The Farmplate Blog

NAME: Severine von Tscharner Fleming

FARM: Smithereen Farm

AGE: 30

Farmer and activist Severine von Tscharner Fleming is one of the co-editors of Greenhorns: 50 Dispatches from the New Farmers' Movement. She is also the founder of the Greenhorns, a sister organization to the National Young Farmers Coalition, and an organizer of Farmhack.  

Can you provide some brief background information about your farm? In your opinion, what makes it special or unique?

Smithereen Farm is a little farm llc that I can carry with me until I have a farm of my own. It is the legal structure and equipment that I can use to run animal operations and herb-drying operations wherever I may be living and working, which is usually for Greenhorns and for another farm where I'm learning the next set of skills.

Why do you believe farming is important, particularly for the younger generation, and why did you decide to become a farmer? 

American agriculture needs more brains, bodies and businesses. Particularly those with a commitment to sustainable methods, soil stewardship, local food security. These are goals we share in the young farmers movement, and goals that serve our country's long term best interest. While there is much wrong with the current economy, we have the advantage here that there is still land, land to be leased, land to be farmed, land that is attainable-- and that opportunity to make a new businesses, one that is driven by the values and muscle of young minds may be our best hope. 

Note: This post is part of FarmPlate's new series about young farmers. If you want to be included, know someone we should profile or have comments/questions about our series, please contact Jeff Gangemi at jgangemi@farmplate.com.