Fund the Farm: Support Young Farmers in Selma

The Local Farm Cooperative is more than just a farm; it's a catalyst for change, addressing local youth's access to fresh healthy foods, the stark lack of gainful employment, and meaningful connections and community engagement. Rooted in cooperative economics, the farm embraces shared ownership and democratic control, taking a stand to address the racial and general wealth disparities prevalent in the Alabama Blackbelt.

Employing a blend of traditional and indigenous permaculture practices, the Local Farm Cooperative is a sanctuary where the youth of Selma find connection and purpose. As they work with the earth, they're not just cultivating crops but fostering a deep connection with each other an nature — an experience that supports the mental and physical health of everyone involved.

The summer of 2022 the cooperative launched an internship program for nine high-school-aged youth, immersing them in the rhythms of farming, the virtues of non-violence, and the rich legacy of Black history and soul food. By summer's end, two spirited teens had joined our board, stepping into the roles of worker-owners.

Fast forward to 2023, the initiative has not just continued but expanded, with returning interns bringing along friends and family, making the farm a bustling hive of learning, growth, and camaraderie. Recognizing the need and the impact, we allocated funds to support a $10 hourly wage for these young agrarians. Yet, many revealed that their labor was driven by a necessity—providing for their families who struggled to afford even basic sustenance.

Now, we stand at a juncture where we need your support to propel this vision further.

Our campaign, "Fund the Farm," is a call to action and a request for your support to secure the resources needed to ensure that the youth of Selma continue to have this invaluable access to personal and communal growth.

For every $10 that is donated we are able to offer another hour of work to a young farmer in Selma.

The impact of our program goes beyond the farm's fence. It's about breaking the cycle of poverty and violence, about providing constructive opportunities for Selma's youth, who would otherwise grapple with the severe lack of wholesome opportunities. It's about the smiles and laughter that echo across the farm as they nurture the soil, and the potent sense of community that stems from being a vital part of a larger cause.

Your support will help to actualize the dreams of our young farmers, brining hope, equity, and an abundant harvest.

By bolstering our cooperative, you’re not just funding a farm; you’re cultivating a vibrant ecosystem of opportunity, learning, and healing, right here in Selma—where the past and the present sow the seeds for a flourishing, equitable future. Join us in growing our future, seed by seed, row by row as we build the Beloved Community.