The owners of The Food Initiative in Clarksville have decided to cease operations at the end of the year and take a different direction with their farm.
The non-profit organization, supported mainly by community support and funded grants, has been operating in Montgomery County for about 12 years.
The Food Initiative has connected young people to agriculture and the food system through educational workshops and hands-on experiences on the farm, under the direction of Michael and Regina Hampton.
The Hamptons have used their farm to teach kids all about planting and harvesting, from seeds to insects and to providing nourishment from the garden to the table.
Their work has benefited area hunger relief organizations like Loaves and Fishes and Manna Cafe Ministries.
The 12-acre farm, located at 5470 Sango Road, will become a full-time farm called “Iron & Elder Farm” as the Hamptons bring The Food Initiative to a close, according to Michael Hampton.
“We have had great support from this community and have really enjoyed it, but decided it’s time for our family to move into a different direction with the farm,” Hampton said. “I will miss the relationships we’ve had with people the most. We have constantly been meeting new people through this. I will also miss seeing the kids’ faces and their reactions to what we’ve shared, whether it’s the food, the animals, the insects or information about the soil.”
Hampton said watching the gears turning inside the heads of the youngsters has always interested him, along with getting them engaged in the work for the community.
Michael and Regina will continue to farm their Iron and Elder Farm and make available their goods to the community, either by the Clarksville Farmer’s Market or with a CSA to deliver their product to families.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a unique marketing agreement between the farmer and the consumer.
The consumer pays the farmer a fee in advance of the growing season and in return the farmer provides the consumer a variety of fresh produce every week during the growing season.
Hampton said he’s enjoying the farming and raising his and Regina’s children around the food and animals and allowing them to see where the food comes from and the value of hard work farming on a daily basis requires.
“We’re in a place of gratitude for the support we’ve had over the years of making The Food Initiative possible and being able to impact lives through the food donations and with connecting with the young people,” Hampton said. “We’re excited to see what Iron and Elder Farm holds for us as we continue to be a part of this community.”
For more information on the Hampton’s farm, visit: ironandelderfarm.com or visit Iron and Elder Farm on Facebook.
