Meet our partners
IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
LOCAL BUSINESSES INCUBATOR
Eartha's Farm & Market believes in economic empowerment for small business owners committed to sustainable agriculture and community resiliency. Through equitable partnerships we provide space, time, and/or mentorship for farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs working in the early stages of their business development. At Eartha's Farm & Market, small businesses have an opportunity to network with a close-knit community of agriculturalists, environmental stewards, and community leaders while growing their businesses.
The Herban Bee
Mika Hardison-Carr
In 2020 she began the Community Apiary at Eartha's Farm & Market with funding from SARE Education Grant. This project addresses the social and economic barriers to beekeeping in Jacksonville and gives minorities hands-on experience in beekeeping. Mika is also the organizer of the community garden at Eartha's Farm & Market intended to increase food security in Historic Moncreif Springs by teaching community members how to grow their own food. The Herban Bee specializes in raw artisanal honey and honey based products such as herbal honey infusions, soaps, and candles. The Herban Bee focuses on integrating beekeeping in urban neighborhoods and exposing disadvantaged communities to agriculture. She practices her craft in urban areas where access to land can often be a challenge. Mika is an educator, an advocate for bee conservation and a champion in the Black Ag movement. Mika has continued her beekeeping education at the University of Florida’s Bee College and is a member of both the Jacksonville and Nassau county Beekeeping Associations.
Eartha's Farm & Market and The Herban Bee are giving people who have historically been left out of the agriculture industry an opportunity to join the sustainable farming movement.
With funding from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant we are collaborating with BIPOC, and women passionate about beekeeping and urban farming.
Soil Life Organics
Allen Skinner
Allen graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and practiced for over 20 years before becoming interested in soil biology. He started Soil Life Organics, a local company that completes soil biology, structure and mineral assessments then assists in implementing programs to optimize soil performance. In 2022 Allen was named a Soil Health Champion by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)! Only the second Soil Health Champion in Florida and the first to be recognized in Duval County, Skinner joins approximately 300 members who practice positive soil health management and will help conduct outreach in their communities to improve soil health.
In 2022 Allen received the Service to Agriculture Award for Duval County at the Farm City luncheon for his work promoting the use of soil biology in agriculture and landscaping. He recently completed a study at Eartha's Farm & Market, formerly White Harvest Farms, under a NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant. The study analyzed different farming methods using soil biology to reduce chemical inputs over the course of 3 years
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