Legacy Taste of the Garden LLC (LTOTG)
CREATE, MAINTAIN, PASS DOWN, CONTINUE
LEGACY TASTE of the Garden, a Legacy created/passed on by Greer Farms. Black Farmers farming since 1855.
Legacy is a family farm operation that was created to pass on generational knowledge of Sustainable and Entrepreneurial living.
Legacy desires to help bring back the knowledge of Growing and using Fresh Produce, and teaching how to obtain a lifestyle in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and self-sustainability. Our goal is to close the gap between local producers and the local consumer, which will support the Communities Economic Vitality.
Legacy’s mission is to Empower individuals and communities to become self-sustaining and economically sound through Education, Networking, and Providing Information toward a Healthy, Sustainable, Empowered Life.
We provide information and training on growing and the benefits of farming.
Legacy strives to create a hub and network of individuals, co-ops, and communities in the farming arena. Through the network, all aspects of the agriculture world can be at the hands of those who desire to enhance their farming desires.
LTOTG operates out of Princeton, IN Gibson Co. We operate 2.5 acres growing garden vegetables and delivering produce to locations in Princeton, Evansville, and Indianapolis. Participants include Nu Destiny Church, Indiana Black Farmers Co-op, and Mt. Carmel Church (Indianapolis), St. Paul Church (Princeton) and First Fridays, Memorial Baptist Church Youth Group (Evansville). Legacy Taste has worked with these groups and others for the past 4 years to provide training in gardening techniques, harvesting produce, monthly farmers markets and CSA in Urban Food deserts. We also provide workshops on nutrition, food prep, 28-day challenge (Healthy eating) and Canning/Dehydration/Processing. Our collaborate farmers are Purdue Extension Master Gardeners volunteers, Certified Naturally Grow (CNG) and Organic Certified and will teach communities on a working farm/garden their unique techniques for Urban gardening.
Awarded 2019 SARE Grant
Project name Legacy’s United Farmers, Communities and Urban Food deserts
Application Year: 2019
legacytasteofthegarden@gmail.com
378 Old State Road 65
Princeton, IN 47670
Project name Legacy’s United Farmers, Communities and Urban Food deserts
Application Year: 2019
legacytasteofthegarden@gmail.com
378 Old State Road 65
Princeton, IN 47670
Project Manager
John Jamerson
Legacy Taste of the Garden.
John’s responsibilities include building a sustainable farm structure, marketing and training modules in agriculture for socially disadvantaged farmers, youths and communities.
John provides technical and strategic experience in creating the visionary outline, collaborating with individuals and organizations to create a sustainable business in agriculture.
John developed, Legacy Farming and Health Group to provide membership programs and networks of underserved farmers, youth & businesses. The LIFE Project introduces, increase participation by Connecting them with the resources provided by the USDA’s programs, loans, grants and scholarships.
Operation Director
Denise Jamerson
Denise Jamerson, a 5th generational farmer, was born and raised in Lyles Station, IN, a African American farming community in southern Indiana, operated by her father Norman Greer who was recently recognized in the National Museum of African American History and Culture as the last know African American farmer in the United States farming land that has been in his family pre-civil war.
The farm operation consisted of commodity crops, livestock, and produce.
Living and growing up on the farm was hands on farm work experience.
Denise has a college degree in Business and Banking.
Work experience is in the areas of Management, Accounting and Property Management.
Denise has held leadership positions in the Non-Profit sectors founding/creating and establishing Historical and Community organizations in her community.
Denise is continuing to work with communities and organizations to distribute fresh grown produce as her and her husband John have done for over 30 years.
Denise has a passion for her community and the youth. A passionate Certified trainer Jr Master Gardener Program, 4-H Leader, Nutrition Trauma and a trained Farmers Market Master. She uses her knowledge and resources to educate, empower, and improve the lives of those around her.
Farm Manager
DeAnthony Jamerson- Nov 2021 graduate- Agriculture Business BS at TSU (Tennessee State Univ). He is the inspiration behind LTOTG and has managed the farming and gardening sites in Indianapolis, Princeton and Evansville IN since 2016.
DeAnthony has an associate degree in Business from Wabash Community College and has farming experience of 15 years.
