Share the Harvest Land Campaign

Want to join me in making a difference? We are raising money to benefit Smiley's Garden Angels and Human Agricultural Cooperative Inc and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

Human Agricultural Cooperative

614 Oxford St.

Fort Wayne, IN 46806

Press contact: Ty Simmons

[email redacted]

Fort Wayne, Ind., July 18, 2022 – Two local organizations see an opportunity to provide much needed educational opportunities for area youth while generating thousands of pounds of food annually for underprivileged individuals. Smiley’s Garden Angels and the Human Agricultural Cooperative want to establish a sustainable farm and vocational training model to serve the Fort Wayne area.

Their plan, called Sharing the Harvest references a long history of giving away most of the Smiley Garden Angel’s and Human Agricultural Cooperative’s farm annual production. “For over 20 years, Mr. Smiley only sold about 10% of his crops to cover his costs, giving away thousands of pounds of food each harvest to anyone in need and since joining him we have continued his mission. Unfortunately, due to inflation, decreases in donations and support, we have to create more alternative solutions” commented Ty Simmons, the Executive Director of the Human Agricultural Cooperative.

In this new venture, the goal is to continue that tradition of helping seniors, youth, family, veterans, and other groups in need. For Smiley’s Garden Angels and Human Agricultural Cooperative to continue raising crops every summer, they need to raise cash this summer.

The organizations doesn’t have any guarantees on the land they are using, so they must come up with the funds to purchase their own track of land. To purchase the land as well as establish a vocational training facility, the groups are launching a campaign to raise $1 million.

$1 million for 1 million pounds of food will create the infrastructure needed to provide hunger relief for generations to come. “Our goal of obtaining 20 to 40 acres is to secure a safe place for our community, to access our own water source, grow food, educate, mentor and train thousands of youths, veterans and community members. We want to create a sustainable model, so we don’t have to keep seeking assistance. For every dollar that we raise we will donate 1 pound of produce. We will accomplish this goal by growing and securing (donated and purchased) over 500,000 pounds of produce for the next 2 years”, said Simmons.

What will we use the money for:

Share the Harvest needs:

Land - $350,000

House and barn $225,000

Vocational training center $125,000

Farm Managers (2) - 2 years $100,000 ($25,000 annually)

Tractor and attachments $50,000

(BobCat -CT4050 )

Refrigerated truck $50,000

Seeds, Tools and Fuel $40,000

Youth Farmers - $30,000

Attorney $10,000

Bookkeeper $10,000

Accountant $10,000

The Human Agricultural Cooperative, Smiley’s Garden Angels, People Cooperative Market (Bloomington), The Legacy Taste of the Garden, Faith Farms, Bishop George McCowan and several other Black farmers, IPOC and white farmers and organizations will partner together to increase are net of love throughout the state.

To learn more about the Human Agricultural Fund, a 501 c-3 organization, or if you would like to donate and show your support, email the Human Agricultural Cooperative at [email redacted].

About the Human Agricultural Cooperative: The Human Agricultural Cooperative is a 501 c-3 nonprofit. The Human Agricultural Cooperative is always looking for new and innovative ways to assist, educate, train, mentor and engage area youth and the community, while facilitating partnerships with a variety of stakeholders focused on weekly food sourcing and distribution. Long term goals include youth farming programs and educational programming, local investment in food infrastructure and a year-round greenhouse.