"We're seeing communities think more like systems," said Karen Gordon, founder of Growing Augusta and publisher of Urban Pro Weekly. "A farmers market isn't just about food anymore. It's also about entrepreneurship, public health, neighborhood development and community gathering. The same project is serving multiple purposes."
Read MoreBefore you ask people to invest their labor in a teaching farm, invest time in building the systems that support them.
Inside you'll find governance tools, startup checklists, readiness assessments, onboarding systems, agreements, community engagement strategies, operational frameworks, and perhaps most importantly, lessons learned from observing a teaching farm launch in real time.
Read MoreThis year’s theme, From Farm to Fork: The Community Table Edition, honors the people, places, and traditions behind every plate. From community gardens and farmers markets to restaurants, food trucks, caterers, bakers, chefs, growers, and neighborhood food leaders, Augusta Restaurant Week 2026 is designed to bring the community together around food, story, and local economic support.
Read MoreBecause relationships are infrastructure — and good work grows stronger when we steward them with care.
Read MoreMany of us are doing important work in our neighborhoods, nonprofits, churches, schools, markets, civic groups, small businesses, coalitions, and creative communities. But too often, the work lives in our heads, in scattered notebooks, in text messages, in event flyers, in social media posts, or in memories.
Read MoreBut as Augusta talks about data centers, industrial uses, infrastructure, and future growth, we should also make room for another type of land use: urban agriculture.
Read MoreIf you care about the future of Augusta, don't wait until the next election to get involved. Attend a neighborhood meeting. Volunteer for a community project. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Strong neighborhoods don't happen by accident - they are built by residents who choose to participate.
Read MoreWhile much of the conversation around family farms often centers on traditional rural models, we are seeing a growing need to also consider urban and peri-urban agriculture, particularly in communities like Augusta. These spaces present both challenges and opportunities when it comes to land access, infrastructure, distribution, and long-term sustainability for smaller producers.
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