Hope, Collaboration, and the Future of Community Food Systems: Reflections from the American Community Gardening Association Conference

Monica Woods • June 23, 2026

Earlier this month, staff from SJCA and GUF had the privilege of attending the American Community Gardening Association Conference, joining hundreds of gardeners, farmers, educators, nonprofit leaders, advocates, and community builders from across the country. The gathering brought together people who share a common belief: strong communities and strong local food systems are inextricably linked.

Throughout the conference, attendees exchanged ideas, shared successes and challenges, and explored innovative ways to increase food access, strengthen neighborhoods, and build healthier communities. It was energizing to be surrounded by so many people who are committed to creating positive change through community gardening, urban agriculture, and grassroots leadership.

One of the conference highlights was the keynote address by Dr. Brandon Cosby, CEO of Flanner House in Indianapolis and founder of Flanner Farms. Dr. Cosby delivered an inspiring message about the transformative power of urban agriculture and community-driven solutions. Through his leadership, Flanner House has become a model for addressing food insecurity while creating opportunities for education, workforce development, environmental stewardship, and economic empowerment.

Dr. Cosby shared how urban farming can do far more than produce fresh food. It can reconnect people to their neighborhoods, create pathways for young people to learn valuable skills, preserve cultural traditions, and foster community pride. His work demonstrates that when communities invest in local food production, they are also investing in health, resilience, and self-determination. His message resonated deeply with attendees and reinforced the importance of continuing to build sustainable food systems at the local level.

Another powerful moment came during a panel discussion featuring Chris Wyman of Potluck Food Rescue, Dr. Minnie Hatchett of Crump Garden, and other leaders working on the front lines of food justice and community development. The panel addressed critical issues facing communities throughout the United States, including food insecurity, equitable access to healthy foods, community investment, and the need for strong partnerships among organizations working toward common goals.

The conversations highlighted challenges that are familiar not only in Little Rock but in communities across the country. At the same time, the panelists shared practical solutions and examples of successful collaborations that are making a measurable difference. Their insights served as an important reminder that meaningful change happens when organizations, residents, and institutions work together.

The conference also featured dozens of educational sessions and presentations. While it was impossible to attend them all, we were fortunate to learn from several outstanding presenters. Sylvia Blain, CEO of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, shared valuable perspectives on addressing hunger and expanding food access throughout Arkansas. We also enjoyed hearing from Campus Cultivators at Philander Smith University, whose work demonstrates how higher education institutions can play an important role in community engagement, sustainability, and food justice.

One particularly memorable experience was meeting Kendall Rae Johnson, the youngest certified farmer in the United States and a USDA Youth Ambassador. Kendall's passion, knowledge, and dedication to agriculture serve as a powerful reminder that the future of food systems is already being shaped by the next generation of leaders. Her accomplishments and enthusiasm inspired everyone who had the opportunity to meet her.

As SJCA is on the cusp of big changes, the timing of attending this conference was meaningful and it further increased motivation for the work ahead. The ACGA Conference showcased countless examples of communities coming together to solve problems, create opportunities, and strengthen local food systems. More importantly, it demonstrated that there is a growing movement of people committed to ensuring that everyone has access to healthy food, green spaces, and thriving neighborhoods.

The conference left us with a profound sense of hope. The challenges facing our food systems are real, but so are the solutions. When communities invest in one another, support local growers, and build strong partnerships, meaningful change becomes possible.

We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from so many dedicated leaders and look forward to infusing these ideas into our work in Central Arkansas. Together, we can continue building a more equitable, resilient, and community-centered food system for future generations.

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Summary of the Summer Wrap Up and Fall Gardening Presentation

