Organic Farming With A Disability

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• Organic Farming With A Disability

Andy and Hilda Byrd Whippoorwill Hollow Organic
Farm
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Overview

• Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm

Overview of our farm

• AgrAbility in GA

Our involvement with the AgrAbility in GA Program

• Organic Farming

What is organic farming, advantages for someone
with a disability, how to start an organic farm
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Who we are

• Andy Byrd
• Co-Owner of Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm
• Grew up in familys grocery business Byrds
  Grocery
• Have always been interested in farming

• Hilda Byrd
• Co-Owner of Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm
• Youngest of 9 who grew up in a farming family.
  What we did not grow, we bought at Byrds
  Grocery.
• Peer Support Coordinator for AgrAbility in
  Georgia

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Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm

• We bought the farm in November of 1997 in
  Walnut Grove, GA. It was overgrown and upon
  clearing it, we found crops that the previous
  owner had planted in the 80s.
• We started with a pick your own blueberry
  operation in 1999.
• In 2002 we certified 10 acres and started an
  organic fruit/vegetable production.
• Started a community supported agriculture 2006.

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Around the farm
As the farm started developing, I decided to
layout the vegetable area in 4x4 beds with a 2
foot walkway in between the rows. In order for
me to roll between the rows to observe the crops,
I made a 3 foot walkway between every third row.
The soil in the walkways in put onto the rows
forming the raised bed.
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Animals
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Greenhouse
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Agritourism
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Local Farmers Markets
Decatur Farmers Market Wednesday 4-7pm
Morningside Farmers Market Saturday
8-1130 am
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Restaurants
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Special Events
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Overview

• AgrAbility in GA

Our involvement with the AgrAbility in GA Program
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Organic Farm in GA

• Technical Assistance

Small Organic Farm Looking to Grow
Assistance to help others visualize expansion
ideas for the farm
Develop a realistic business plan to achieve
growth expansion
Ability to do chores independently on the farm
(including administrative work)
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Organic Farm in GA

• Technical Assistance

Assistance to help others visualize expansion
ideas for the farm
AgrAbility in GA Staff assists with initial
sketches
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Organic Farm in GA

• Technical Assistance

Assistance to help others visualize expansion
ideas for the farm
Student selects farm as senior project. Creates
master design for the farm
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Organic Farm in GA

• Technical Assistance

Develop a feasible business plan to achieve
future growth expansion
Begins process of putting ideas into a business
plan. Starts determining cost of future plans
and prioritizes projects. Works with AgrAbility
Staff and UGAs Small Business Development Center.
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Organic Farm in GA

• Technical Assistance

Ability to do chores independently on the farm
Receives training from Tech-Able (non-profit
agency specializing in assistive technology in
Conyers, GA) on using Dragon Dictate. Enables
Andy to answer e-mails for farm website and do
some bookkeeping.
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Organic Farm in GA

• Technical Assistance

Ability to do chores independently on the farm
Students at UGA and Community members volunteer
to build and decorate raised flower beds. Beds
are placed at a height for the Andys wheelchair.
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Organic Farm in GA

• Technical Assistance

Ability to do chores independently on the farm
AgrAbility in GA staff are in process of
developing automated garden tools to be used for
pruning.
Coit Custer from Maryland AgrAbility comes to GA
to assist us. He brings equipment for Andy to
test drive. Begins process with Vocational
Rehabilitation. Currently working with VR on
driver rehabilitation.
AgrAbility in GA staff use a combination of small
scale garden tools with a StrongArm used for
fishing to enable Andy to do tasks in raised
garden beds.
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Overview

• Organic Farming

What is organic farming, advantages for someone
with a disability, how to start an organic farm
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What is organic farming?
Organic farming is growing fruits, vegetables,
and other crops without relying on synthetic
pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or
fertilizers. Organic animal products and free
range animals are produced and raised free of
hormones and antibiotics on organic land in a
humane way. This does not mean that you do not
feed your soil and that you cannot control weeds
or pests. There are many natural ways to
maintain your farm.
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Why Eat and Grow Organic?

• Environmental Factors
• Health reasons
• Tastes are optimized
• Enjoyable, fulfilling lifestyle
• Providing a source of food that makes people
  healthier

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Advantages For Someone With a Disability
Organic Production is growing 25 every
year. Equipment is not as large or
expensive Diversified Marketing (i.e. on the
farm, local farmers markets, local restaurants,
agri-tourism, internet, state, national, global)

to market as organic, certification is
necessary Niche Markets (flowers, lettuces,
heirloom vegetables, etc.) Value to product
ratio is higher Smaller acreage is good for
accessibility and management
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How to start organic farming
Find A Mentor

Find someone who already
has an organic farm. Try to volunteer at a farm
or job shadow an organic farmer for a period of
time. Join Organic Organizations There are state
and national organic organizations that have a
lot of information. Most have an annual
conference. Do your research Use the web, talk
to others, libraries, etc. to research
organics Work with a University, Extension
and/or the Small Business Development Center to
develop a business plan. Check feasibility of
business idea and projected growth Start Small

Start with
something you know and love grow from there.
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How to start organic farming
Land

The land for organic farming has
to have no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or
fertilizers applied to it for 3 years. You will
need to determine the soil types on your farm by
having a soil sample taken. This will
establish which amendments the soil will need.
Develop a crop rotation and cover crop plan.
Crops Decide what crops you will grow and in
what area of your farm. Decide what you market
will be.
Certified organic seeds and
plants are required. Animals Research breeds
that are good grazers (heritage breeds) Set up
grazing areas for rotation. Select
forages Research humane processing facilities
available Equipment

Assess the type of farming equipment
you will need for your operation.
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Resources
Certifying Agencies (check your area)
www.ams.usda.gov/nop/CertifyingAgents/Accredited.h
tml ORMI (Organic Materials Review Institute)
Address PO
Box 1158
Eugene, OR 97440-3758
Phone [phone]

Email infor_at_omri.org

website www.omri.org Informative websites and
magazines Georgia Organics-
www.georgiaorganics.org Acres USA-
www.acresusa.com Growing for Market-
www.growingformarket.com Mother Earth News-
www.motherearthnews.com

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Resources
Seeds Seeds of Change

Address P.O. Box 15700

Santa Fe, NM 87506-5700

Phone [phone]
website
www.seedsofchange.com Peaceful Valley

Address P.O. Box
2209
Grass
Valley, CA 95945

Phone [phone]

website www.groworganic.com
Johnnys Selected Seeds

Address 955 Benton Avenue
Winslow,
ME 04901
Phone
207-861-3900
website
www.johnnyseeds.com
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Contact Information
Whippoorwill Hollow Organic Farm 3905 Highway
138 Covington, GA 30014 www.whippoorwillhollowfa
rm.com whippoorwillholf_at_bellsouth.net 678.625.32
72 AgrAbility in GA- 1.877.524.6264
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Conclusion
The challenges of Farming with a Disability can
be overcome by team work, determination, special
adaptations, and the desire to succeed!
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Thank You !