Restorative Farms

29/06/2024

DART Cares and Restorative Farms: A Food Desert Solution

DART Cares and Restorative Farms have partnered to host a pop-up farmers market at the Akard DART station, an exciting initiative aimed at bringing fresh, locally grown produce to the community.

Collaboration Details:

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Official DART page) Cares is dedicated to supporting community well-being and enhancing the quality of life in the Dallas area. Through various initiatives, DART Cares aims to foster community engagement and provide essential services to underserved populations.

Restorative Farms is committed to creating a sustainable urban farming system in South Dallas. By growing fresh produce, training professional urban farmers, and transforming the local food system, Restorative Farms aims to address food insecurity and promote community health.

Pop-Up Farmers Market Initiative:

This collaboration provides easy access to fresh, nutritious, and mostly locally grown produce for DART riders, many of whom live in food desert communities.

Community Economic Impact: Restorative Farms and DART are not only supporting the local economy but also promoting sustainable agriculture. The partnership prioritizes purchasing as much local produce as possible.

The market offers a diverse selection of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other farm products grown by Restorative Farms and local partners, along with fruits and produce not currently available locally.

By providing access to fresh produce, the market helps improve the dietary habits and overall health of the community. The initiative tackles food insecurity by ensuring healthy food options are available and affordable, thanks to DART’s underwriting.

Additionally, the market creates a direct sales channel for local farmers, boosting their income and encouraging sustainable agricultural practices.

By addressing food insecurity, supporting local farmers, and engaging the community, this initiative is helping to Grow A Better Dallas, one market at a time.

13/06/2024

🌱
The word "beautiful" is appropriate for describing the abundant harvest coming out of the Hatcher Station Training Farm.

Yes, it is BEAUTIFUL!- The vibrant colors and variety of fresh, organic produce create a visually stunning display. The sight of lush greens, ripe tomatoes, and colorful peppers exemplifies natural beauty. And all this from what used to be an empty, unused lot in S. Dallas.

But the term "beautiful" extends beyond appearance to the quality of the produce. Fresh, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables contribute to healthier diets and well-being, embodying the beauty of good health.. personal AND community.

Beautiful because the abundant harvest represents the culmination of our professional farmers' hard work, dedication, and sustainable practices. This commitment to nurturing the land and producing high-quality food is a beautiful testament to human effort and perseverance.

Beautiful because these harvests support the local community by creating jobs, infusing economic impact what also providing access to fresh produce, improving food security, and promoting health. This positive impact on the community's well-being is a beautiful outcome of the farm's mission:

TO GROW A BETTER DALLAS !

05/06/2024

🌿 🌟✨. Little greens with big dreams!

That perfectly captures the essence of micro greens, particularly those being cultivated at Restorative Farms’ Micro Green Farm the MLK Community Center. They are part of a mission, a dream coming to be: To Grow A Better Dallas.

If you don’t “know” micro greens then you should!

Micro greens are small, super nutrient-dense seedlings of vegetables and herbs, known for their vibrant flavors and high nutritional content. Despite their tiny size, these greens are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a powerhouse addition to any diet.

At the Micro Green Farm, the focus on growing micro greens aligns with our mission to promote community health and sustainability, create jobs and fuel a S. Dallas agrisystem.

By nurturing these "little greens with big dreams," we are fostering a healthier, more self-sufficient community.

Come dream with us. Let’s grow something: A Better Dallas

02/06/2024

“Dry Farming” - just an interesting variation of farming for most of us who have access to lots of water, is an agricultural technique used to grow crops without the use of irrigation in regions with low annual rainfall.

As ground water sources dwindle across the country, those “regions with low annual rainfall” designation will be expanding. Having some familiarity with the art could be very handy to have.
Recent research into the technique came up with some interesting findings.
The research revealed that dry-farmed soils develop a distinctive fungal signature over time. Remarkably, this signature not only accumulates but also enhances tomato quality.

“This may be one of the most exciting results for farmers, who now have a new way to promote high quality fruits in their fields by dry farming for multiple years in a row,” says Yvonne Socolar, who lead the study.
Her observation revealed that dry-farmed tomatoes develop roots extending more than 5’ into the soil—much deeper than the typical nutrient management practices employed by farmers. This amazing insight implies that experimenting with multiple seasons of deeply rooted cover crops, such as daikon radish, could help enhance nutrient levels in the deeper layers of the soil.

