1. Organic Farming With A Disability
There are 6 pictures of different produce and food items on this page. The AgrAbility in Georgia logo is above the title of the Presentation: “Organic Farming With A Disability”. It is being presented by Andy and Hilda Byrd of Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm. The AgrAbility in Georgia website is listed
Andy and Hilda Byrd
Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm

2. Overview Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm AgrAbility in GA
Overview of our farm
AgrAbility in GA
Our involvement with the AgrAbility in GA Program
There is an synopsis on this slide showing the overview of the presentation. First there will be an overview of Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm. Second they will discuss their involvement with the AgrAbility in Georgia Program. Finally they will discuss organic farming in general and organically farming with a disability.
Organic Farming
What is organic farming, advantages for someone with a
disability, how to start an organic farm

3. Who we are Andy Byrd Hilda Byrd
Co-Owner of Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm
Grew up in family’s grocery business – Byrd’s Grocery
Have always been interested in farming
Hilda Byrd
Co-Owner of Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm
Youngest of 9 who grew up in a farming family. What we did not grow, we bought at Byrd’s Grocery.
Peer Support Coordinator for AgrAbility in Georgia
There is a picture and information introducing the speakers Andy and Hilda Byrd.

4. Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm
We bought the farm in November of 1997 in Walnut Grove, GA. It was overgrown and upon clearing it, we found crops that the previous owner had planted in the 80’s.
We started with a pick your own blueberry operation in 1999.
In 2002 we certified 10 acres and started an organic fruit/vegetable production.
Started a community supported agriculture 2006.
There are 3 pictures on this slide. The Top picture is of Andy and Hilda on their farm. The bottom left picture is of the sign in front of their farm. The bottom right picture is of the blueberries that began their production.
We bought the farm in November of 1997 in Walnut Grove, GA. It was overgrown and upon clearing it, we found crops that the previous owner had planted in the 80’s.
We started with a pick your own blueberry operation in 1999.
In 2002 we certified 10 acres and started an organic fruit/vegetable prduction.
Started a community supported agriculture 2006.

5. Around the farm
As the farm started developing, I decided to layout the vegetable area in 4x4 beds with a 2 foot walkway in between the rows.
In order for me to roll between the rows to observe the crops, I made a 3 foot walkway between every third row.
The soil in the walkways in put onto the rows forming the raised bed.
This slide is titled, “Around the farm.” There are 2 pictures and then text. The top photo shows a scene from the farm of the fruit trees with farm equipment in the background. The bottom photo is of the 4x4 foot bed layout. The text reads: As the farm started developing, I decided to layout the vegetable area in 4x4 beds with a 2 foot walkway in between the rows.
In order for me to roll between the rows to observe the crops, I made a 3 foot walkway between every third row.
The soil in the walkways in put onto the rows forming the raised bed.

6. Animals
This slides is titled, “Animals.” There are 4 pictures. The top left pictures shows baby chickens running around. The bottom left picture is of a dark brown bunny rabbit. The middle picture is of a polish hen with it’s beak open. The picture on the right is of a baby lamb.

7. Greenhouse
This slides has images of their green house. The left picture is of the outside of their greenhouse. The top right picture is of some greenhouse plantings. The bottom right picture is of the seeds we use to plant.

8. Agritourism
This slide contains images of the Agri-tourism events on their farm. The top left picture is of Andy showing a school group around the animal pasture. The bottom left is of a school group looking at the goats with their teacher. The top left picture is of Andy showing a school group the horses. The bottom left of Hilda speaking to community members during a tour of their chicken house area.

9. Local Farmer’s Markets
Decatur Farmers’ Market
Wednesday 4-7pm
Morningside Farmers’
Market
Saturday :30 am
This slide contains images from different Farmer’s Markets at which Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm sells produce and goods. The top left picture is of Andy and a farm volunteer selling produce at the Decatur Farmer’s Market. The bottom left is of Hilda selling products at the Decatur Farmer’s Market. The top right picture is of Hilda with farm volunteers and customers at the Morningside Farmer’s Market. The bottom right picture is of what their booth looks like at the Decatur Farmer’s Market.

10. Restaurants
This slide is showing some of the restaurants that the Byrd’s sell their produce to containing 4 pictures. The left picture is of the Byrds and the chef of the Brick Store Pub in Decatur, GA. The bottom middle picture is of the outside of the Brick Store Pub. The top right picture shows Andy and Hilda eating dinner with a farm volunteer at Le Thai Café in Tucker, GA. The picture on the bottom right is the logo of Farm 255, a restaurant that’s menu is all locally grown.

11. Special Events
This slide is titled “Special Events,” and has 3 photos. The top left is of a man in a traditional American Indian headdress performing a ritual dance at the Pow Wow event on the farm. The bottom left is of Hilda giving a group of community members a tour around their greenhouse at their annual Earth Day Celebration. The photo on the right shows Hilda with Georgia Organics volunteers at the annual Organic Farm Aid known as “Field of Greens” that also takes place on their farm.

