New Roots Community Farm is helping strengthen the connection between local food, education, and community in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Led by Executive Director Susanna Wheeler, New Roots is an 82-acre community farm where fresh food is grown, harvested, shared, and used as a tool for learning.
As a working production farm, New Roots is busy throughout the growing season. Crews are in the fields planting, harvesting, and preparing fresh produce for the community. But the farm’s impact goes beyond what is grown in the soil. New Roots has become a place where students, families, and local residents can learn more about where their food comes from and why access to healthy, local food matters.
Since 2020, New Roots has partnered with Fayette County Schools to create hands-on learning opportunities for students. Early efforts included helping schools develop on-campus gardens and launching pop-up farmers markets. These markets bring local food directly to students at no cost, giving them the chance to try fresh foods they may not normally eat.
During the pop-up markets, students experience a small farmers market environment, participate in a lesson, sample different foods, and take home recipes. These programs help introduce young people to healthy eating, local agriculture, and new food experiences in a fun and approachable way.
New Roots has continued to grow its school-based programs over the years. The organization has expanded field trip opportunities and launched a high school internship program, which is now entering its third year. These efforts give students a deeper look at farming, food systems, community service, and possible career pathways connected to agriculture and local food.
The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation has been an important partner in helping New Roots build and sustain this work. Since 2021, the Foundation has provided consistent support that has helped fund a staff position focused on developing programs with the school system.
That consistency has been especially meaningful. In the grant funding world, organizations often have to search for new funding year after year, sometimes adjusting their programs to fit different grant opportunities. For New Roots, the Foundation’s ongoing commitment has created a stable base that allows the organization to stay focused on its mission and build long-term programs with lasting impact.
Beyond its educational work, New Roots is also meeting a growing community interest in local food. Many people are looking for fresh produce, better nutrition, and a stronger connection to the people and places behind their food. New Roots provides that opportunity, giving consumers a way to support local agriculture while enjoying fresh, locally grown food.
Looking ahead, New Roots has big plans for the future. The organization hopes to continue growing as a community hub for the region, creating a welcoming place where people can gather, learn, eat, and connect.
For Wheeler and the team behind New Roots, the recognition and support mean a great deal. The farm has been built through passion, hard work, and people going above and beyond to bring the vision to life. With strong partnerships and continued community support, New Roots Community Farm is helping grow something much larger than food. It is growing connection, opportunity, and a healthier future for Fayette County and beyond.