A Farmer's Perspective: Brandon Chonko of Grassroots Farms

A Farmer's Perspective: Brandon Chonko of Grassroots Farms

One of our goals at Southern Soil is to help consumers understand the value of supporting local farms and farmers. There’s no better way to do that than to share the farmers’ perspectives and demonstrate the vast difference between food that is grown and produced with care and attention and that which is done with profit margins as the driving force. It’s the people behind the processes that carries through to final product. Food that feeds the body and the soul! Please support your local farmers!

Brandon Chonko is a pig and poultry farmer with strong roots in South Georgia and the soul of a poet. If you don’t already, be sure to follow him on Instagram! Brandon is a talented writer whose prose will draw you in and keep you coming back for more.

What follows is one of his posts that he kindly gave us permission to share here with you.

They say to "Love what you do and do what you love!"

They also say, “do what you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life!”.

Who is this “they” and how did THEY get it all figured out?

I don’t know. But I do know that when I’m out talking to a farmer whose eyes are lit up as they talk about this new tomato or that new litter pigs … when I’m taking photos that will help tell a story … when I’m interviewing someone for the podcast to gain understanding on their perspective on local food … when I’m sitting at my computer trying to find the right words to convey why it’s important to know the person who cared for the chickens that laid the eggs that you eat … none of that feels like work to me.

I am doing what I love and I do love what I’m doing! I hope that love and passion comes through.

I'm a Country Girl

I'm a Country Girl

I always felt like I was part city girl, part country girl … a foot in each world - never fully at home, never completely out of place. One foot in each world.

I struggled to choose which I would prefer.

Museums, sidewalk cafes, being completely alone on a crowded street. Public transportation, street performances, a cityscape against a pale blue sky.

Dirt roads, freshly plowed fields and the smell of rich earth on a cool breeze. Face to the sun, hands outstretched, bare feet in warm grass, serenaded by crickets and bullfrogs.


An Innovative Approach to Advertising

An Innovative Approach to Advertising

Our audience and community built around Southern Soil very much consists of the conscious consumer. So, our approach to advertising is a new and innovative method. We are curating a select group of businesses and organizations to be a part of our community and to have an opportunity to develop trust and loyalty through transparency and open communication with our audience.

Community in 2022!

Community in 2022!

I gave up on resolutions a long time ago. But I like to choose a word that encapsulates an idea or a concept... a way to help me grow personally and to help me grow my business as well. This year, my word is COMMUNITY. On the surface that might not seem like a word that's meant to be a catalyst for change.

What if we change the whole system?

What if we change the whole system?

It’s just a thought … but really … what if we just changed the whole damn thing? What amazing things could happen in our communities, in our State, in this country and around the world if we, as consumers, just quit buying from companies that want to pay the cheapest rates, cut corners, hurt the environment and don’t care about their employees? What if, instead, we started iNSISTING on paying MORE for things? Buying from companies that charge prices that cover things like employee benefits, fair wages, fair trade, social justice and environmental safeguards? What if??? What could our world look like in 10 years?