12. Our involvement with the AgrAbility in GA Program
Overview
AgrAbility in GA
Our involvement with the AgrAbility in GA Program
Now Andy and Hilda will discuss their involvement with AgrAbility in Georgia.

13. Organic Farm in GA Small Organic Farm Looking to Grow
Technical Assistance
Small Organic Farm Looking to Grow
Assistance to help others visualize expansion ideas for the farm
Develop a realistic business plan to achieve growth expansion
Ability to do chores independently on the farm (including administrative work)
This slide has some checkpoints of the things we called AgrAbility for help. There is also a picture of Andy on the right in his chair at the farm.
In the beginning, Andy and Hilda had a small organic farm looking to grow. They requested: Assistance to help others visualize expansion ideas for the farm, Develop a realistic business plan to achieve growth expansion, Ability to do chores independently on the farm (including administrative work).

14. Organic Farm in GA Technical Assistance
Assistance to help others visualize expansion ideas for the farm
AgrAbility in GA Staff assists with initial sketches
This slide shows 2 pictures of AgrAbility in Georgia helping with the first area of assisting in helping others visualize the expansion ideas for their farm. The left picture is of Andy with Kay Stanton as he describes his expansion ideas for her to sketch. The picture on the left is one of Kay’s sketches depicting a child in a school group visiting the new animal area.

15. Assistance to help others visualize expansion ideas for the farm
Organic Farm in GA
Technical Assistance
Assistance to help others visualize expansion ideas for the farm
Student selects farm as senior project. Creates master design for the farm
This slide contains a film clip of a project a Landscape Architect student created for her senior project. This design will help the marketability, maximize the natural views around the farm, and helps show others visually the ideas that Andy and Hilda have for expanding their farm.

16. Develop a feasible business plan to achieve future growth expansion
Organic Farm in GA
Technical Assistance
Develop a feasible business plan to achieve future growth expansion
Begins process of putting ideas into a business plan. Starts determining cost of future plans and prioritizes projects.
Works with AgrAbility Staff and UGA’s Small Business Development Center.
This slide has a picture of a meeting with the Byrds, the UGA Small Business Development Center and AgrAbility in Georgia at their farm. The second goal was to develop a feasible business plan to achieve future growth expansion. Begins process of putting ideas into a business plan. Starts determining cost of future plans and prioritizes projects.
Works with AgrAbility Staff and UGA’s Small Business Development Center.

17. Ability to do chores independently on the farm
Organic Farm in GA
Technical Assistance
Ability to do chores independently on the farm
Receives training from Tech-Able (non-profit agency specializing in assistive technology in Conyers, GA) on using Dragon Dictate.
Enables Andy to answer s for farm website and do some bookkeeping.
This slide contains a video clip. Andy wanted the ability to do chores independently around the farm. He receives training from Tech-Able (non-profit agency specializing in assistive technology in Conyers, GA) on using Dragon Dictate.
Enables Andy to answer s for farm website and do some bookkeeping.

18. Ability to do chores independently on the farm
Organic Farm in GA
Technical Assistance
Ability to do chores independently on the farm
Students at UGA and Community members volunteer to build and decorate raised flower beds. Beds are placed at a height for the Andy’s wheelchair.
This slides has 5 pictures on it of the raised bed project from beginnig to end. The left photo is of volunteers seated at a table on the farm taking a lunch break. The middle bottom picture is of some of the volunteers and Andy putting soil inside of the raised bed after construction. The top middle is of a little girl making a hand flower in red paint on the side of the raised bed. The top right picture is of the read hand flower that the little girl made as they toured the farm. The bottom right photo is of the completed and decorated raised bed with crops planted.
To further assist Andy in being more independent, Students at UGA and Community members volunteer to build and decorate raised flower beds. Beds are placed at a height for the farmer’s wheelchair

19. Ability to do chores independently on the farm
Organic Farm in GA
Technical Assistance
Ability to do chores independently on the farm
AgrAbility in GA staff are in process of developing automated garden tools to be used for pruning.
Coit Custer from Maryland AgrAbility comes to GA to assist us. He brings equipment for Andy to test drive.
Begins process with Vocational Rehabilitation. Currently working with VR on driver rehabilitation.
AgrAbility in GA staff use a combination of small scale garden tools with a StrongArm used for fishing to enable Andy to do tasks in raised garden beds.
This slide shows various pictures of AgrAbility helping Andy will becoming more independent. The top left photo is of Coit Custer from Maryland AgrAbility comes to GA to assist us. He brings equipment for Andy to test drive. The top right photo is of the automated garden tools to be used for pruning that AgrAbility in GA staff are in process of developing. The bottom 2 pictures are of Andy using a combination of small scale garden tools with a StrongArm used for fishing to enable him to do tasks in raised garden beds.
Andy also begins process with Vocational Rehabilitation. Currently working with VR on driver rehabilitation.