In a new study, Berkeley Agroecology Lab researcher Yvonne Socolar examines the fungal communities in soil that help dry farm systems flourish.

17/05/2024

We are deeply honored and thrilled to announce that Restorative Farms has been named a finalist in D CEO's seventh annual Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards, presented in partnership with the Communities Foundation of Texas.

This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our Restorative Farm team, volunteers, and partners who are committed to making a positive impact in our community.

The program this year garnered an impressive 800 nominations, highlighting the dynamic nonprofit scene in North Texas. After thorough evaluation by D CEO editors, we are honored to be among the distinguished group of 135 finalists.

Restorative Farms extends our heartfelt gratitude to D CEO and the Communities Foundation of Texas for this amazing recognition.

We look forward to continuing our mission to Grow A Better Dallas and create a more sustainable and resilient urban environment for all residents of Dallas.

* The 135 finalists will be featured in D CEO's August issue and celebrated at an exclusive awards event in July.

14/05/2024

So excited…

Welcome, Jennifer Chandler and Chandler Family Farm to the Restorative Farms CSA local farmers supply chain. This week find some of her East Texas cauliflower and cabbage in our CSA bundles that will be distributed all across S. Dallas.

🚜 An amazing East Texas farmer, we’ve known Jennifer for years and have been looking forward to working with her. She is a a truly professional farmer producing the best produce.

🍅 We are so happy to add her production to our S. Dallas Hatcher Station Farm produce.

Supporting Dallas and Texas farmers, this is how we will Grow A Better Dallas and help make our North Texas food system more resilient.


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14/05/2024

So excited…

Welcome, Jennifer Chandler and Chandler Family Farms to the Restorative Farms CSA local farmers supply chain. This week find some of her East Texas cauliflower and cabbage in our CSA bundles that will be distributed all across S. Dallas.

🚜 An amazing East Texas farmer, we’ve known Jennifer for years and have been looking forward to working with her. She is a a truly professional farmer producing the best produce.

🍅 We are so happy to add her production to our S. Dallas Hatcher Station Farm produce.

Supporting Dallas and Texas farmers, this is how we will Grow A Better Dallas and help make our North Texas food system more resilient.


. "foodjustice

13/05/2024

🌿

We believe that the value generated at our Hatcher Station Training Farm extends far beyond the regeneratively grown produce and veggies grown there, as well as the jobs directly created. The farm is serving as a catalyst for building stronger, more connected communities by fostering opportunities for collaboration, education, cultural exchange, and collective action towards creating healthier, more sustainable urban environments.

It is heartening to see that this impact is being recognized by the community, the city, and indeed, across the country.

Meet Dudley Thurmond, a visionary community change maker from Denver, Colorado, also known as . Dudley was introduced to the farm by Germaine Gaspard, a member of Restorative Farms' board. Dudley is considering taking the Hatcher Station Training Farm template back to Denver. As he suggested, there is a powerful potential in urban agriculture to bring people together, fostering community cohesion through shared goals of food production, environmental stewardship, and social connection.

Maybe we can also help Grow A Better Denver

09/05/2024

Why do we promote and encourage regenerative agricultural growing techniques?

See the result of big-Ag's synthetic herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers:

The traditional image of the farm community as a tranquil refuge from the stresses of modern life and a place of healthy living is being challenged, revealing darker realities.

One such community is Palo Alto County, Iowa where modern agricultural practices have raised concerns about environmental pollution and its impact on farmer and public health. Residents there are reporting high rates of cancer and other illnesses, prompting calls for further research into the links between farming practices and disease.

But it’s not limited to one county. The entire state of Iowa seems to be at higher than average cancer risk:

“ Though the couple did not work or live on a farm, their doctor indicated the environment could be to blame. Sharon remembers that when she asked the doctor how her husband could have gotten the disease, he told the couple simply – ‘You live in Iowa.’”

By Keith Schneider EMMETSBURG, IOWA –Raised in rural Iowa, 71-year-old Maureen Reeves Horsley once considered her tiny hometown in the northwest part of the state to be a blessed space. She recalls a time when the streams here ran clean and the lake water was clear. The family farm where Horsley g...

