Living in a suburban forest has reshaped how I think about land use. There are many more options besides selling timber or clearing space to build something new. Consider recognizing the value of what already exists and learning how to steward it well. From shaded growing spaces and foraging opportunities to pollination and soil health, forests are working ecosystems.
Read MoreHere in Augusta, we know agriculture is bigger than fields and farm gates. Agriculture shows up in neighborhood gardens, farmers markets, food access efforts, edible landscaping, youth education, local entrepreneurship, and the value-added products created by small producers across our region. It is present in the food on our tables, the fiber in our clothing, the fuel that powers industry, the flowers that mark our celebrations, and the forestry products that help build our homes and communities.
Read MoreFrom church choirs and jazz stages to front porches, festivals, and songwriter circles, music has long been part of the heartbeat of this community.
Read MoreAs founder of Growing Augusta: Arts, Agriculture & Agency, I’ve been advocating for urban agriculture to be taken seriously - not as a hobby, but as economic development, public health strategy, and a pathway to reducing the cost of living.
Representation shifts perception. And when women farmers are visible in leadership, more people see themselves in this field.
Read MoreGood things are happening across Augusta and Georgia — in our arts scene, our schools, our farms, and our neighborhoods. From K–12 arts education and creative placemaking to agribusiness learning and cultural events, there’s real momentum worth paying attention to.
Read MoreThe AgLab Institute has been recognized with a nomination for Children’s Education Business of the Year, highlighting its innovative, hands-on approach to agricultural education. Programs like chick-hatching labs and student-run mini-markets show what’s possible when learning is experiential, relevant, and connected to real life.
Read MorePolicy takeaway: food access strategies are strongest when funding supports both immediate relief and community-scale food infrastructure, rather than forcing programs to compete with one another.
Read MoreThese were students enrolled in an agriculture class, and for many of them, the idea that food could come from their own hands—outside of a store, outside of a job, outside of a price tag—had simply never been introduced. That wasn’t a failure of curiosity. It was a failure of exposure.
Read MoreThe Urban Agriculture Career Cluster is a forward-thinking initiative designed to unlock this potential. It is more than a curriculum about farming; it is a dynamic ecosystem designed to cultivate homegrown talent, launch green-collar careers, and build a more equitable, self-reliant urban future.
Read MoreAs my time serving as a substitute teacher at Cross Creek High School comes to a close, I want to pause and say thank you to the faculty, staff, and administration for the opportunity to be part of this school community.
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