by Stephanie Campbell, CFSA Outreach Coordinator | Dec. 16, 2016 — 
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“When I learned that I had a serious health condition, I began to learn of the correlation between nutrition and disease. I was astounded to learn that there is a link between the food we eat and 80% of diseases!”

This is one of the most frequent answers that we receive at CFSA when we ask why folks buy organic and why they buy from a farmer they can trust.

“The ability to heal through diet and natural supplementation resonated with me and spurred a change that has redefined my path and purpose.”

For Dylan Alexander, his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis over a decade ago led him to grow food, first his own and later for others on his farm.

The medications Alexander was prescribed only seemed to make him feel worse. He began to learn more about the link between his diet and his health. “The ability to heal through diet and natural supplementation resonated with me and spurred a change that has redefined my path and purpose. Alexander Acres was created as a way to share this knowledge, with the benefits of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables.”

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An aspiring farmer, Alexander learned of and was accepted into the CFSA Lomax Farmer-in-Training (FiT) program in 2014. This gave him access to land and equipment, mentoring, classroom instruction on the business of farming, and hands-on farm experience in organic practices and certification. Along with gaining skills, he is developing and managing his own agricultural business start-up.

“We all have to eat, so we need people growing our food.”

On the cusp of beginning his third year in the program, Alexander and his wife, Kelly, have moved to Concord from Charlotte and are preparing to farm on land of their own in the next couple of years.

At Lomax, Alexander has been developing some niche products to provide diversity and marketing opportunities in addition to growing the farmers’ market favorites. He grows microgreens at his home for the restaurant market and mushrooms on logs in the woods at Lomax. He’s become known for his skill at producing exceptional organic transplants, which are valued by other farmers and home gardeners. Alexander’s wife is a graphic designer and, in addition to handling the website and social media for the farm, does canning and sauce-making which may lead to some value-added products eventually.

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The Alexanders love sharing good food with their family, friends, and their growing number of customers. The bottom line for these two is that they are committed to growing good, clean, healthy food and they want people to know what good, clean, healthy food can do for their lives.

“People (first) notice the incredible difference in the taste of fresh, organic food,” he shares, “and then they begin to learn of the health benefits too.”

“The FiT program at Lomax made it possible for me to go from a home gardener to a farmer.”

“The FiT program at Lomax made it possible for me to go from a home gardener to a farmer,” said Dylan. “I would have stumbled around trying to figure things out on my own and probably failed. At Lomax I have learned the skills I need, established a viable farm business and customer base, and have a network of resources and people to continue to help me succeed.”

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The average age of American farmers is 58 and increasing. Less than 2% of the population in our country now farms. Lomax is one way CFSA is working to develop new, younger farmers in the Carolinas. As Dylan points out, “We all have to eat, so we need people growing our food.”

Young farmers like the Alexanders can’t do it without you.

Your gift today will provide the training and support another new FiT at Lomax needs to succeed and provide us ALL with the food we need in the Carolinas.

Please consider giving.

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