20 years ago, we created Lyle Station Historic Preservation Corp. a Non-for-profit to preserve the History of the last remaining African American Settlement in Indiana. Both Lyle Station and My Father-in-law Norman Greer, were featured in the Smithsonian African American History Museum for its history as a settlement and Farming family land owned pre-civil war.
This has brought attention to the years of providing produce to Indianapolis, Princeton and Evansville. We are working with many organizations who a now aware that Black Farmers exist and newfound interest in communities that are now designated as food deserts.
We hope to inspire new farmers and improve communities throughout Indiana and hopefully our model can be duplicated across the nation.
Organization Associations:
- Legacy’s Farming and Health group (DBA of Legacy Taste of the Garden, LLC)
- Indiana Grown
- B.I.G. (Black Independent Growers)
- National Black Farmers Association
- I.B.F. (Indiana Black Farmers)
- Freedom to Grow (Chicago)
- SOLF (Save One Life Foundation)
- Human Agriculture Cooperative
- NCOBRA
- The Field App
Lyles Station Video
https://bit.ly/black-loam-events
Legacy Taste of the Garden LLC and their farming associates across the state of Indiana are in collaboration with the CCSI and NRCS are hosting workshops starting in January 2022 in the cities of Evansville, Bloomington, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Gary.
Our committed team is dedicated to building the relationships, support and gain access to information, training, and resources available through these workshops to assist BIPOC and socially disadvantage rural and urban farmers and communities with introduction and participation of USDA programs, loans, grants and scholarships, sustainable agriculture business planning/development.
1st Thursday
Legacy’s Farming and health Zoom Meeting various topics.
Time: this is a recurring meeting every 1st Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm Eastern Time zone.
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/3400183907
Meeting ID: 340 018 3907
3rd Thursday
LegacyFHG LIFE Project Zoom Meeting Various Guest Speakers in Agriculture
Time: this is a recurring meeting every 3rd Thursday of each month featuring various Guest Speakers at 6:00 pm Eastern Time.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7713607286
Meeting ID: 771 360 7286
Legacy Farming and Health Group (DBA of Legacy Taste of the Garden, LLC)
was established in 2017 as a Disadvantaged Farmer Community based group. Our purpose is to create a network and partnership group that will assist in providing information and solutions to the issues of Disadvantaged Farmers to build a community ecosystem through the base concept of providing fresh produce to Urban food desserts. We provide Zoom video meetings every other Thursday with topics on business opportunities, Grants and assistance in growing techniques and conferences. Our 40+ members consist of Socially disadvantaged Farmers, Business owners, USDA representatives, University personnel and farming organizations as guest to give information and answer questions. Our group consist of farmers, Value added entrepreneurs, Processors, Doctor’s, Nutritionist, Market owner, Manufacturer, Chef’s, farm/gardener organizations and Family landowners (seeking what to with family land). Our geographic area ranges from Coast to Coast with members in states of California, Washington, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas.
We use social media and are going to create a website to connect the farmers with their communities and businesses with available produce, Locations and Market places.
Community partners will include local churches, schools, 4H, Purdue Master Gardeners and other USDA organizations. Farming techniques include High tunnel, naturally grown, Organic and Aquaponics practices.
Awarded 2501 Grant 2019
Peoples Foundation; Legacy Farming and Health Group; AgrAbility Purdue Extension
Our project is to Introduce and utilize Socially Disadvantaged youth, farmers and veterans with USDA Programs/grants/opportunities seeking increased participation and train them with Innovative Agriculture related farming techniques/systems. As well as build better relationships between USDA and Socially Disadvantaged farmers. We will utilize bi-monthly Zoom meetings, social media, workshops, and websites to assist in communication, networking and training.
- The primary populations/communities we serve are: Socially disadvantaged farmers, communities, youth, and all veterans.
- The project’s geographic service area is the United States and Territories of America
- Project Director: John Jamerson,
www.the-lifeproject.com
4963 w 100 N
Princeton, IN 47670
Media Links
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/indianas-small-black-farmers-struggle-to-keep-their-farms-running
https://my-indiana-home.com/farm/this-familys-agricultural-legacy-is-5-generations-strong/
https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/blackhistory-farming.aspx.