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Chattahoochee Hills Conservancy reintroduces local farmland-preservation plan, seeks grant for city agriculture plan
Summary
The Chattahoochee Hills Country Conservancy outlined plans to protect prime farmland, support farmers, and pursue a FoodWell Alliance grant to build a city agriculture plan; the group also proposed a shared commercial kitchen and agritourism efforts.
Lily Baucham, chief operating officer of the Chattahoochee Hills Country Conservancy, told the City Council the nonprofit has redrafted its mission and is pressing to protect remaining farmland in Fulton County while expanding farmer support and agritourism.
"Our mission is clear, and we want to protect and activate the natural, cultural, and agricultural resources of Chattahoochee Hills, ensuring that growth and preservation move forward hand in hand," Baucham said as she described a recent local food-system audit and plans to apply this fall for a FoodWell Alliance City Agriculture Planning grant to build a city agricultural plan.
Baucham said the Conservancy’s CARET (Community and Agricultural Resilience Audit Tool) assessment identified gaps in farmland preservation, food access, and permitting. She said the Conservancy has partnered with organizations including the Conservation Fund, Emory Law, and UGA Extension, and cited three local farm purchases by the Conservation Fund as examples of successful land stewardship and next-generation farmer placement.
On practical supports for farmers, Baucham said the Conservancy has proposed a shared commercial kitchen and cannery to allow producers to scale products that fall outside cottage-food rules, and she pledged a fall community meeting for landowners to learn about conservation options. "We are trying to be a bridge between landowners, the city, and community stakeholders," she said.
Council members and staff welcomed the plan and asked follow-up questions about the kitchen. Baucham said the Conservancy has discussed options with the state Department of Public Health and the Department of Agriculture and is exploring retrofitting an existing space or ordering modular commercial kitchen units.
The Conservancy also plans agritourism signage, an ag-and-art tour, and a community photo contest to both promote local farms and support food-access programs funded through local partnerships.