07/05/2024

It's been great working with Firefly-One - Grow Lighting Systems in our Seedling Farm greenhouse at our Hatcher Station Training Farm.

07/05/2024

I enjoyed the discussion and visuals this past weekend with Dallas, TX-based landscape architect / designer Katie Roberson around the concept of a "TRANSITIONAL" agrihood as Apromising potential model for sustainable community offering an innovative approach to addressing not only food insecurity but also homelessness.

Her design and visual representation certainly reflect the horticultural knowledge that she accrued having been raised on a Texas farm.

“Agrihoods” are a growing trend in residential developments, blend agriculture with neighborhood living. The concepts that I’ve seen mostly seem to be tied to more affluent development as an amenity funding by some sort of HOA fees.

In Ms. Roberson's concept, envisioned in a Los Angeles setting, the agriculture is as much of an “interventional” tool & a job creator as it is a source of fresh local produce.

Her proposal appears logical and promising. An agrihood tailored for homeless individuals could provide stable employment opportunities in farming, landscaping, or food production, offering them not only income but also a crucial sense of purpose. However, the issue of funding remains a central consideration in these deliberations.

26/04/2024

🌻 We call it the “New Math”… 1 + 1 = 3

Every Thursday from 2-6 p.m. through July, DART is teaming up with Restorative Farms to host farmers markets at locations across the service area!

And there you have the 1 + 1 = 3 opportunity. Thank you, DART for making this amazing program a reality.

This week it was at the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Official DART page) Akard Station.

🌟 Next week it will be at the DART Westmoreland Station

This is a great chance to purchase fresh locally grown vegetables – for less! Stock up your refrigerator at a great discounted price and know that every dollar spent is going right back into the S. Dallas community.

19/04/2024

DART’s Farmers Market did it again !!

It came to Addison allowing DART employees and others at the Addison Transit Center the opportunity to purchase a mix of super fresh, organic produce at a steep discount on Thursday. Much of it, grown at our S. Dallas Hatcher Station Training Farm.

From now until July, DART will continue to host markets at locations across the service area. Join DART and Restorative Farms at the one nearest you!

As DART explains :

“Understanding the responsibility that DART has for the communities it serves, the organization cares about the food insecurity issues facing some of its riders.

Using vacant DART property, the agency partnered with Restorative Farms to establish the Hatcher Station Training Farm. That is where the “seed” for these markets began to grow.

DART will continue to collaborate with partners to make fresh food more accessible!”

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13/04/2024

🌟
Let DART’s Farmers Market come to you!

Ride Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Official DART page) to fresh, organic produce at a steep discount.

🥕 This is a great chance to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables – for less!

From now until July, DART will host markets at locations across the service area. Join DART and Restorative Farms at the one nearest you!

From DART:

“Understanding the responsibility that DART has for the communities it serves, the organization cares about the food insecurity issues facing some of its riders.

Using vacant DART property, the agency partnered with Restorative Farms to establish the Hatcher Station Training Farm. That is where the “seed” for these markets began to grow.

DART will continue to collaborate with partners to make fresh food more accessible!”

#

11/04/2024

Wow…. Another Award !

… we are so excited to see that has now also been officially selected to the and beyond that… has been selected as a finalist. Amazing!

We are so excited to see the story of Tyrone Day's 26 years of wrongful incarcerated followed by 8 years of battling before finally being exonerated....and how he took the growing skills that he learned and honed in prison to-found Restorative Farms being brought to new audiences around the country.

“Grow A Better Dallas” will “world-premier” Sunday, April 21 at 7pm at the !

Check it out!

04/04/2024

⚾🦠
This SOM number is out of the ball park !

What does SOM mean? Soil Organic Matter

🍃🦠🌱🌿Soil organic matter percentage in soil serves as a key metric for assessing regenerative agriculture practices, with higher levels indicating improved soil health. At the core of soil health is soil organic matter (SOM).

The 23.3% SOM number from our South Dallas Hatcher Station Training Farm is amazing. And that matters because Healthy soil = healthy produce = healthy people = healthy communities & a healthy planet.

It has been special to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Biomedical Microdevices and Nanotechnology Lab at the University of Texas at Dallas on the testing of a revolutionary sensor technology delivers real time data that has never been achievable before.

