Growing Right: Ecological Farming in Ohio, 1970s-Now

The Growing Right Project was a 2016-2017 oral history and public history project created by Ohio documentary artist and oral historian Jess Lamar Reece Holler in collaboration with the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA).

The project goal was to document and amplify the history of the organic farming movement in Ohio. In doing so, the Growing Right Project brought together methods from oral history, folklife documentation, and documentary arts to chart the life and movement histories of the farmers, growers, groceries, and food systems advocates who have helped to build an ecological food and farm system in Ohio.

The completed videos will be shared here gradually over time.

Please note that this content was captured between 2016-2017. The dialogue reflects the views of the interview subject only and do not necessarily represent the views of OEFFA.

Growing Right: Ecological Farming in Ohio, 1970s - Now

Introduction

Starting in Summer 2016, researchers traveled around the state interviewing ecological farmers, backyard growers, teachers, co-ops movement activists, greengrocers, everyday eaters and more, to hear the stories of Ohio’s grassroots ecological food and farm movement. They asked: what brought you to this work? What inspired you? How did this movement get started? What challenges — and opportunities — lie ahead, in these increasingly uncertain ecological times?

Growing Right: Ecological Farming in Ohio, 1970’s-Now is a dynamic public environmental humanities project aiming to spur conversation about the history, present and futures of ecological agriculture in Ohio through oral history interviews and folkloristic fieldwork with the Ohioans who made it happen.

Daryl, Diane, and Dennis Moyer—Moyer Brothers Farm [Seneca Co.]

Full-length Growing Right Project oral history interview with early ecological grain farmers and home gardeners Daryl, Diane, and brother Dennis Moyer of Moyer Brothers Farm near Tiffin, Ohio, in Seneca County. The Moyers describe their family’s journey into ecological agriculture and the establishment of their organic family grain operation. They also discuss their own beliefs about the health, environmental, and stewardship implications of the choice to farm organically. They close in reflection of their life’s work as an outgrowth of their faith.

Interview conducted by Jess Lamar Reece Holler in 2016, in Seneca County, Ohio.

Anne and John Hohmann—Clearview Farm [Licking Co.]

Full-length Growing Right Project oral history interview with early ecological farmers, farmland conservators, and environmental advocates Anne and John Hohmann, of Clearview Farm near Pataskala, Ohio. In addition to their launch of Clearview Farm in the 1970s, Anne Hohmann led a successful career as a journalist, and John Hohmann served as an anesthesiologist, and taught on the faculty of the medical school at The Ohio State University.

Interview conducted by Jess Lamar Reece Holler on June 17 and July 24, 2016, in Licking County, Ohio.

Please note: The final 20 minutes of the Hohmann interview file suffered a data corruption; and sound did not transfer to the .WAV file. As such, the final minutes of the interview have been stitched together. The missing portion of the interview concerned John’s thoughts on the future of organics and, in particular, the influence of chemical corporations on farming standards, from his perspective as a medical practitioner.

Mick Luber—Bluebird Farm [Harrison Co.]

Full-length Growing Right Project oral history interview with ecological agriculture pioneer Mick Luber, of Bluebird Farm in Cadiz, Ohio.

Interview conducted by Jess Lamar Reece Holler on June 3, 2016, in Harrison County, Ohio.

Please note: This interview contains strong language.

Becky Rondy—Green Edge Gardens [Athens Co.]

Full-length Growing Right Project oral history interview with early ecological market gardener Becky Rondy, of Green Edge Gardens near Amesville, Ohio, in Athens County. In this first interview, Becky details her early life and journey into the ecological food and farm movement, through health crises, a foray into the landscape business, and the decision to farm at what’s become Green Edge Gardens—an Athens County institution, renowned for its organic produce, year-round season extension through high tunnels, and robust on-farm apprenticeship program.

Interview conducted by Jess Lamar Reece Holler in 2016, in Athens County, Ohio.

David Bell—Paul Bell & Sons Farm [Logan Co.]

Full-length Growing Right Project oral history interview with early ecological grain and livestock farmer David Bell, of Paul Bell & Sons Farm near Bellefontaine, Ohio. Paul Bell & Sons is one of western Ohio’s leading organic grain farms.

Interview conducted by Jess Lamar Reece Holler on July 26, 2016, in Logan County, Ohio.

Ed Snavely—Curly Tail Organic Farm [Knox Co.]

Full-length Growing Right Project oral history interview with early ecological grain and hog farmer Ed Snavely, of Curly Tail Organic Farm just north of Fredericktown, Ohio, in Knox County. Ed helped his father convert their grain operation to a chemical system due to teaching he’d encountered in school; but a surprise encounter with an organic product at a dinner party convinced him that there was another way. Ed eventually succeeded in converting Curly Tail to a “whole hog” certified organic farm; and became a leader and ambassador in the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s Grain Growers chapter.

Interview conducted by Jess Lamar Reece Holler on May 29, 2016, in Knox County, Ohio.

Rich Tomsu—Rich Gardens Farm [Athens Co.]

Full-length Growing Right Project oral history interview with early ecological farmer Rich Tomsu, of Rich Gardens Farm near Shade, Ohio, in Athens County. Rich’s ecologically-farmed market garden was a key player in the rise of a grassroots ecological food and farm movement in and around Athens, Ohio; and Rich Gardens continues to supply leading Athens County locally-sourced restaurants like Casa Nueva.

Interview conducted by Jess Lamar Reece Holler on June 16, 2016, in Athens County, Ohio.

(c) Jess Lamar Reece Holler & Project Narrators, 2016+ for The Growing Right Oral History Project: Ecological Farming in Ohio, 1970’s-Now — a 2016-2017 oral history & public history project produced in collaboration with the Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association, documenting & amplifying the history of the organic farming movement in Ohio. All rights reserved. For non-commercial, personal use only. Not to be included in university research projects. Attributed required. No derivative works.