In the Atlantic and Cape May Counties of New Jersey, the Cape Atlantic Conservation District (CD) is using NACD Outreach and Technical Assistance (TA) Grant funding to build capacity and better support producers in their community. In the most densely populated state in the country, conservation support may look a little different here.

In densely populated counties like those that the Cape Atlantic CD serves, small-scale, urban, and beginning farmers are at the center of conservation work. As Cape Atlantic CD Agriculture Conservation Specialist, Riley Blankenship explains, “The [TA] grant has definitely helped us increase our outreach to new and underserved producers. We’ve been able to work a lot with new beginning farmers because of the technical assistance aspect.”

For first-time farmers like Melanie and Stan Ganzman of Fluffy Farms, a little more support is needed as they learn to run their operation. The Cape Atlantic CD has been able to provide planning and technical assistance as the Ganzmans continue to learn about farming and conservation practices. The district has also been integral in helping Fluffy Farms apply for a series of NRCS grants. According to Melanie Ganzman, “The language [in conservation programs] can be a barrier for first generation farmers. Riley does a great job of explaining it in a way that you can understand and helps you navigate.”

For quite a few years, Cape Atlantic CD has leveraged NACD Outreach and TA grant funding to hire additional staff and increase the capacity of their district. “The grant really became the … funding base for us to expand our capacity,” explains Joseph Lomax, Vice-Chair of the Cape Atlantic CD. “Capacity building is so important when you’re trying to develop … a true responsiveness for your conservation programs for your constituents, [and] also to be able to build a staff and … a district that has the full capacity to meet its expectations.”

The district’s main goal is to continue building trust and relationships with producers to increase the quantity and quality of conservation practices in their counties’ small but mighty farming acreage. “Something that we’re looking forward to in the future is to be able to work closely with farmers over multiple years,” says Blankenship. “So, we might start with a producer that is new to the district and do something simple … but then to be able to build that relationship … to keep upping the level of conservation we’re able to do on the ground.”

Through strategic capacity and staff building done by Cape Atlantic CD, the NACD Outreach and TA grant funding that they have received will continue to benefit small-scale and beginning farmers in Southern New Jersey. The personalized approach that staff are able to provide allows for long-term conservation practices and producers who are dedicated to continuing them.

If you would like to learn more about the Cape Atlantic CD’s work with NACD Outreach and TA grants and Fluffy Farms, please watch this video about their work produced by NACD.