Food for today and food for tomorrow More than squash and onions: Garden grows ag’s future

September 12, 2024

Every new famer can benefit from the wisdom of a seasoned mentor. Caroline, our Milford Farm Manager, is fortunate to have the support of not one, but two!

George Bradley, a Southern States ag equipment sales manager, and Dave Marvel, a former 3-term board member and long-time Kent County farmer, have guided – and continue to support — Caroline through challenges associated with the new garden growing.

“They take the time, and they have opened so many doors for me,” said Caroline. And not just for her. Our Agricultural Programs Director Kyle Brolis oversees our 5-acre Farm in Newark as well as the Garden in Milford.

“They come with a wealth of knowledge, decades of experience, and they share with us wisdom we can’t find in a book,” he said.

The 3.5-acre Garden is part of our new Milford facility which just opened in January. The inaugural tilling and planting were delayed by a rainy spring. Farmers accept that weather is beyond their control; eventually the greenhouses were set up, the beds were plowed, and plants took root in the ground.

One of the goals in creating this garden is to grow – and harvest – fresh, local vegetables that will benefit our neighbors using the Healthy Pantry Center as well as provide fresh produce for students enrolled in the on-site workforce development programs, The Culinary School and The Kitchen School.

Both Dave and George are behind-the-scenes kind of guys. In addition to lending a hand with equipment, planting, production, and general problem solving, they are committed to our garden’s success.

“They pay it forward. They embody what farmers are, that tradition of teaching others. They share advice, tools, equipment, and their network, helping us make connections,” Kyle said.

They share with Caroline a seasoned and reliable network, and praised her for a willingness to listen and learn.

“She was willing to listen and open to different approaches. The biggest thing is just connecting to the right people and listening to the right people,” said Dave.

So far, the garden has yielded lettuce and cucumbers and continues to produce more fresh vegetables to distribute. But both George and Dave recognize that gardening success doesn’t come overnight. “It will be a couple years before it’s at full capacity,” said Dave.

George, who has been essential in solving equipment-related issues, has made a career change and is moving out of state. Yet, he assured Caroline that Southern States in Milford will continue to support the Food Bank’s Garden.

“We have resources beyond myself,” he said.

Both Kyle and Caroline value those resources. “It helps to talk to someone who is calm, to help you navigate a problem,” Kyle said. “It’s that classic expression to ‘work smarter, not harder.’ That helps us to develop systems to work more efficiently.”

And eventually as the Garden’s network expands to the next generation of farmers rising through the ranks of organizations like 4-H, FFA and college-level agriculture education programs, both mentors envision how their current contributions benefit the community. “We’re interested in the success from the education side, not just production. The number of farmers is decreasing rapidly,” said Dave.