Below is a letter from the farmers and organizers of the Farm to Church CSA that WRPC has participated in for several years. I hope that you have found value in enjoying farm fresh food and supporting local farmers. We will continue again this year with our partner farmers, Elvin & Madeline Eaton of Fairport Farms (veggies and microgreens) and Dulime and Mrylande Saint Jean of Lakay Farms (eggs and chicken). Please consider signing up for our spring season with deliveries beginning April 25 at bit.ly/farmtochurch. If you have any questions or want to discuss this project please feel free to reach out to me.
-Beth Harris
In Isaiah, God says “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression”
Amos tells us “... let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
In Proverbs we are told “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”
Farmers of color in the United States continue to endure the evil of systemic racism within the food system that causes significant and consistent social, economic, and political harm. Black farmers have lost tremendous amounts of farmland through shady deals, have trouble accessing traditional markets like farmers markets and stores and have difficulty participating in loan programs that allow them to farm sustainably.
And so, to bring “joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers” in collaboration with RAFI, we created a Black Farmer to Church CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) organization. Our CSA connects farmers of color with Wake County congregations to create economically equitable, mutually beneficial and sustainable food-based partnerships. The farmers create an additional source of income, access new local market(s), and economic partnerships are built with faith communities that are in turn able to increase local food security and congregants’ access to fresh, healthy foods.
The CSA is a joy to the righteous.
It is a joy because on the day of one of our first Zoom meetings in 2020, farmer Elke McCalla gave birth to her first child, Ella. Then they both came to the meeting along with grinning farmer daddy Steve, and we have gotten to know and watched Ella grow and flourish since!
It is a joy because two of our farmers, Demetrius and LaTonya, began working the land together through the CSA and then got married on their farm. It was tearful when Demetrius and LaTonya had to pull out, but we prayed for them at our Wednesday Zoom meeting.
It is a joy getting to know all of farmers and learning their amazing stories – Steve and Elke McCalla, Ken Daniel, Rick Brown, Dulime and Myrlande Saint-Jean, Larry Davis, Elvin & Madline Eaton, Carolyn Cheek and her farmer daughter Shanda, and Carolyn’s sister and brother-in-law Brenda and John Bryant.
It was a heartbreak when Shanda passed on to her Lord. It was a blessing and a joy to see the CSA – farmers and congregants – rally around Carolyn while she got back on her feet.
It is an awesome joy to watch our farmers work together on their farming techniques and to adapt to climate change.
It is a joy to visit the farms to help pull weeds, cut down vines, listen to stories (mostly true) and to laugh.
Oh, and it is a joy to get good, healthy, sustainably grown food weekly Spring, Summer and Fall.
Our farmers face numerous risks in producing and selling food, from unpredictable weather conditions and pests to fluctuating market prices and rising input costs. These challenges highlight their vulnerability as they work to ensure a stable food supply for communities. Sharing this vulnerability fosters solidarity, as it reminds us that the burden of sustaining our food systems should not rest solely on farmers' shoulders. Supporting a price increase for their products is, therefore, an issue of justice, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their labor and investment. This acknowledgment not only helps sustain their livelihoods but also promotes a more equitable and resilient food system for all.
Starting in spring 2025, a half share will cost $150. This increase helps our farmers continue to take care of us, as well as their own families and farms. You can buy into this joy and food too for $150 per half share. We’d love to have you.
So, "let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” through your shares in the Wake County Black Farmers to Churches CSA.