Farmer Jay  About Farmer Jay

Overlooking my farm, no farm grows like this in my area.

Farmer Jay was a Green String Institute intern in 2009 and has since given south Florida a resource and movement surrounding food.  Jay runs his own farm, and created a program called Jr. Sprouts, which teaches children where food comes from; he also builds gardens for restaurants and homes all over the Boca Raton area.  Jay is outspoken about encouraging folks to #growsomething and develop local food systems.  Thank you Jay for all the work that you do! We asked Jay to reflect on his time as an intern and how he's applied Green String methods in Florida.

 Two plants, one for nature and one for humanity.

 Inside my shade house.

 Up close interaction with chickens in one of my classes. 

What brought you to Green String Institute? I met Bob through an interview I was doing at Chez Pannisse summer 2008, I was set up to meet him at Fred's (Fred Cline) house in Sonoma. There he changed my life and I had to learn more and I went back summer 2009 for the internship.

When you think back how was your experience at GSF? I was romanced and fell in love with that farm.

What was the most challenging part of the program for you? I ripped my shoulder and couldn't raise my arm two weeks into the program, but I worked through and overcame. 

What is your most memorable moment you shared with your intern group? The water at Home Farm. 

Have you kept in touch with your fellow interns? If so, how has that helped you. Through social media. 

How often do you use what you learned at Green String? Everyday on my own farm. I closely follow what I learned from Bob. 

How did the internship change your lifestyle? The internship gave me a new look and respect for nature. 

What has been the greatest challenge you've faced in your farming career since you left Green String? Finding land.

Knowing what you know now from your experiences, is there anything you wish you had done differently or paid more attention to during your internship? I made the best of my experience and the only thing I wish is I could do it again. 

What aspects of natural process farming have you had the hardest time practicing since the internship? I learned to trust nature and I guess the hardest part is understanding weather and dealing with the extremes. 

How did the natural process methods you studied at Green String translate to your climate/region/soil type? I have a tropical climate with very sandy soils and is totally opposite from the environment at GSF, but through what Bob taught me I learned that every bit of good you put into the garden nature gives back tenfold. Positive + Positive = Positive, now my motto

What is your favorite thing to grow? Anything edible, I love them all.

 Boca Raton Restaurant, I built a garden for the chefs. School garden I built and the kids who helped me plant it.

Tedx Boca Raton spreading the word thanks to the fire Bob lit in me.

Listen to Jays Tedx here