Our Hatcher Station Training Farm served as a research location. Where in tests the technology delivered real time and verified accurate soil health data. This innovation would revolutionize farming practices globally, eliminating the need for farmers to send soil samples to remote labs and wait weeks for results.

Another way that the nascent S. Dallas agrisystem is serving People and Planet .

30/03/2024

🌱🌿🍂🍃🦠🌱🌿

Every farmer has livestock.

There are at least 2,000 pounds of microbes (equal to 2 cows) per acre of healthy soil along with fungi, protozoa, worms and other essential lifeforms that create a healthy soil food web and healthy plants.

At the core of this soil food web is soil organic matter. It’s key for healthy, productive soil. No wonder it's a top priority for sustainable regenerative agriculture – the more we have, the better our soil performs!

Healthy soil = healthy produce = healthy people = healthy communities.

30/03/2024

The Countdown is beginning.

🍅 Our GroBox sales window will soon be opening…

🌻 GroBox sales commence mid-April.

Oh wait… You don’t know what a GroBox is???

A GroBox is our local economy-driving Engine For Change.

Handcrafted locally, it's a simple, wooden planter box ideal for any sunny spot. It comes with 6 cf of highly curated growing medium, an amazing selection of the most appropriate seedlings ready to flourish, bringing fresh, local produce right at your doorstep.

Every purchase supports new farmer training and community revitalization. Own your mini-urban farm, make your kitchen “farm-to-table” and be a part of !

Stay tuned…. Our online sales will open mid-April !

Food Desert Solutions The Seedling Farm at the MLK Freedom Garden GroZilla

28/03/2024

🌿Wow…Look at those beautiful seedlings being deployed at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center… at an unbeatable price.

With all funding going back into the community and jobs in the community
nobody in Dallas can beat these community prices unless they give them away…

Thank you, Ashley Hutto for your support. By supporting Restorative Farms, buying these seedlings, Ashley and the WDMC are making a positive impact on the community and the local economy. Instead of going to an outside entity, this puts money directly into the pockets of local residents, which can then be spent at other businesses in the community. This creates a ripple effect that strengthens the local economy.

Those are some special seedlings. Grown in our S. Dallas Hatcher Station Training Farm’s Seedling Farm, they are just one component of an envisioned and self-sustaining S. Dallas agrisystem coming together to provide food, product and education to our most underserved communities with all funding going back into the community through local jobs and career development.

There is a lot more to come. Join us.. let’s Grow A Better Dallas.

26/03/2024

Thank you, Michaela Rush for this look at S. Dallas urban agriculture. The article in the Dallas Free Press provides some valuable insights into the complexities and potentials of initiatives like this, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts and innovative solutions in fostering food security and economic empowerment.

Of course, we appreciate Ms. Rush's recognition of Restorative Farms' unique approach to addressing food insecurity by providing job training, career opportunities and innovative farming methods, particularly in empowering previously incarcerated individuals. She also acknowledges our diverse growing techniques and distribution strategies, including our climate-controlled farm and community-supported agriculture bundles, which underscore Restorative Farms professional holistic approach to tackling food insecurity in South Dallas.

We are but a small part of this article. She provides a fairly comprehensive overview of several urban agriculture initiatives in South Dallas. She points out that despite facing obstacles such as land ownership issues and inconsistent volunteer support, dedicated individuals and organizations like Sharon Steele's community garden, Candace Thompson's partnership with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, Anna Hill's collaboration with the amazing Katie Roberson, Drew Demler at Big Tex Urban Farm and Alendra Lyons' educational approach at Mill City Community Garden, are making significant strides in promoting food security and community engagement.

Community gardens can provide job training and bring neighbors together, but are these small-scale growing projects improving food access?

20/03/2024

🍅We’re a little late to the season as it turns out.

While some folks already have a few blossoms on their tomato plants, our tomato seedlings are a few weeks behind. Of course, most folks don’t have 15,000 seedlings on plan…and at risk.

With recent past years’ experiences with extreme freezes late in the season and power outages causing the loss of 7,000 or so of our seedlings at a time, we tend to err on the side of caution.

