...now is the time to start spreading the word to your family, friends, co-workers and cohorts about buying fresh produce from Jon the Farmer.  While we are not yet ready for harvest, it is never too early to plant the seed (haha) and help us create a long-term sustainable model that will allow us to continue to work your land, feed your family and in-turn feed the families in your community and beyond.

We could not do what we do without word of mouth - so get to talking!!  

And THANK YOU!! for thinking outside of the box and supporting hyper-local growth!!

A large driver of why we are doing what we are doing here at Jon the Farmer, has to do with bigger picture thinking and sustainability. This week NPR had a very interesting broadcast about "Bad Diets" being responsible for more deaths than cigarettes!! Looking more into it, there was a study done in 2018 by the University of Guelph in which even IF folks suddenly began eating a healthier diets - there is not enough to go around - why? Too much focus on growing sugar and starchy foods. Read the links to learn more about (and keep supporting our efforts and those of other local farmers - please). https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/04/03/709507504/bad-diets-are-responsible-for-more-deaths-than-smoking-global-study-finds
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0205683

​Anita S is back at it! "It was my breakfast salad: arugula, carrot, radish, pumpkin seeds, San Juan Sea Salt San Juan Blend, Olive oil and balsamic vinegar topped with turkey bacon and a fried egg!" Just in time for some brunch-worthy inspiration - yum!

​This beautiful tree really captures the essence of what we are doing here at Jon the Farmer - Urban Farmer - supporting the natural abundance of fruits and vegetables. By doing so, we are able to grow in a fully organic, bionutrient conscious way and support your communities with fresh food.

Thank you, Anita for your kindness. Thank you to all for your support. And remember, pass our mission along. We have a mere 34 days to meet our goal!!

All the best,
Jon the Farmer

​The Benefits of Getting Your Kids Hooked on Urban Farming
November 28, 2018 by admin

Guest post by Ali Clarke
http://www.urbanfarmhub.org/

Green beans

It is estimated that barely 5% of American children meet the requirements on exercise, sleep and screen time — with almost 30% falling short of all recommendations. Although children from all walks of life are falling prey to technological overloads, it is especially those living in some of the bigger cities across the country that can benefit from getting closer acquainted with nature. While this may seem like a difficult feat, it is becoming increasingly easier thanks to urban farming, which is fast gaining popularity in the USA.

Children are privy to a unique learning opportunity on an urban farm

Too many children lack basic yet, essential life skills as they grow older. Urban farms provide these city kids with the perfect opportunity to get their hands dirty and learn a variety of skills that will benefit them for the remainder of their lives. Due to the hands-on approach needed when tending to an urban garden, a willing child can learn skills ranging from planting seeds and weeding a garden to identifying and combatting common pests and becoming familiar with basic animal husbandry. Having the entire family, including the children involved in tending to the farm, it also makes the workload less, giving the adults a welcome break from some of the more tedious daily chores.

In what other ways can urban farming benefit children?

Apart from the practical skills acquired while helping on the farm, there is a range of other skills that can be acquired almost effortlessly. Urban farming can teach children valuable lessons about healthy eating and food consciousness which will help them make good food choices later on in life. This is a valuable skill to acquire considering that nearly 1 in 5 children of school-going age in the USA is considered to be obese according to the CDC. The may also become interested in cooking as well as other aspects of food preparation such as fermenting, preserving, and smoking. Spending time on an urban farm will also instill patience and perseverance together with a sense of pride in a child who has taken the responsibilities bestowed upon him or her seriously.

How to get a child interested in urban farming

One of the easiest ways to create an interest in urban farming is to create excitement around the activity. Give each child their own small allotted space to tend to, allowing them to choose what they want to plant (a favorite vegetable, herb, berry etc). Be sure to reiterate the benefits of growing their own food and incorporate as many fun-filled activities into the farming as possible. If children don’t seem interested in the horticultural aspects of urban farming, perhaps enlisting their help to tend to the livestock is a good place to start as children have a natural fondness of animals.

Getting a couple of youthful hands to help you on your urban farm will benefit them as much as it will you. Not only will the children be blessed with invaluable life skills but you will also undoubtedly benefit from the extra help with the endless tasks that need to be taken care of on a daily basis.

Looking for a great 3-minute read about the benefits of school gardens for kids - take a look at this NPR report: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/10/426741473/healthy-eaters-strong-minds-what-school-gardens-teach-kids?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20190125&utm_campaign=npr_email_a_friend&utm_term=storyshare BTW, shout out to Green Lake Elementary for being on board with this important work!

Do you know who grows your food? Do you know the footprint your produce leaves as it travels from state to state and country to country? This video provides a similar model to what we are doing here at Jon the Farmer - Urban Farmer. We believe ALL people have the right to fresh and nutritious food. By partnering with like-minded land owners, we are working towards making this more and more attainable. Please support our vision! Thank you to Anita Shelton for sharing this with us!

https://www.facebook.com/brightvibes/videos/529760487509454/

We wanted to take a moment to thank you for your on-going support of Jon the Farmer - Urban Farmer.  During the "quiet" season, we have been busy prepping current and new land-loaners' plots, as well as planning for the 2019 season. We are so excited for what's just around the corner!!

A great project we have been working on behind-the-scenes is a crowd funding event, that will allow us a mere 60-days to fully fund our goal of increasing our knowledge base of organic, urban-farmed produce, as well as create and partner with a processing facility so that we can ensure your produce is delivered to you as fresh and nutrient-rich, as possible.

Won't you take a moment to explore our project and, if you are so inclined, donate whatever you can, as every bit adds up! Take a look at our cool donation rewards, as another means of showing our appreciation and helping you get closer and closer to becoming an organic, urban-farm movement motivator!! And please, we ask that you pass this along to others (local and not-so-local) that may love this idea and want to be a supporter, too.  

https://www.ulule.com/jon-the-farmer/