Read more about the Congress for the New Urbanism at www.cnu.org, and the CNU Carolinas Chapter at www.cnucarolinas.org

CNU Carolinas Chapter is proud to present Farmer Daron “D” Joffe on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. He will be speaking at the Technical College of the Lowcountry’s Main Auditorium at 6:00pm.

Farmer D is a nationally known expert on sustainable farming, agricultural-based preservation and food-centered community building. This will be a great event for Beaufort, especially for those interested in integrating local food and farming into all aspects of life – from the larger region and community, to the dinner table.

Daron Joffe is not what most people envision when they think of farmers. Joffe is a 30-something eco-entrepreneur who lives to make a difference in the world by utilizing biodynamic methodologies in his farming practices.. The South African native has an impressive production history and is a maverick within the organic farming movement. Actress Jennifer Garner thinks his turnips “rock” and billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson hired him to develop an organic farm and ‘farm to table’ experience at his exclusive New Jersey spa,“Natirar”. Known as “Farmer D”, Joffe was the founding farmer for Serenbe Farms, in Palmetto Georgia, where he created a 25-acre biodynamic farm that supplies the community with fresh produce.

On a ‘town-by-town mission to re-energize the food culture’, Farmer D has created sustainable properties such as Hampton Island Preserve, where he directed Harvest Lake Farm, a CSA farm providing organic produce, herbs and flowers to the island’s chef, members and residents; Longleaf Preserve, an organic community surrounded by a 48,000 acre preserve in Florida and many others. Farmer D also develops Edible Learning Gardens for Ted Turner’s Captain Planet Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, Camp Twin Lakes and many other school and community gardens around the country.

Farmer D’s commitment to integrating organic farming with nature conservation, or ‘biodynamic farming’, has been increasing in national attention. Early in his career, Farmer D was selected as Biodynamic Rookie Farmer of the Year; shortly thereafter, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles selected him in the top 20 under 40, and Georgia Trend in the top 40 under 40. He was recently awarded the Pillars of EARTH Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit. Whole Foods is one of Farmer D’s biggest fans, partnering with him to develop the Farmer D Organics Signature Biodynamic Blend Organic Compost only available at Whole Foods.

PBS produced “Growing a Greener World” featuring Farmer D, Mother Nature Network developed a series of vignettes with Farmer D; and, he was called ‘no ordinary farmer’ by Rozonda “Chilli”Thomas in VH1’s Reality Show, What Chilli Wants.

Farmer D has been covered in publications such as: Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, LA Times, NY Times, Southern Living, as well as featured on The Weather Channel, CNN, and TEDx.

Please come join us on July 20th at 6:00pm for this engaging talk and discussion about being a sustainable community with local agriculture at the core. Beaufort has a rich agricultural heritage. Help it to grow into the 21st century.

This lecture is part of a quarterly series hosted by the Congress for the New Urbanism, Carolina’s Chapter. The series is financially supported by the CNU Carolina’s, the City of Beaufort, Brown Design Studio, the Beaufort Tribune and the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League.  Additional support for Farmer D is has also been provided by Lowcountry Real Estate and Moser Design Group.  Our Fourth Quarter speaker will be Christopher Leinberger, a fellow at the Brooking’s Institute, as well as a a land use strategist, teacher, developer, researcher and author, who balances business realities with social and environmental issues. He will be here in September, with the exact date and location still to be determined.

Read more about Farmer D and shop organics online at www.farmerd.com, or follow him at twitter.com/farmer_d and www.diginwithfarmerd.blogspot.com