Natural Resources Conservation Service - Indiana State Office
03/01/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/01/2024 13:13
2024 Northwest Black Loam Conference Date Announced
This year's Black Loam conference series will focus on strategically building sustainability and community wealth for BIPOC and historically underserved farmers and businesses.
Legacy Taste of the Garden is partnering with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Indiana to host this year's Indiana Black Loam conference series. The events are part of a cooperative agreement with NRCS and Connecting Kids Inside Out to support and advance equity goals by providing critical outreach and technical assistance to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and Historically Underserved farmers and producers throughout the State of Indiana.
Legacy Taste of the Garden is a part of a generational African American family whose farm has operated since pre-civil war in historical Lyles Station. Located in southwestern Indiana, Lyles Station is the last remaining Indiana African American rural settlement. Legacy has provided outreach, education, advocacy, and technical assistance to address the needs of BIPOC farmers and producers, built networks and provided community support for growers in both urban and rural settings.
"One of NRCS' main priorities is to promote equity in everything we do, and we could not have a better partner in these efforts than Legacy Taste of the Garden and Connecting Kids Inside Out," said Damarys Mortenson, state conservationist for Indiana NRCS. "They bring generations of farming experience to the table and when their knowledge is combined with local, state and federal resources, we are able to reach underserved communities throughout Indiana and help them improve and expand their operations."
Legacy Taste of the Garden will be hosting five events throughout Indiana in 2024 to reach BIPOC farmers and producers. The first stop of the Black Loam Conference will take place March 28 at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center in Merrillville, Indiana. The events are free to attend, but seating is limited so pre-registration is required. This year's Black Loam conference series will focus on strategically building sustainability and community wealth for BIPOC and historically underserved farmers and businesses. You can register for this event at https://www.legacytasteofthegarden.com/event-details-registration/indiana-black-loam-merrillville.
"These conferences were started to bring awareness and opportunities to the BIPOC farmers. They're hosted across the state so that relationships can be built with farmers and their local agencies, representatives, and organizations. We are a bridge that closes gaps and opens doors for generational to beginning farming, and rural and urban farming" said John Jamerson, co-founder of Legacy Taste of the Garden.
You can learn more about Legacy Taste of the Garden by visiting www.legacytasteofthegarden.com.