One of the pillars of our work at UProot (you can read about it in our State Health Improvement Plan) is to tackle Food Insecurity. Food Insecurity is when people do not have enough quality food to ensure their health. This can mean insufficient food, or that the only available food does not provide the variety and nutrition required for good health.
More than just a farm
The Galloway Family Farm grows healthy food, but it’s more than just a farm. It’s also an education center where Tracy Galloway, a third-generation farmer, teaches school groups, church groups, and anyone else who visits. He doesn’t just show how food is grown; he also teaches them how eating better can lead to better health.
“Food does not come from 3 Bs and a C. It doesn’t come from a box, a bag, a bottle or a can. It comes from the earth. People aren’t connected to their food.” Galloway said. It’s a phrase he’s been saying for years, to drive home a message about the connection between good food and good health.
Galloway Family Farms offers regular farm tours they call “Farm Tour and Fellowship,” with fresh herbal tea, seedling sales, and homemade art made from found materials. There are also farm-to-table dinners and camping, and the farm is available for hosting events.
Strength through diversity
Just as the farm grows many crops in case one or more fail, having diverse sources of income and public interest keeps them from becoming dependent on any single source.
There are a lot of crops. Galloway boasts of being able to get 22 ingredients for a salad – including chicken – within 120 feet of his back door. “There’s a lot going on in this one acre.” He said.
By harnessing multiple means of impactful community engagement, Galloway Family Farm is helping create healthier outcomes and improving our state’s health. Click here to learn more about Galloway Family Farm. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates on their work!
We love learning about new local efforts that improve our state’s health. If you have a success story send it to us!