SAAFON
SAAFON describes itself as
“a regional network for Black farmers committed to using ecologically sustainable practices to manage their land and the natural systems on it in order to grow food and raise livestock that are healthy for people and the planet. Many of our farms have been in the same Black family for over 100 years and, as such, are historical treasures.”
Based in Atlanta, GA, SAAFON’s mission statement highlights the long history of black agrarianism in this country, focusing on connecting these farmers to each other and resources so that their lineages can remain on the land. By connecting these farms and unifying the work they’re doing, SAAFON seeks to build an alternative food system rooted in Black-created and Black-led agroecology practices. SAAFON understands the liberation and empowerment of Black people and communities to be linked (if not also rooted) in Black farming, community gardening, and food and land strategies.
SAAFON recognizes that a major part of keeping Black farmers on their land is ensuring the economic prosperity of their farms. They believe that race and place matter, that the histories of Black farming in the Southeastern US are unique, complex, and must be honored. Their work is centered around farmers, and every resource is meant to support and uplift Black farmers.
They have a number of initiatives at work right now, such as:
B.L.A.C.K (Black Land Agricultural Community Land Trust
Southeastern Black Rural Land Database Project
Farmer Surveys – Elder Farmer Landowners – Adult Children of Elder Farmers – Landless New and Beginning Farmers
Agrarianism / Agroecology Training
Food Safety & GAP Certification Collaborative