by Marianna Spence, CFSA Membership Coordinator 2021年7月12日星期一
“CFSA has saved my livelihood not once, 不是两次, 但三次,Paula Hall说, owner of Eden Song Wheatgrass and a CFSA Member. A farmer for more than 20 years, Paula grows nutrient-dense wheatgrass for wholesale markets at her small farm in Zebulon, NC.
“2020年初, I employed two part-time staff to help with the labor-intensive production of wheatgrass, 我唯一的作物. COVID definitely impacted my buyers; I could cry over it.”
Nine months into the pandemic, Paula was preparing to apply for farmer assistance funds. She found that application after application, 一个接一个的电话, went ignored because wheatgrass wasn’t specifically listed as an eligible crop for relief payments.
“After receiving an email from CFSA, reminding farmer members of the assistance deadline, I shot off an email back to them bemoaning my fate that no one seemed interested in helping me with any pandemic assistance programs – not with PPP, EIDL, 或CFAP2.”
“CFSA, however, responded and advocated to the 农业服务 Agency on my behalf. That advocacy produced the reasonable response that wheatgrass was definitely in the ‘sprouts’ category. I applied for farmer assistance funds that day and received $6,100 within two weeks.”
Paula also recalled CFSA’s advocacy efforts from nearly 15 years ago that helped keep her farm open when city ordinances threatened it. Then a few years later when food safety regulations intended for large-scale farms would have proved insurmountable, CFSA was there to make sure laws made sense for small, 当地种植者, 太.
“I’m lucky to be able to pay my bills and keep farming,” said Paula. “I’m nearly 70, and farming is what I was meant to do. 我没有别的生活了.”
“You guys are fighting for us. I’d say this to a farm considering membership: Join! It could save your livelihood. It could be the best, most necessary experience of your life.”
加入今天! 新CFSA? 得到 $10 off your $40 农场 or Friend Membership 在有限的时间内! 您的折扣码在 会员加入形式.