What is the Backyard Farm Collective?
The Backyard Farm Collective is a nonprofit organization with the mission to improve food security for the local population. How this mission will be accomplished is in the name. A collective of farmers and gardeners, both big and small, coming together to grow food. Founder Christopher Lamberson envisions people coming together at spaces like the Monrovia Community Garden, the Backyard Farm Collective HQ, and other community spaces to learn, work, and collaborate on gardening.
Christopher is a passionate citizen who grew up in Mooresville, Indiana, works within his family's Monrovia business, Aquatic Designs, and has a relentless fire toward doing good for the communities he is a part of. He recognizes that there is limited access to fresh, healthy produce in the local area for some people. He believes the solution to this is to empower people to grow food for themselves. And if they come upon an abundance of harvest, there are the resources to distribute that food. By partnering with food banks and pantries, Backyard Farm Collective will bridge the gap between food producers and the hungry.
The Backyard Farm Collective will grow produce, will help others do the same, and we will work to have fresh, healthy food available for all. This produce will be distributed according to our 1/3's model:
- 1/3rd sold at market price
- 1/3rd sold at discounted price for those who qualify (SNAP, WIC, etc.)
- 1/3rd donated to food pantries and food rescue missions
This model aims to allow for the Backyard Farm Collective to best serve everyone in the community for years to come.
We partner with organizations that help us fulfill this mission. Organizations like the Purdue Extension Master Gardeners provide us with volunteers that teach how to grow and maintain gardens. Others like Farm House Brew, a local coffee shop, will host workshops that teach how to use the grown food to create healthy recipes. Second Helpings and Churches in Mission are outlets for our food to be distributed to those in need of meals.
Food is one of our passions, but we also love the arts and know how important they are in uniting a community in a positive way. We are kicking off our 2025 season with an event called Support Local Fest that brings together local farmers, artists, musicians, and food vendors. We are excited on May 10th to showcase the talent that exists in our community!
This mission is a big job, and we seek to recruit volunteers, partners, and sponsors to make this mission a success. You can help us! Our contact form is here and open to hear how you'd like to contribute!
