Restorative Farms

Call for proposals! We are proud to sponsor the 2nd Annual Dallas InnerCity Growers' (DIG) Summit. The Dallas InnerCity Growers (DIG) is a collaborative initiative focused on uniting, supporting, and encouraging cooperation among community change-makers from diverse backgrounds—growers, academics, activists, scientists, theologians, filmmakers, funders, and more—all who share a common mission. It is our hope to connect local food system practitioners, policymakers, consumer groups, and other stakeholders to go beyond the talk...go beyond the surface-level solutions and rebuild a North Texas food system that is more sustainable, equitable, and resilient. Like us, DIG is committed to regenerative agriculture practices that benefit people, the planet, and sustainable livelihoods. As we say, together we can Grow A Better Dallas.

A late thank you to Rick Brenner, Ph.D, Director of the Agricultural Technology Innovation Partnership Foundation and Jasleen Dhillon, Asst. Director, SMU Hunter & Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity for sharing the power of their respective databases and database prowess. We were thrilled to facilitate the connection and facilitate a collaboration between these two experts in their fields. During our conversation, we were impressed by the wealth of knowledge and expertise that Rick brought from his years of work with the EPA and USDA, as well as Jasleen's innovative work on the Hunt Institute ImpactMap. The conversation was enlightening, and we were excited to see the potential for their combined expertise to drive positive impact. As urban agriculture advocates, we see tremendous potential for the ImpactMap to enhance the way we connect date, stakeholders and resources in North Texas' food and agriculture sector. By combining Rick's expertise and respective EPA database access with the ImpactMap's powerful database and analytics, we believe we can drive real impact and reimagine the local food system. The searchable map and database will empower us to promote sustainable agriculture, address pressing issues like food justice and access, inequality, climate change, and unequal access to resources and opportunities, ultimately creating a more equitable and resilient food system. We agreed to look forward to leveraging these tools and core competencies, collaborating with a determination to make a tangible impact. The journey begins by analyzing and quantifying the kitchen waste generated by Dallas restaurants, with the goal of developing a practical and measurable solution to transform this waste into a valuable resource for the environment and the emerging Dallas agrisystem. This is how, by working collaboratively, breaking through silos that we will Grow A Better Dallas.

WE love the energy and joyful spirit that Jay Jones (Jameesha ) brings to game. It is contagious. We are looking forward to continuing the Restorative Farms / New Life Farms collaboration as we catalyze and work together to build out a serious professional South Dallas bioeconomy. South Dallas Employment Project

We appreciate our partnership with DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) for the DART Cares Farmers Market. It is a valuable initiative and an amazing gift for the community, enhancing well-being by providing easy access to fresh, locally grown produce. Still a pilot, DART’s role in hosting & supporting the market ensures that it is conveniently located and accessible via public transportation, making it easier for individuals impacted by food deserts, especially those without private transport, to access high-quality, nutritious food. Restorative Farms contributes by aggregating and supplying fresh produce & staffing, and promoting sustainable local agriculture practices, which supports local farmers and fosters environmentally friendly farming methods. It is a project with amazing potential. Beyond improving access to healthy food, the market is promises to serve as a community hub for engagement and nutrition education. The collaboration not only strengthens the local economy by supporting small-scale farmers but also addresses food deserts by bringing fresh produce to many individuals living in underserved areas. This combined effort enhances overall public health and fosters a belief that we can GROW A BETTER DALLAS.

Last week, our Hatcher Station Training Farm welcomed a diverse group of visitors, including high-level executives from a prominent Dallas institution exploring potential partnership opportunities, a journalist from a local media outlet working on a story about food insecurity in Dallas, and a few other interested individuals. During farm tours, visitors often engage with our team members, inquiring about everything from production methods to the personal impact of their work.  A common question asked is how growing food for the community affects our farmers' sense of purpose and their vision for the future. This week, our young farmers, who are being trained to become the next generation of urban farmers, shared their thoughts and their ambitious goals with visitors. As one of our future urban farmers explained, they aspire to one day establish their own farms, take charge of their own destinies, and continue to serve the community while pursuing a fulfilling and financially sustainable career. With all the many details of running a financially sustainable professional urban farm, it's easy to get sidetracked. However, after 7 years of continued growth at Restorative Farms, we've come to appreciate the importance of taking a step back and re-examining our core purpose from time to time. These moments of reflection help us reconnect with our original mission and remind us that, while it's amazing and truly fulfilling to make a positive impact on individual lives, our ultimate goal is to achieve a replicable model for sustainable urban farming that benefits the larger community and the city. Our Mission:  “To foster a vibrant and viable community-based urban farm system in South Dallas, TX, a community that deserves access to healthy fresh food and local employment.” Owen Lynch Doric Earle, PhD MBA #professionalurbanfarming #GrowABetterDallas #DallasUrbanFarming #HatcherStationTrainingFarm #communityimpact #economicimpact #CommunityEmpowerment #HealthyCommunities #foodjustice #fooddesertsolutions 

