Organic Horticulture Outreach

Andrew Williams, Alabama NRCS Outreach Coordinator (Retired) CEO, The United Christian Community Association (TUCCA) President of Williams Enterprises LLC Rural Economic Boards -Alabama Sustainable Agricultural Network (ASAN) -Perry & Marengo County Economic Development Boards -Rural Heritage Foundation Boards Lives on a Small Farm -Produce Organic Vegetables -Goats & Cattle -Timber

Setting the Stage Life is all about… - Telling stories -Recording events Stories Consist of -Past (history that you can’t change) -Future (you can’t predict) -Present (you can do something about)

My Story Traveled down a gravel road Turned on a dirt road (rusty, mail box) Down the hill near branch – Stopped beside road and picked blackberries – Started up hill then stopped and picked red & yellow plums

When you get to the house You might see a fig tree (by the butane tank) In the back yard you would see peach trees Canning & other types On the other side of the house you would find – A pear tree – Down by the barn you would find a walnut tree

Behind the barn Hog pen Within the hog pen, there was a “fattening pen” There was a fenced in area – organic garden

Then… There was rough looking house Had smoke coming out of it There were two buckets on the back steps – What are they? “slop bucket" and “slop jaw” There was also another house – “Out house”

The Above Story Describes a Food Security System Every Farmstead had one We got away from the story

“THE FARM BILL” (2008) Public Law Food, Conservation and Energy Act Represent over $300 billion over 5 years The Farm Bill increased funding for – Organic Funding – Fruit and vegetable production

That is why we are here References – Grassroots Guide to 2008 Farm Bill Sustainable Agricultural Coalition 110 Maryland Avenue NE Washington, DC – Andrew Williams 5850 Hwy 66 Safford, Alabama (cell) (office)