🌱 But now we have a “tsunami” of amazing seedlings coming on strong and beautiful… like these Row 7 Midnight Roma tomatoes, part of our always ongoing testing of new varieties and growing methods. We are especially looking forward to these,

Row 7 Seed Company ✅ founded by renown NYC chef Dan Barber, plant breeder Michael Mazourek, plant breeder and associate professor at Cornell University, and seedsman Matthew Goldfarb to develop new varieties of specifically bred for flavor and nutrition, as well as for resilience in various growing conditions.

In every seedling we nurture and every harvest we bring forth, Restorative Farms is not just growing food; we're cultivating resilience, community, and hope. As we continue to innovate, test, and learn, our commitment to uplifting the community remains steady. Together, we're sowing the seeds of a brighter, more sustainable future for South Dallas and beyond. Join us on this journey of growth and transformation and to Grow A Better Dallas.

19/03/2024

🔆. Exciting News!

🌍 Inclusion in the Kansas City FilmFest International

We're thrilled to congratulations , and for the increasing recognition of the documentary "Grow A Better Dallas." It's an honor to be involved in such an impactful project.

🌻 “Grow A Better Dallas” follows the journey of Tyrone Day, who endured 26 years of wrongful imprisonment and 8 years of battling to clear his name. Released and fully exonerated in May 2023, Tyrone's story highlights his transformation as he utilized his horticultural expertise gained in prison to empower his South Dallas neighborhood. Co-founding Restorative Farms in 2017, this innovative urban farm system continues to make a profound impact on the lives of those in the South Dallas community and beyond.

14/03/2024

🌱 Those Row 7 “Patchwork Pepper” seedlings in our Seedling Farm are looking great.

They are just part of one of several ongoing tests that we doing.

🔆 We are accruing knowledge… In these tests, our greenhouse manager, JC , will typically look at factors such as germination rate, seedling vigor, overall plant health, growth rate, resistance to pests and diseases, and later, the quality & quantity of the final produce…

But of course, perhaps the most important question: how does it taste? The Row 7 Seed Company description states : “Juicy and crisp, with notes of green apple, citrus and caramel.” We are also informed, “65 days to maturity from transplant”. We can’t wait!

13/03/2024

🌱Hey… Do we have seedlings…?

🔆 YES WE DO….

But a little less now… Thank you, St. Arbor’s Community Garden for your patronage and support.

There are a lot more of these beautiful fresh organic seedlings available…. And all at amazingly affordable prices.

This amazing set for St. Arbor’s Community Garden are a testament to our commitment to quality and sustainability in agriculture. These are early installment of of the more than 80,000 seedlings that we expect to grow this year.

Our talented greenhouse manager, nurtures🌻 them all with care and attention to detail, ensuring they are robust and healthy upon arrival at their new home.

At Hatcher Station Training Farm, we take pride in producing high-quality organic seedlings that embody the principles of regenerative agriculture. By supporting and collaborating with local farms like St. Arbor Community Garden, we contribute to the vitality of our community and promote a more resilient and sustainable food system for our community and for future generations.

09/03/2024

A big THANK YOU to the volunteers from Earth First, SMU's sustainability-focused student organization, that came to our Hatcher Station Farm 🥕🥦🥬🥒 this week. Their day of hard work certainly helped us.

🌱Committed to promoting eco-conscious practices and sustainable systems, their volunteer efforts serve as tangible evidence of their dedication to translating their philosophy into meaningful action, both within the campus and throughout the wider community.

03/03/2024

♻️Cultivating a Sustainable Future in Dallas

Who knows exactly what the future holds. But we do know the disruptions traditional agriculture and our food system will face due to climate change and rising temperatures. With that in mind, Restorative Farms focuses on training the next generation of urban farmers. Known as Future Urban Farmers (FUF), these "professional growers in training" learn to cultivate crops not just in sprawling fields but within the heart of the Dallas. Utilizing small-plot intensive growing techniques, they will adapt to our changing world, turning empty lots into vibrant plots helping to better the sustainability of our food system.

Anticipating the future, we envision local food systems evolving into a blend of regenerative field farming and tech-enabled, data-driven climate-controlled greenhouses. Hydroponic and aeroponic systems will become more the norm.

By embracing innovative practices and fostering a spirit of exploration, Future Urban Farmers will go beyond simply growing food. They become cultivators of a more resilient and sustainable future, and through their efforts, Grow A Better Dallas.