By Kimball Cartwright and Kae Vargas
During a recent meeting with Robert Peck, who calls himself the “Hood Farmer,” we had the opportunity to learn about his remarkable journey into farming.
Imagine you have just arrived in Memphis, TN from Bridgeport, CT, and you are told that the next year of your life will be dedicated to leading a team of enthusiastic young individuals in constructing raised garden beds at a senior center. After that, you’ll be taking your carpentry and gardening expertise to Tallahassee, FL to maintain an urban farm. The project brings a genuine smile to your face.
If you can envision such a scenario, then you have a glimpse into Robert Peck’s life in 2015.
Robert’s success story with CT FarmLink traces back to his role as an AmeriCorps volunteer supervisor in Memphis. Since then, he has held positions at Green Village Initiative in Bridgeport and Gotham Greens in New York City, among others, consistently honing his farming skills and refining his vision for a career as a farmer.
In 2023, Robert is fully immersed in his mission, dedicating a substantial portion of his time to educating communities in Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport about agriculture. He skillfully balances these educational activities with the responsibility of farming an acre of land he recently leased in Wilton, CT. Skip to the end of this article for the details on his next public appearance on Nov. 11th.
According to Kae Vargas, CFT’s Farmland Access Coordinator, it is common for new farmers to lead busy lives with multiple jobs, and CT FarmLink, along with its network of partners, is designed to provide new farmers with the necessary support to navigate the complexities of securing farmland.
Robert was able to use most of the services CT FarmLink offers to launch his farming venture in Wilton. At a networking event organized by CFT, UConn Extension, Land for Good, and other FarmLink partners in 2022, Robert connected with a farmland owner who sought an organic farmer. It was a perfect match. However, the journey was far from over.
Robert elaborated: “Kip Kolesinskas, CT FarmLink’s consulting soil scientist, conducted a land assessment to determine what I could grow in those soils. Then, I collaborated with Will O’Meara from Land for Good to draft a lease. Finally, I sought legal services from the Legal Food Hub, a project of the Conservation Law Foundation, to address lease-related matters, and I was able to sign the lease in May.”
Robert’s vision is to establish a track record of production and sales on his Wilton acre, enabling him to access both public and private financing for future farming expansion. He intends to grow crops that resonate with the local community, including onions, cabbage, collards, callaloo, garlic, squashes, beans, and cut flowers.
For Robert, farming isn’t just about achieving self-sustainability. He envisions locally produced food to address the issue of “food apartheid” – the profound racial and economic disparities in access to quality food and nutrition. Reflecting on his experiences in Memphis and Tallahassee, where he noticed similarities to his hometown of Bridgeport, Robert’s sense of purpose has grown: “I want to build bridges between the local community and farms.”
Kae reports that there are currently hundreds of young and aspiring farmers like Robert in Connecticut who are actively searching for farmland through the CT FarmLink program. The program is funded with lead financial support from the State of Connecticut and generous contributions from CFT donors. Coordinating the work of many supportive organizations, CT FarmLink helps ensure these beginning farmers will shape the future of agriculture in Connecticut.
Kae Vargas also emphasizes the importance of supporting new farmers like Robert, stating, “There is a new generation of farmers who want to be tomorrow’s stewards of farmland, but they need land to work. I go to work every day inspired by people like Robert, knowing that my efforts today in making farm matches contribute to a brighter future for farmers, farming, and our communities throughout Connecticut that benefit from access to farm produce.”
Robert’s journey from Memphis to Bridgeport and beyond is a testament to the resilience and determination of young farmers. His dedication to sustainable agriculture and bridging communities exemplifies the future of farming in the state and how Connecticut FarmLink plays a vital role in assisting these farmers in their journey to find land and resources to start their farm operations.
If you want to learn more about Robert’s work, you can follow him on his personal Instagram @hoodfarmerrob and business Instagram @hempmilkhoney. Or attend his Mushroom educational workshop at Common Ground’s Farm and Garden Conference in New Haven on November 11th. Hurry and register, space is limited.