New Roots Community Farm

In 2016 the Fayette County Farmland Protection Board acquired Whitlock Farm and created a women-led West Virginia farm named New Roots. Since 44% of private land in Fayette County is privately owned by landholding companies, the FCFPB acquired this land intending to provide easier land, market, and food access for aspiring farmers in the area. New Roots strives to build a novel food system that supports farmers, protects the land and surrounding resources, and distributes food equitably. After reaching full operations in 2022, the New Roots team was able to grow and share over 50,000 pounds of vegetables all across West Virginia.

Since the creation of the women-led New Roots Community Farm, the New Roots team has made efforts to create a sustainable and equitable food system for the surrounding community. Working to improve food, market, and land access within Appalachia, the team along with community volunteers distributes local produce to households, food banks, and food distribution centers across West Virginia. Since food systems are influenced by political, environmental, economic, and social factors, they are unjust toward some populations.

In 2016 the Fayette County Farmland Protection Board acquired Whitlock Farm, an eighty-acre plot of nutrient-rich land, to create a community farm. Founded in 2019, New Roots Community Farm strived to build a community food system that supports farmers, protects land and natural resources, and distributes food among the population equitably. Led by Susanna Wheeler, the farm's director who has a bachelor's degree in Agriculture and Agroecology, the New Roots team encourages community members of all genders and cultures to get involved and learn the importance of sustainable farming practices. Although the New Roots project was developed at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, leaders were able to find unique opportunities to achieve their overarching goals. 

Food Insecurity and Transportation in Appalachia

A major problem associated with the surrounding area has been a lack of easy access to markets with locally grown produce. A major contributing factor to this issue is people's lack of transportation in rural areas, especially places located in central Appalachia. A study conducted in Athens County, Ohio, found that the poverty rate is ten percent greater than the nation's, and a fifth of the population lacks access to nutritious and affordable food (Rasul, 2019). Since many people in Athens live over ten miles away from a grocery store and there are no mass transit lines, this creates a significant divide between residents and markets. 

Many parts of West Virginia struggle with the same issues. Thus the New Roots Team partnered with Turnrow, an organization that helps connect producers, co-ops, and food hubs through an online farmers market. This program allows residents to purchase locally grown produce and have it delivered to various pick-up locations in West Virginia, including Charleston, Fayetteville, Lewisburg, and many others.

Through this partnership [with Turnrow], New Roots was able to grow fifty-thousand pounds of vegetables and distribute them statewide within the first two years of production. [1]

Without the Turnrow program, New Roots would have struggled to distribute their products due to the global pandemic and other associated roadblocks. 

Access to Land for Small Fruit and Vegetable Farmers

Regarding the issue of market access, the availability of nutrient-rich land is a major contributing factor. A study showed that forty-four percent of private farming land in Fayetteville, WV, is held by companies for the purpose of cash crop mass production. To offset the power of  major companies, institutions such as the USDA offer competitive grants to aspiring farmers to help get their operations up and running. Through these grants, the USDA intends to help young farmers become comfortable with their practice and get their products to market. Along with the USDA, state and local organizations such as the West Virginia Agrarian Commons have been creating 501(c)2s to de-commodify land.

A 501(c2) provides to opportunity for a corporation to hold the land’s title and ensure the property is used for farming for generations to come.[2]

Additionally, programs within urban communities have begun claiming property within the city and allowing residents to grow their produce. Sheryll Durrant, the farm coordinator of New Roots Community farm in Bronx, NY, has attracted people of all different cultures and backgrounds. By growing culturally diverse crops such as jute, malahia, and pigeon peas, Ms. Durrant has been able to grow food for the community while also educating volunteers of diverse cultures and ethnicities.

New Roots Recruits While Teaching Sustainable Agriculture

A main goal of New Roots Community farm is to stimulate community involvement and teach the surrounding population about sustainable agriculture. Community involvement is a major factor in determining the level of success within a sustainable community farm, since without volunteers the New Roots team would not be able to reach desired production levels. 

Many different efforts have been made to attract new volunteers, such as the Summer Food Bus. This program offers free groceries to families with children and strives to provide a “party” atmosphere by setting up lawn games, sports equipment, and other toys for kids. Additionally, New Roots Community Farm holds an interactive Earth Day celebration where volunteers plant fruit trees and windbreaks while learning about the purpose they serve within the farm. Although the main goal of New Roots is to enhance the accessibility of markets, food, and land, none of these objectives could be achieved without the contributions of volunteers. 

Overall, organizations such as New Roots Community Farm are essential to improving the food security of Americans. Through practices that enhance the accessibility of nutritious food, farmers' markets, and fertile land, programs can provide quality products to those in need. Additionally, partnerships with outside organizations can provide a great way to spread awareness while also achieving the goals they set out to accomplish.

"Corona Virus Message to Customers, Producers, and Partners." Turnrow Farms. September 1st, 2020. Accessed December 1st, 2022. http://www.turnrowfarms.org/covid-19.html.

Haddix, Rebecca. "Fridays on the Farm: Boosting Urban Agriculture in West Virginia," Farmers.gov. August 26th, 2022. Accessed December 1st, 2022. https://www.farmers.gov/blog/fridays-on-the-farm-boosting-urban-agriculture-in-west-virginia.

Harper, Dustin. "Building A Community Food System, New Roots Community Farm." March 7th, 2022. Accessed December 1st, 2022. https://www.newrootscommunityfarm.com/blog/building-a-community-food-system.

Lee, Bob. "OPEN: New Roots Community Farm," Youtube. August 27th, 2018. Accessed December 1st, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0nAewwQ-AQ.

^[2] Moore, Josephine E. "Land Purchase Part of Local Farmland Conservation Act." The Register-Herald (Beckley, WV) March 18th, 2022.

^[1] Rasul, Nicole." With a Focus on Food Sovereignty, Rural Appalachian Ohio is Rebounding." Civil Eats. July 30th, 2019. Accessed December 1st, 2022. https://civileats.com/2019/07/30/with-a-focus-on-food-sovereignty-rural-appalachian-ohio-is-rebounding/.