Ruby Noland recently graduated from the University of Florida, where she studied Horticultural Sciences with a specialization in Organic Horticultural Systems. She is now a full-time organic farmer at Stoke Barn, a 1.25-acre farm-to-table restaurant in Gainesville, FL, that donates extra produce to community members who are experiencing food-insecurity. Noland also partners with local K-12 schools so kids can experience hands-on organic farming.
Last summer, Noland managed a one-acre polyculture farm in Gainesville, FL, where she grew over 20 crops using agroecological and permaculture principles. Over the course of one summer, she generated an impressive yield of around 500 pounds of produce and over 1,500 cut flower stems.
Noland has performed many farm jobs, including overseeing cultivar selection, USDA Organic compliance, intercropping, soil fertility, IPM, and irrigation. For her senior project, she organized an agri-tourism event to “help create lasting positive experiences in nature that help encourage my event attendees to care about where their food comes from.”
“I chose my degree to gain the scientific foundation needed to understand and implement innovations in agricultural systems,” Noland says. “I want to design regenerative farming systems that balance productivity with environmental and social sustainability, while still meeting human food supply requirements. Eventually, I want to make the adoption of organic principles more accessible at scale.”
Noland is active in her community. She has interned with the Harn Museum of Art garden department, conducted and presented research on consumer perceptions of organic agriculture, and analyzed sustainable crop traits in Hawai‘i. She served as Vice President of the University of Florida’s Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Club, as well as helping to coordinate the university’s annual Farm Festival. After graduating, she plans to work in small-scale organic farm design to support other farmers in prioritizing practical organic systems, as well as hosting monthly community outreach days from her own organic farm. “Long term,” she says, “I hope to help reshape agricultural systems with scalable incentivization of organic practices, which help create more resilient food systems that benefit people and the planet.”
Noland is interested in economic incentives that can support sustainable agriculture. “I’m especially eager to continue exploring how consumer attitudes influence markets, preparing me to help connect the dots between public perception, farmer decision-making, and policy development,” she says. “I have a sense of duty to improving our agricultural systems, and an investment in organics for the long haul. I may be graduating soon, but I’ve worked hard to fully fund my little farm and capstone project out of pocket, and my commitment will not be wavering anytime soon.”
Los envases de la Fundación CCOF is proud to support producers like Ruby Noland with the Future Organic Farmers grant, which gives $5,000 scholarships to college and vocational students training for careers in organic agriculture.
Si desea contribuir al éxito de Futuros agricultores orgánicos grantees like Ruby Noland, please contact the CCOF Foundation’s Donor Relations Manager Shawna Rodgers, srodgers@ccof.org para saber más.
