We often talk about the food system as though farmers grow the food, stores sell it and families buy it. In reality, there is an entire civic infrastructure underneath that exchange: federal policy, state administration, land access, conservation programs, financing, research, transportation, nutrition assistance and local markets.
Read MoreThe artists, musicians, dancers, volunteers, cultural organizations, food vendors, children making art and strangers meeting one another are what turn a physical location into a community space. A successful festival doesn’t simply occupy a place. It activates it.
Read MoreI've had several conversations with area farmers during Agriculture Month. Some have left me energized. Others have left me deeply concerned. And I've found myself holding two seemingly contradictory thoughts at the same time:
Read MorePlease join us as the Augusta-Richmond County Commission officially kicks off Augusta Agriculture Month 2026 with a special proclamation and recognition ceremony celebrating the people who cultivate our land, strengthen our communities, and preserve our agricultural heritage.
Read MoreThe fund comes as Georgia faces significant development pressure. The Georgia Department of Agriculture estimates the state could lose about 800,000 acres of farmland by 2040—roughly 10% of its farmland. Farmers are increasingly receiving lucrative offers for land as housing, industrial development, warehouses, and data centers expand.
Read MoreThat is where service learning becomes more than volunteering. Students are learning, solving problems, working in teams, communicating with adults, practicing leadership, and seeing how their skills connect to the life of their community.
Read MoreWe already welcome thousands of visitors for the Masters, Peach Jam, Ironman, and other major events. But how intentionally are we connecting those visitors to our artists, musicians, farmers, makers, neighborhoods, and small businesses?
Read MoreAs communities search for practical ways to strengthen public health, education, and local economies, community gardens are quietly proving that civic engagement doesn't always begin in a meeting room or at City Hall. Sometimes it begins with a shovel, a shared purpose, and a willingness to grow something together.
Read MoreAfter a very difficult 2023 — losing my mother, receiving my own cancer diagnosis, and moving through treatment — I found myself slowly rebuilding my sense of rhythm, purpose, and connection. Music helped me breathe again. Art helped me notice beauty again. Community helped me remember that healing is not something we do alone.
Read More"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."
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