Help The Family Garden to keep on farming

Hello, This is Jordan Brown, the farmer at The Family Garden. We are a small family organic produce farm located in Gainesville, FL. We have provided vegetables and fruit to Gainesville, FL and the surrounding region for the past 15 years. Having started in Bell, FL, on rented land, we were able to purchase land in the city and start farming in Gainesville six years ago. We sell produce through our CSA (community supported agriculture) program to local businesses and the Alachua County School board for school lunches.

Farming can be challenging, and we have found our way through many difficult seasons to success. However, ending this year's season, the farm was caught in a challenging situation of high inflation on inputs, a significant increase in labor cost, and the innability to raise prices. As a result, I took on debt to finish the season and satisfy all of our obligations.

I am taking some time off farming until I can get a better handle on debt and find a production system that works with the current economic realities. I hope to be able to keep the farm and start growing again in the future. The Family Garden has found a place in our Gainesville community that I feel adds value to our family members, restaurant and grocery customers, the students of Alachua County, and our neighborhood. Please consider donating during this difficult time so that we can find a way to continue. Thank you, and God bless yall.