This 120 acre farm is our first in Kentucky and will be holistically farmed with organic practices incorporating pastured livestock and diversified vegetable operations.

Healing Ground Farm is a mix of pasture, tillable fields and hollows. It represents our corporate policy to diversify operations while impacting local communities and food markets.

As a corporate guideline, we do not look for specific farmland to purchase. We  develop relationships with farmers, mostly young and mostly organic, that want to start or grow their sustainable farm business. We only move to purchase if we have a ready, willing and able farm tenant in hand.

This week we purchased our first farm in Kentucky. It will be will be leased to the Lewis brothers, two U.S. veterans that have returned  home to farm. It is their plan to farm holistically, using organic practices, while reaching out to their community to re-build the infrastructure for local and organic foods. Fred and Michael Lewis share our vision of returning soil to a naturally healthy and productive state. They will also be teaching other veterans, through the organization, Growing Warriors, that sustainable agriculture does more than heal the soil. Their mission is  educating  disabled veterans on how to run a sustainable farm and be a successful farming entrepreneur.
 
This opportunity was sourced through the Louisville offices of Natural Investments, a socially responsible financial advisory firm with whom we have a close relationship. Early this year Carrie VanWinkle and Andy Loving of NI attended an event sponsored by the Louisville Department of Economic Development billed as the "Louisville Barn Raising", focusing on the growth of local food markets (see footnote). Also attending were our new tenants who were later connected with Tom Perry, our Chief Operating Officer. Adding perspective to the outcome and quoting Andy, " this restorative utilization of farmland in Kentucky represents a broader transition from tobacco farming to sustainable agriculture. Natural Investments supports this type of regenerative and naturally productive investment." We couldn't agree more.
Last week we held our annual meeting at the Institute of Environmental Sustainability at Loyola University of Chicago, where we specifically highlighted our direct connections to health. This purchase fundamentally supports our commitment to restoring healthy farming practices. Returning veterans that have served our country are now serving their local communities and are a powerful voice in this battle to protect our environment and foods. We are excited to announce the purchase of Healing Ground Farm and support the Lewis brothers and Growing Warriors in this important mission.

As information, sales of organic foods continue to expand at double digit growth. Health conscious consumers are driving this generational upswing. Consequently,  most of our farmers are looking for more farmland to meet this growing demand.  Our Young Farmer Land Access Program has invested over $8.5 million in the last 18 months to support this new generation of farmers. Looking to invest in a real asset that grows healthy food? Contact us for more information -- accredited investors only.  

Growing Warriors Mission: To Equip, Assist, and Train our military veterans with the skills they need to produce high quality organically grown produce for their families and communities.

Michael Lewis, the Executive Director of Growing Warriors, is a farmer and a veteran. For the last five years, Michael has worked as a farm and community advocate in support of farmers across the country.

       

Local Footnote from Theresa Zawacki, Executive Administrator for Brownfields and Local Foods Initiatives "The Louisville Barn Raising was a unique opportunity made possible through the Leadership Louisville Center's 2013 Bingham Fellows Program to convene stakeholders working in the local food economy and collectively define goals to promote stronger regional food systems. Access to organic land was identified as one major barrier to success in reaching these goals, and I am thrilled that Iroquois Valley Farms has taken a positive step to address it through this purchase. As one of the organizers of the Barn Raising, I look forward to seeing much success from the Lewis brothers on this beautiful land, and am very excited to see Iroquois Valley Farms working in Kentucky."  

 

For more information on our company, please visit (www.iroquoisvalleyfarms.com).  

David Miller, Co-Founder and CEO
dmiller@iroquoisvalleyfarms.com