By Travis DeLongchamp • July 24, 2026

Missed out on our July Growing Urban Farmers Workshop? Don't fret! Here, I address the main topics covered that are particularly relevant this time of year: the heart of summer and preparing the vegetable garden for autumn. These are the key points to remember: The peak of summer is a period of intense heat and sporadic rain. From July to the end of August, rainfall is at its lowest. Therefore, it's essential to water your vegetable garden regularly. Use a drip irrigation system to water your garden without creating an environment conducive to disease. Avoid sprinkler irrigation for this reason and only water early in the morning. Early morning watering allows the water to soak into the soil with minimal evaporation, and then when the sun rises, it will quickly evaporate moisture on foliage to reduce chances of fungal disease. Mulching can help hold moisture in the soil, reducing the amount or the frequency of watering. It can also help regulate soil temperatures. Several plant disorders can be caused by intense heat and sunlight. One might think these disorders are caused by disease, but that's often not the case. You might see dead or dropped flowers, misshapen fruit, or fruit that never ripens. That's often just the heat, not a disease. We can take advantage of the extreme heat and sun to solarize the garden in preparation for autumn planting. By using a clear plastic sheet, we can literally cook the weeds and kill many weed seeds in the top layer of soil. If you have a way to support shade cloth, it can be very beneficial to reducing the temperatures. You can lay it over plastic on greenhouses and high tunnels to help reduce indoor temperatures, but ideally you want airflow through the shade cloth to improve cooling. Shade cloth usually comes in percentages of shade, with higher percentages being shadier. For most vegetables 40-60% shade works well, is often used, and doesn’t reduce the sunlight too much. Start getting ready for fall planting in the peak of summer. When it’s too hot to work outside, start prepping for fall planting. For a list of fall planting dates, you can use this link from Arkansas Cooperative Extension: Fall Planting Dates . Despite what they suggest, for most crops that prefer cooler weather I generally plant around September 15, since by that point we’re past “peak heat” and can worry less about the issues discussed above. There is also the Year Round Home Garden Planting Chart , also from Arkansas Extension, which gives planting suggestions by month for the whole year. Keep in mind that if you’re planning to start transplants from seeds, you’ll need to factor in the time they’re in pots. So if you want to plant cabbage on Sept 15, you will want to give 4-6 weeks in the pots, meaning sowing them on Aug 1-15. Often, seed packets or seed websites will advise you on how many weeks before planting out you’ll need to start your seeds. Don’t forget about crop rotation, and try to alternate between different plant families. If you’re not familiar with what family a specific plant is in, doing a web search is probably the quickest way to find out. One thing people often miss with crop rotation is that, ideally, you want to rotate the crops far away. Just moving them a row or two over doesn’t protect them nearly as much, since pathogens and pests can easily spread over such short distances. Even in September temperatures can be high and rainfall low, so it’s a good idea to think ahead how you will keep your seeds and transplants from drying out. Early on, drip irrigation may not be enough, so you may want to temporarily hand water (for small plots and gardens) or set up a sprinkler until their roots get established. Remember to harden off your transplants before planting them out. If you started them in a protected and relatively cool area, then the sudden shock of 90+ temperatures and intense sun can damage or outright kill them. Slowly move them into the sun by first keeping them out of direct sunlight and then gradually, over a week or so, move them into full sun. Plan out your fall cover crops. Consider your objectives with them, meaning do you want them to suppress weeds, add nitrogen, reduce soil compaction, etc. Use a mixture of cover crops, such as wheat and crimson clover, to accomplish multiple goals. Don’t forget to plan out when you’re going to terminate your cover crop, and how, or you could end up delaying spring planting because there’s too much undecomposed organic matter in your soil. Plan to protect your fall crop through cold weather. Although Arkansas winters are relatively mild and most fall crops are surprisingly hardy, it’s still possible to suffer some losses and damage to crops because of cold weather. In Central Arkansas, the first frost can arrive as early as October, but usually is in November. So, it’s a good idea to have your frost protection in hand by mid October, just in case there’s an early cold snap. Mulching can help significantly in the winter by insulating the soil and protecting the base and root zones of plants. I personally like to use straw when available, but just about any organic material will work. Keep in mind that if you till it in at the start of spring, it will tie up nitrogen in the soil until it has decomposed, so if possible, it may be better to remove and compost it separately. Constructing low tunnels over your rows and covering them with frost cloth or clear plastic can greatly protect your crops. Despite that, there are some considerations: Don’t let the fabric or plastic touch the plants, or those spots will likely suffer freezing damage. Don’t keep crops covered when temperatures are fine, since frost cloth also shades crops and clear plastic can get surprisingly hot on a sunny day (even if the air temperature is cool). If it snows or there’s freezing rain, the tunnels will often collapse if not supported somehow, crushing the plants. If the snowstorm is predicted to be heavy enough to cover the plants, I’ll opt to remove the cover, since the snow will blanket the plants and provide insulation without crushing them. Ice is problematic either way. Wind can also be a problem with low tunnel covers. I like to lace the tops with paracord or some other kind of strong twine. At each hoop, I connect the string and “lace” it like a shoe over the top of the frost cloth/plastic. This helps prevent the cover from flying off in the wind. Sandbags or other weights can be helpful as well. Hopefully this was helpful and those who attended the presentation enjoyed it and learned some things as well. Often there are discussions that happen during the presentation that can give useful and interesting ideas, anecdotes, and insights, and I try to include them in these summaries when I can remember them. Take care of yourselves in this particularly hot time of year and don’t forget to drink lots of water! Fall will be here soon enough.