July 2011

Nicole and Scott Tyson with sons Camron and Mason on the farm. Photo: Lee Dodds.

Lots of folks around here enjoy a little backyard gardening, but for Scott and Nicole Tyson, their patch grew into a true calling.

They’re the founders of the non-profit 180 Degree Farm near Sharpsburg. The farm offers the community organic vegetables, herbs, honey, meat, and eggs; donates food to the needy; and provides workshops and other educational outreach, including a program to help groups like churches start food gardens to serve others.

The farm’s name “symbolizes a change in direction,” explains Scott. “Our food doesn’t carry the ‘baggage’ of conventionally-grown foods and is easier on the environment.

We farm in a natural, humane, and sustainable way. Our food is free of pesticides, herbicides, hormones, and antibiotics, and it’s about 25% more nutritionally dense. Also, while chain stores often ship their produce in from 1,500+ miles away, we only sell locally. That insures the freshest possible food, and gives us a much smaller carbon footprint.”

The Tysons also believe that “clean, healthy food can be a preventative of disease instead of creating it.” They bought land in Coweta about four years ago, planning to build a house and do a little farming. Soon afterwards, their son Mason was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a childhood form of cancer. Dealing with his condition intensified their interest in organic foods — they’d had an organic garden in the backyard of their home near Peachtree City for a number of years. “As Mason’s cancer became non-progressive, we felt led to do more than just grow good food for our own family,” explains Nicole. “We wanted to reach out to our community.”

“You can visit the farm anytime to see how we grow our food and raise our animals — we believe in transparency,” adds Scott. “And we think you should feel good about where your food comes from, how it’s grown, and who grows it!”

Variety of Programs

180 Degree Farm is only about ten acres, but its modest size belies its presence in the community.

The farm has a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, with seasonal products available through an annual subscription. Different plans are available based on family size. CSA membership has tripled since last year, when the program began, and there’s currently a waiting list. Chicken, eggs, and honey will be added as CSA items in 2012, joining a wide variety of vegetables.

Surplus products are sold to the general public at the farm. (Be sure to check on hours and items available before making a trip.)

The farm also donates food to the needy. “In 2010, we donated about 400 pounds, and this year we’re almost at that point already,” reports Nicole. “So we estimate a total of 1,000 pounds or more by year’s end.” Scott explains, “We donate to Pastor Tim Coleman’s street ministry, Bridging The Gap; to our own church, Trinity Fellowship; and to others that we may come into contact with that are struggling. Pastor Coleman, along with several volunteers, walks through economically-challenged areas in Newnan every Tuesday morning, distributing our fresh food and other dona-tions directly to those in need.”

“We developed a strong desire to lessen the amount of cheap, processed food we were giving to people and increase the amount of local, healthy food,” says Pastor Coleman. “That’s when a friend put us in touch with the Tysons. Now, each week when we take out truckloads of food donated from many places, the freshest, healthiest items come from 180 Degree Farm. If I really want to bless someone when we’re delivering the food, I reach first for something from the farm.”

180 Degree Farm also has a program called Garden Ministry 101, which helps churches and other non-profits start their own food gardens to feed the hungry. It’s having quite a ripple effect already. (see below)

Other educational efforts include screenings of documentary films about food and farming (“Farmageddon: The Movie” on July 2, with “American Meat: The Movie” tentatively scheduled for August, perhaps with director Graham Meriwether on hand for a Q&A) and outreach to children. For example, there’s a special coloring and activity book as a free download on the website.

Volunteering

The alternative approach practiced at 180 Degree Farm is much more labor-intensive than conventional methods, so volunteers are important — especially in summer. “We need volunteers Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday,” says Nicole. Large groups of volunteers are also needed on an occasional basis for events like the Crop Mob (AKA “Cropstock”) back in January. There were nearly 140 people, a mix of individuals and church groups. Among the day’s many accomplishments: four fields were prepped or refreshed (tilling, adding compost and mulch, etc.); the herb garden and vineyards were completed; and three custom chicken tractors were built.

(Chicken tractors are not poultry-powered vehicles, but an ingenious feeding system for chickens — and a good example of organic techniques. The tractors let the chickens move around, which is healthier and more humane than confinement, and in turn they keep the grass “cut” without mowers and spread natural rather than artificial fertilizer.)

