In this All Up in It conversation with Chloe Johnson – new mum, youth development professional, service industry veteran, and citizen of the world – Cameron Terry – new dad, farmer, film school grad, and community commons advocate – and their 8-week-old baby Kora, we talk about the blend of community, curiosity, and shared values that led them to collaborate on an urban farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

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About Chloe in her words:

Chloe Johnson grew up in the United Kingdom and moved to Colorado as a teenager. Growing up she got to enjoy rugged English beaches and the majestic Rocky Mountains. She later moved to Roanoke, Virginia with her partner where they started an urban farming business, Garden Variety Harvests. While in Denver she obtained a degree in Human Services with an Emphasis in high risk youth. Much of her career has been devoted to working with youth in out-of-school settings, providing academic support, enrichment activities, and most recently youth employment opportunities. She has also spent a lot of time in the service industry, waiting tables and bartending in order to get through college and supplement youth-work income. She enjoys baking, writing, live music, hiking, eating local, playing four square, and figuring out how to care for a little human as a brand new parent. 

About Cam in his words:

Cam Terry moved across the country to Roanoke, VA in 2017 with the express intent of starting an urban vegetable farm business. Armed only with some backyard gardening experience and a passion to provide sustenance, he gained most of his horticultural knowledge in books and YouTube videos. Now entering the 6th year in full-time farming, Cam is excited to expand his diversified vegetable farm, Garden Variety Harvests, by securing long-term tenure on the perfect urban farm hub location in partnership with a non-profit land trust: The SW Virginia Agrarian Commons.

Find them online at:

https://www.gardenvarietyharvests.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/GVHarvests

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3-8ydigr5VgXv-BmW_XP8g

https://www.instagram.com/gvharvests/
 

They highlighted the organization helping them and so many others overcome the financial barriers to farming, the Agrarian Trust: https://www.agrariantrust.org/fundraiser/help-the-southwest-virginia-agrarian-commons-secure-land-tenure-for-garden-variety-harvests/  

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All Up in It is a project by coach SB Rawz focused on telling stories of growth and change from the thick of learning. Learn more about SB & her projects at https://rawzcoaching.com.