Restorative Farms was founded with a view and a mission to catalyze and build a South Dallas agrisystem. We recognized the power of collaboration and the need to bring together a diverse array of action-oriented partners and stakeholders, ensuring a holistic and inclusive impact on the community. We were delighted to host a visit from one of our long-term partners, Frazier Revitalization, Inc., and a new collaborator, AquaGreen Global, LLC, at our Hatcher Station Training Farm. Our relationship with Frazier Revitalization is both long-standing and profound. Over the years, they have been incredible partners, consistently backing their words with measurable actions and support. We were equally pleased to meet the team from AquaGreen Global, who accompanied them to lay the groundwork for future collaborations. Having worked with Corrin J. Breeding, landscape architect with the firm, in the past, we were also excited to meet company founder, Devin D. Guinn and other members of their team as well. Our visit with Frazier Revitalization and AquaGreen Global exemplifies the power of strong partnerships and the exciting potential for future collaborations. Together, we are committed to fostering a healthier, greener community through sustainable urban agriculture and innovative practices. As we continue to build these relationships and welcome new collaborators, we invite you to join us in our mission. Together, we can make a significant impact and Grow A Better Dallas. #professionalurbanfarming #healthysoil #organicgardening #GrowABetterDallas #DallasUrbanFarming #HatcherStationTrainingFarm #communityimpact #economicimpact #CommunityEmpowerment

Honored and Inspired: Celebrating the Texas Impact Enterprise Award ! Honored to be recognized and part of an amazing evening hosted by Eva Szalkai Csaky and Rebecca Pearce with the SMU Hunter & Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity and the Inclusive Economy Consortium for the first Texas Impact Enterprise Award.  As stated by the host organizations, “the Awards shine a spotlight on the heart of social and environmental impact leaders in the state. Nominees are organizations that are considered most likely to impact over a million people within 3 years.” We stand humbled to be nominated and counted in a select group of “organizations, from social enterprises to small businesses, corporations, nonprofits, and even government entities, that strategically utilize business strategies and leverage market forces to create positive environmental or societal impact aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.” We stand even more motivated in our mission is to create sustainable, scalable urban agrisystem that enhances food security & community health, and provides economic opportunities in our underserved communities that need it the most.

Growing Together: Collaboration with Timberview Farmstead Boosts Urban Agrisystems ! Today, we welcomed Ft. Worth's Timberview Farmstead and their farm manager, Rick Kenagy, at our S. Dallas Hatcher Station Training Farm. It was a simple transaction: Restorative Farms buying Timberview Farmstead’s organic lettuce for inclusion in our CSA, supplementing what we had grown ourselves…and selling them in turn seedlings for their expanding urban farm. But it was far more than a “simple transaction”. It was a measured, intentional and for the moment not the most cost effective exchange. But it was a mutual investment in a partnership that exemplifies the interconnected nature of an urban agrisystem. This partnership highlights the cooperative spirit essential for growing these Dallas and Ft. Worth urban and soon regional agrisystems, where resources, knowledge, and support are shared to enhance sustainability and growth for all involved, with a particular focus on the respective underserved communities that we serve.  We are committed to making that happen. Together, we're sowing the seeds for a stronger, more sustainable urban farming community, benefiting the entire region and uplifting our underserved communities. #professionalurbanfarming #seedlings #urbanagrisystem #organicgardening #resilience #carryon #GrowABetterDallas #DallasUrbanFarming #Ftworthurbanfarming #HatcherStationTrainingFarm #communityimpac #economicimpact #foodjustice #fooddesertsolutions

Professional urban farmers are more than just “gardeners”; they need to be multi-talented professionals who wear many hats. Beyond tending to plants, it is necessary for them to take on various roles such as plumbers, ensuring that irrigation systems function seamlessly, and agronomists, optimizing soil health and plant growth and a business person with some understanding of COG, ROI, etc. And yes, sometimes they're carpenters, too, constructing the very infrastructure that supports their farming operations. While grants and donated funds are necessary to launch an urban agrisystem, growing and scaling a professional, self sustaining agrisystem requires that urban farmers, like their "traditional farmer" counterpart, need to possess a range of basic skills that enable them to manage their farm cost effectively. Every dollar saved on outsourcing goes to the bottom line and into the farmer’s pocket. Like a “traditional farmer”, becoming an economically self-sustaining professional urban farmer is a formidable challenge. The weather is unpredictable, the work is physically demanding, and profit margins in the current marketplace are thin. Given these constraints, all farmers often lack the funds to outsource all their infrastructure needs. As a result, the successful urban farmer must be a jack of all trades. At our Hatcher Station Training Farm, we aim to prepare our future farmers to tackle these challenges head-on. Our training program strives to equip them with the necessary skills in plumbing, agronomy, carpentry, and financial literacy. By doing so, we ensure they are not only proficient in growing crops but also capable of managing the various aspects of their own future farming operations. This holistic approach helps urban farm graduates to build and maintain their own infrastructure, enhancing their economic resilience and ensuring long-term sustainability in the urban farming sector.

Today, we had the pleasure of welcoming Celeste Clayton from Place Collaborative to our S. Dallas Hatcher Station Training Farm. Her visit was a fact finding trip, exploring “place-based design solutions” specifically tailored for underserved communities. A new concept for us, we had to look up “Place-Based Design”. We found that it refers to a design approach that prioritizes the specific attributes of a location or community, tailoring interventions to its unique social, cultural, environmental, and economic context. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to share our work, present our vision, while also learning about place-based designed and engaging in insightful discussions on transforming urban spaces. This sort of exchange allows us to better serve our community's needs, particularly in terms of accessibility to fresh, healthy food. We appreciate and welcome potential additive collaborations with people like Celeste and Place Collaborative. We think that we’ve heard it all before but continue to find otherwise. We appreciate and need folks who can bring unique expertises and fresh perspectives that we lack, challenge our viewpoints and that could enhance our efforts. Of course, it’s a two-way street. We like to think that we in turn bring our years of experience and “out of the box” thinking to the conversation and that collaborating with people like Celeste & Place Collaborative offers us all opportunity to embrace new perspectives on how to envision and implement innovative strategies. All this to help us Grow A Better Dallas.