Our Mission
The Lord’s Acre is a community hub that brings volunteers together to grow organic food for those in need and offers garden and food-skills training to all ages.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
What are your thoughts about the food you buy and eat? We want to know. From now until July 2012, Fairview is participating in a Community Food Assessment. We’re trying to learn how all Fairview residents and their families view their ability to buy, grow, store, prepare, and enjoy healthful food. This research will be used to help improve our community food resources. Read more about Fairview’s Community Food Assessment here.
If you live in Fairview, we need to know what you think. Voice your opinions through our online survey found at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FairviewCommunityFoodAssessment
Or fill out a paper copy at the Fairview Library! Tell us what you feel and what you would like to see changed to increase your—and everyone’s—ability to enjoy good, healthful food! The survey is completely confidential and will only take 10-15 minutes of your time.
Above all the purpose of this survey is to listen—to hear from you. You are the experts. Your experiences and concerns are key to helping us all find out where we are strong and where we are weak food-wise in Fairview, as families, as neighborhoods, and as a community.
So please help us all out. Do your part, and take the survey.
Our Challenge: 1 in 4 WNC Kids Hungry
“…a staggering 29.9 percent of children under the age of 18 are food insecure in Western North Carolina…”
We’re growing! Together we can make a dent in those numbers!
As a result of a recent land purchase and a generous land donation which we will receive when we have completed full payment, we are now operating on the 5 1/2 acres of beautiful Fairview pastureland that surround our present 1/2 acre garden! In the last 3 years we’ve delivered almost 17 tons of organic vegetables to local food banks and this was grown on only 1/2 acre. Can you imagine what we’ll be able to accomplish now! Please explore our vision by clicking on the photo below or go here.
Please join us in acquiring the land and expanding our service not only to Fairview but all of Western North Carolina. Please go here to donate to our Capital Campaign. You can read The Lord’s Acre Capital Campaign Summary here.
First Ever: Great Pumpkin Mountain Challenge
The Lord’s Acre first-ever Great Pumpkin Mountain Challenge on October 15 was a rousing success! Over 60 people participated, running, hiking or walking in this special, one-of-a-kind race which took place place on beautiful, seldom-seen, private & protected mountain land in Fairview, NC in order to help raise money to grow for food for the hungry. For more information and photos of the event go here.
In the Garden
- You helped us deliver almost 8 tons of fresh, organic vegetable to those in need this year! Explore this year’s tally of delivered veggies here.
- TLA is excited to announce that we have received an Opportunity Grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Read about this exciting project here.
Our 2011 new year’s resolution was to grow more food, more minds and more hearts in 2011. You joined us and together we did! 6 tons in 2010; 8 tons in 2011!
2010 – WOW! What a Year!
For a complete review check out our recent blog entry. But here’s a few of the ‘biggies.’
- Almost 6 tons of produce was grown and given away.
- 2,500+ volunteer hours were logged
- Nine churches were represented by coming as a group
- Four schools/colleges were represented by coming as a group
- We expanded to include giving food to Trinity of Fairview on a regular basis
- We expanded into the full fenced in area in under an acre
- Children’s garden was moved to a more central location and expanded. A fence was built around it and a tipi was erected in it. (Steve & Petersons)
- A demonstration garden was created to show methods of growing food that do not require machinery or heavy physical work.
- Four, long trellises were installed
- Irrigation system was added to and we had water at the garden on call without having to spend 20 minutes hooking and unhooking it from the meditation garden area !!!!!!!!!!!! (Franklin and helpers)
Some folks only think of gardens as being work; but here at The Lord’s Acre we know that community is fun. And we’re building community as well as growing organic produce for those in need. Watch the short video below to see our garden community and friends have fun in The great Potato Race fund raiser.
During tough times back in the 1930′s, our local farmers banded together, donating produce from one acre of their crops to help feed others in need. They called their project The Lord’s Acre. In these trying times, concerned volunteers have again united in support of our community to keep The Lord’s Acre vision alive!
The Lord’s Acre Inc is an exciting, unique Garden Project organized as a not for profit corporation. We are sponsored by local churches, businesses, our generous community and talented volunteers who have come together to help provide food for families in dire need. The Lord’s Acre Inc grows fresh produce to provide nutritious food from a local, sustainable resource garden in support of our nonprofit food banks. With faith in our vision and in our community we serve by assisting families in need. Every week, Food For Fairview and other non profit organizations in Western North Carolina supply food to many needy families. Not surprisingly, in these times, the need is growing. But, while the demand is up, food donations are down. More than ever, our food banks need help to feed the hungry in our community. You can help.
In our first year, The Lord’s Acre delivered over 3 tons of fresh, organic produce to our local food bank. This bountiful harvest was from only 1/4 of an acre in a short growing season. We were deeply moved by the generous support of the Fairview community in donations of the money necessary to operate but also in donations of equipment, access to water, organic starts and seeds and, of course, the land for the garden provided by The Chapel Door. Even with all that, we could not have succeeded without over 100 volunteers who came out at least once to be a part of this effort and who have created a community around and in the garden.
Those many donors, interns and volunteers have and are truly making The Lord’s Acre a community garden. Please join us in The Lord’s Acre community and in our effort to provide food to those in need!
Our main volunteer times are Wednesday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00. If you can organize a group of five to ten people who want to work another day and time, please contact us and we’ll try to accommodate you.
To get on our volunteer / garden update email list, email us at: thelordsacre@gmail.com