Cropstock was hard work, but also festive, with live music and a homecooked lunch for the volunteers. Nicole remembers lots of smiles. “It was emotionally overwhelming. So much love and excitement. It was such a blessing to this ministry.”

Mark Anthony, Trinity Fellowship’s Senior Pastor, recalls, “It was great to see so many volunteers eager to serve. We just think the Crop Mob is the beginning of something great.”

Says Scott, “We couldn’t manage without support from the community — people like Brent and April Anderson, Mark and Teresa Hess, and Steve and Kelly Dennis.”

Donations Needed

Another way to support the farm is through donations. Financial contributions (which can be made online via the farm website) are applied towards expenses like fencing, seed and feed, and livestock. There’s also a want list on the website, with materials like lumber, tools, woodchips, hay, pinestraw, and a tractor.

And there may be other ways to help that don’t have an obvious agricultural aspect. One donor contributed a prefab building, destined as a kind of resource center. Brown’s Mill Church in Newnan is providing the space to show “Farmageddon”, since there isn’t currently a suitable screening site or facility on the farm itself.

Looking Ahead

Details weren’t available at presstime, but a farm to table event is planned for later in the year. A lot of fundraising will be needed to make the donated building fully useable. “We need a well, septic tank, parking lot, ADA-compliant restrooms, decking, and more,” reports Scott. “We definitely will have some classrooms — we want to offer classes not just on organic gardening, but also on healthy cooking from scratch — and we’d love to be able to include a commercial-grade kitchen for community use.”

“We want to keep expanding the farm’s role as a community resource,” says Nicole. “For example, showing low-income families how to purchase and prepare fresh food instead of relying so much on processed food means they could save money and be healthier. And we like to encourage everybody to rediscover the importance of fixing family meals together and gathering around the table to enjoy them. It’s a great way for kids to learn about nutrition and cooking, and it also provides genuine quality time for everybody to be together.”

The Tysons, with the help of the community, will be planting more  crops, tending more livestock, harvesting more fresh, wholesome food, and helping more of those in need. “I grew up in the Fayette-Coweta area,” says Scott, “and what I love about it is that the people here just wrap their arms around you and won’t let you go it alone. My family and I are very proud to call this beautiful place our home.”

For More Information

180 Degree Farm

237 Emory Phillips Road

Sharpsburg, GA 30277

Phone: 678-464-6111

Hours: 9:30 am -1:30 pm on weekdays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm on Saturdays

Website: 180degreefarm.org

Email: scott@180degreefarm.org or nicole@180degreefarm.org

2012 CSA Program: send email to Nicole Tyson (nicole@180degreefarm.org)

Garden Ministry 101: send email to Scott Tyson (scott@180degreefarm.org)

Garden Ministry Takes Root

180 Degree Farm’s Garden Ministry 101 program shows churches and other groups how to create and manage food gardens to help feed the hungry. Workshops cover varied situations, from large tracts to limited space, and emphasize maximum food production. Need-based scholarships are available.

Two churches have “graduated” from the program so far, and both are using raised beds with lots of compost. The “Sow Good” Garden of Senoia Vineyard Community Church is tended by 10-12 team members. Fresh vegetables are delivered to the poor and elderly of the Senoia community. The Community Christian Church’s “CCC Garden,” in its first year, will benefit those in need in the general Coweta area, thanks to its team of 8-10 members.

Brent Anderson is Senior Pastor at Senoia Vineyard Community Church and has become a board member for 180 Degree Farm. “I applaud Scott and Nicole’s passion to run their organization from a foundation of faith and service. It’s reflected in their diligence in giving to the poor and in teaching and encouraging local groups about gardening. They’ve been a tremendous blessing to me and the Senoia Vineyard Community Church.”

The Bounty of 180 Degree Farm

[Note that availability varies from item to item, depending on factors like the growing season. And other products will be added over time. For example, vineyards were planted this past winter.]

VEGETABLES

Summer crops include squash, onions, leeks, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and cucumbers. Many are special varieties not available in stores. Other veggies are available in season, such as collards, mustard greens, kale, Swiss chard, and winter squash for Fall/Winter.

HONEY

HERBS AND FLOWERS

Dill, mint, cilantro, parsley, chives, oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, lemongrass, chamomile, lavender, nasturtiums

CHICKEN, TURKEY AND LAMB

EGGS (Chicken and Duck)