New AAMU, Madison County Community Farm Gets its Name

Alabama A&M University’s new community farm partnership with the Madison County Commission now has a name. The People’s Patch, located on Meridian Street, provides a unique opportunity for AAMU faculty, students, and community members to address food insecurity while strengthening research and local food systems in Madison County.

Earlier this year, Alabama A&M and the Madison County Commission signed a five-year agreement to establish the farm near the AAMU campus to allow for expanded operations to meet increasing needs. Community involvement and engagement with the farm has been overwhelmingly positive. 

Madison County Commissioner for District 6 Violet Edwards says the project has two-fold benefit to the area. 

“Students are coming together to look at irrigation and weed mitigation and learning how to work the land as we teach young people where food comes from, says Edwards. “For the community, it means free produce. It means they can go out and get greens and cucumbers and melons whether they have the money or not.”

According to Hunger Free America, food insecurity in Alabama grew to over 44 percent between 2021 and 2023. This means that nearly 500,000 Alabamians, including children and older adults, experience hunger, and at least 12 percent of residents experience hunger on a regular basis. Initiatives like the Madison County community farm will help to change those odds in Alabama.

For inquiries regarding this initiative, please contact Jason Andra, District 6 harvest manager at (256) 532-1505 or jandra@madisoncountyal.gov. or Dr. Dweik at (256) 372-7010 or majed.dweik@aamu.edu.