More Than Just a Farm

When Bobby Wilson retired in 2009, he used a portion of his savings to purchase five acres in Atlanta, Georgia, where he could begin to teach marginalized and underserved communities how to grow their own food.

During the pandemic, Wilson connected local farmers with families in need, and helped to feed more than 25,000 families in the urban Atlanta area: "When small and disadvantaged farmers didn't have the avenue to get rid of that produce because people were not coming out to buy, we had an opportunity to help keep them alive," Wilson said. "We were buying food from African-American farmers who did not have outlets and giving it away."

Wilson is a first-generation college graduate who worked for the University of Georgia for more than 20 years offering gardening programs to public housing complexes, churches, and schools throughout Atlanta. Since he purchased his five-acre nonprofit farm in 2009, Wilson has taught thousands how to grow their own vegetables and prepare meals with them.

"If we can eat better foods, stay away from the fast-food places, then any community can rid itself of the high blood pressure and diabetes that we are challenged with," he said.

In the state of Georgia, one in eight people faces hunger. Wilson recognized the social problem, pondered his own skills and God-given gifts, and made it his life's mission to feed the hungry and teach them the skills they need to feed themselves. Wilson's nonprofit offers community resources year-round, and he also provides a drive-through giveaway where families can pick up healthy produce.

"We're more than just a farm," Wilson said. "We're about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, because at the end of the day, I want my grandchildren to have it better than what I have it today."

Hear the words of Isaiah 55:10 --

If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

As we move into the holiday season, how will you feed or bless those in need? How can we ensure that our church is a blessing to the communities around us?

Peace on your week, 

Jennie