20. Overview Organic Farming
What is organic farming, advantages for someone with a
disability, how to start an organic farm
This slide has a orange icon stating that now there will be an overview of organic farming. What is organic farming, advantages for someone with a
physical disability, how to start an organic farm

21. What is organic farming?
Organic farming is growing fruits, vegetables, and other crops without relying on synthetic pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or fertilizers.
Organic animal products and free range animals are produced and raised free of hormones and antibiotics on organic land in a humane way.
This does not mean that you do not feed your soil and that you cannot control weeds or pests.
There are many natural ways to maintain your farm.
Text slide. What is organic farming? Organic farming is growing fruits, vegetables, and other crops without relying on synthetic pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or fertilizers.
This does not mean that you do not feed your soil and that you cannot control weeds or pests.
There are many natural ways to maintain your farm.

22. Why Eat and Grow Organic?
Environmental Factors
Health reasons
Tastes are optimized
Enjoyable, fulfilling lifestyle
Providing a source of food that makes people healthier

23. Advantages For Someone With a Disability
Organic Production is growing 25% every year.
Equipment is not as large or expensive
Diversified Marketing (i.e. on the farm, local farmer’s markets, local restaurants, agri-tourism, internet, state, national, global) *to market as organic, certification is necessary
Niche Markets (flowers, lettuces, heirloom vegetables, etc.)
Value to product ratio is higher
Smaller acreage is good for accessibility and management
Text Slide. Advantages of organic farming. Organic Production is growing 25% every year.
More profit per acre
Diversified Marketing (i.e. local, state, national, global) *to market produce as organic, certification is necessary
Diversified Crop Production (vegetables, fruit, culinary and medicinal herbs)

24. How to start organic farming
Find A Mentor Find someone who already has an organic farm. Try to volunteer at a farm or job shadow an organic farmer for a period of time.
Join Organic Organizations
There are state and national organic organizations that have a lot of information. Most have an annual conference.
Do your research
Use the web, talk to others, libraries, etc. to research organics
Work with a University, Extension and/or the Small Business Development Center to develop a business plan.
Check feasibility of business idea and projected growth
Start Small
Start with something you know and love … grow from there.
Text Slide.

25. How to start organic farming
Land: The land for organic farming has to have no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers applied to it for 3 years. You will need to determine the soil types on your farm by having a soil sample taken. This will establish which amendments the soil will need. Develop a crop rotation and cover crop plan.
Crops:
Decide what crops you will grow and in what area of your farm.
Decide what you market will be Certified organic seeds and plants are required.
Animals:
Research breeds that are good grazers (heritage breeds)
Set up grazing areas for rotation.
Select forages
Research humane processing facilities available
Equipment: Assess the type of farming equipment you will need for your operation.
Text Slide.

26. Resources
Certifying Agencies (check your area)
ORMI (Organic Materials Review Institute) Address: PO Box Eugene, OR Phone: website:
Informative websites and magazines:
Georgia Organics-
Acres USA-
Growing for Market-
Mother Earth News-
Text Slide.
Certifying Agencies (check your area)
ORMI (Organic Materials Review Institute) Address: PO Box 1158 Eugene, OR Phone: website:
Informative websites and magazines: Acres USA-
Growing for Market-
Mother Earth News-

27. Resources
Seeds:
Seeds of Change Address: P.O. Box Santa Fe, NM Phone: website:
Peaceful Valley Address: P.O. Box Grass Valley, CA Phone: website:
Johnny’s Selected Seeds Address: 955 Benton Avenue Winslow, ME Phone: website:
There is a picture of seed packets along with the information of where to purchase certified organic seeds.
Seeds:
Seeds of Change Address: P.O. Box Santa Fe, NM Phone: website:
Peaceful Valley Address: P.O. Box 2209 Grass Valley, CA Phone: website:
Johnny’s Selected Seeds Address: 955 Benton Avenue Winslow, ME Phone: website:

28. Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm
Contact Information
Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm
3905 Highway 138
Covington, GA
AgrAbility in GA
This slide gives contact information for Andy and Hilda Byrd and Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm. There are 2 photos. The top left picture is of Hilda and Andy in front of the raised bed built by AgrAbility in Georgia and community volunteers. The bottom left is of their roadside sign.
Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm
3905 Highway 138
Covington, GA

29. Conclusion
There is a photo on the slide of Hilda and Andy looking at each other. Beside that on the right is the AgrAbility in Georgia logo.
The text reads: The challenges of Farming with a Disability can be overcome by determination, special adaptations, and the desire to succeed!
The challenges of Farming with a Disability can be overcome by team work, determination, special adaptations, and the desire to succeed!

30. Thank You !