurity, collaborative partnerships between private enterprise, academic expertise and research, local farmers and producers alongside non-profit entities – are important keys to addressing hunger in the DMV.
The Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities initiative has seen positive impact. From getting food in the hands of under-resourced communities or through their convening of the first DMV-focused Food Summit in October 2024 where over 50 regionally based organizations came together at American University, this important work looks at the strengths and challenges inherent in the local food system. The AIE grants support and address recommendations gleaned from the Summit as well as important conversations those engaged in the Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities initiative have had in the field.
Annette Nielsen, a writer, and food and agricultural systems advisor. She has returned to Capitol Hill from New York where she served as the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center.
