true cost of cheap food,” she insists.


Most recently, they planted an organic orchard in memory of their son, Joraan, who died of cancer in 2010 at the age of 23. Joraan’s orchard is home to thriving, health-supporting apple, apricot, cherry and plum trees, plus native aronia berries. It also injects fresh life into the community. Each spring, the Forbords celebrate their son’s birthday by “waking up” his orchard. His mother explains: “People of all ages gather—an assortment of our friends, Joraan’s friends and their growing families, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, students and others—to keep his legacy growing. The incredible community support keeps us going.”


Victory r


Teaching Farm, the region’s


Luverne and Mary Jo Forbord


for children to learn where


experience for


Tarrant Lanier, gardening with children at the Center for Family and Community Development


Tarrant Lanier, of the Center for Family and Community Development (CFCD) and Victory Teaching Farm, in Mobile, Alabama, wants all children to grow up in safe communities with access to plenty of wholesome food. After working for nearly two decades with some of South Alabama’s most vulnerable families, Lanier wanted to “provide more than a crutch.” In 2009, she established the nonprofi t CFCD organization, dedicated to healthy living. Within fi ve years, she had assembled a small, but hard-working staff that began building community and school gardens and creating collaborative partnerships. Recently, the group established the


their food comes from and the reasons fresh, organically-grown food really matters to our health,” says Lanier. However, “This is just the tip of the iceberg for us. Ultimately, we’d like to be a chemical-free community through advocating for reduction and elimination of pesticide and chemical use in schools, hospitals, households and local parks and ball fi elds.” Lanier aims to help improve on Alabama’s low national ranking in the health of its residents. “I love our little piece of the world, and I want future generations to enjoy it without fearing that it’s making us sick,” she says. “We are intent on having a school garden in every school, and we want


to see area hospitals establish organic food gardens that support efforts to make people healthier without the use of heavy medications.” Lanier further explains: “We see our victory as reducing hunger and increasing health and wellness, environmental sustainability and repair, community development and beautifi cation, economic development and access to locally-grown food, by promoting and creating a local food system.”


Don Lareau and Daphne Yannakakis, of Zephyros Farm and Garden, in Paonia, Colorado, grow exquisite organic fl owers and vegetables for


as an onsite exp


farm will serve as


center. “The far


resource ce


Don Lareau


“Kids are shocked when they learn that carrots grow underground and surprised that milk comes from an udder, not a store shelf.”


~ Don Lareau


farmers’ markets and community- supported agriculture members in Telluride and the Roaring Fork Valley. Recently, the couple decided to take fewer trips away from their children and homestead, and instead bring more people to their 35-acre family farm to learn from the land and develop a refreshed sense of community. From earthy farm dinners and elegant weddings to creative exploration camps for children and adults and an educational internship program, these family farmers are raising a new crop of consumers that value the land, their food and the people producing it. The couple hopes to help people learn how to grow and prepare their own food, plus gain a greater appreciation for organic farming. “The people that come here fall into a farming lifestyle in tune with the sun and moon, the seasons and their inner clock—something valuable that has been lost in modern lifestyles,” notes Lareau, who especially loves sharing the magic of their farm with children. “Kids are shocked when they learn that carrots grow underground and surprised that milk comes from an udder, not a store shelf.”


July 2014 31


community re


farm and co


teaching fa


fi rst urban te


photo by Dan Hemmelgarn


photo by Dan Hemmelgarn


photo by Dan Hemmelgarn


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