The Nature Conservancy - American Farmland Trust

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The Nature Conservancy

Great Lakes Farm Navigator
Biography

The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) mission is to conserve the lands and water on which all life depends. In Ohio, TNC is working with farmers to improve conservation practice to combat climate change, diversify the food system to address systemic racism, and maintain viable operation. Ohio’s farmers produce much of the country’s food, fuel and fiber. TNC is working with them to support their efforts to achieve more positive results for nature, communities, and the climate ,while remaining focused on profitable businesses for generations to come.

A.J. Boyce

The Nature Conservancy is represented by A.J. Boyce (he/they). A.J. was was born and raised in south side Chicago, where innate environmental ideologies where often rejected within his community due to cultural stigma. He realized the normalization of green spaces and sustainable infrastructure provides educational opportunities and job diversification to disenfranchised communities. His career path has stops at cannabis cultivation, urban flower farming, personal training, and environmental education. As the current Agriculture Conservation Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy, A.J. works to integrate agroecological concepts into existing and newly developed food production systems. Wholistically addressing sustainability within agriculture is a necessary step in creating local economies, increasing environmental resilience, and improving public health.

 

 

Learn more about The Nature Conservancy.

The Nature Conservancy is a participating Navigator organization in Protecting the Great Lakes Through a Farm Navigator Network project.

Great Lakes Farm Navigator Spotlight: A.J. Boyce

Name, Pronouns: A.J. Boyce He/They

Organization: The Nature Conservancy

Title: Agriculture Conservation Practitioner 

Where in the Great Lakes region do you work? 

Western Lake Erie Basin, primarily within Ohio 

What brought you to this work? What is your connection to agriculture or to the watershed? 

Agriculture is critical for everyone’s survival. As people learn more about food access and production, they develop autonomy, passion, and transferable skills. I hope to foster a sense of community and care that reflects on how we take care of ourselves and the Earth through agriculture. There is beauty in working in tandem with natural systems. 

What is your area of expertise? In what ways do you typically work with farmers and farmland owners? 

My background lies in permaculture, which I’ve employed in my urban agriculture and agricultural conservation career.  I work with farmers to provide nature-based solutions to economic and environmental concerns, whether that be through funding, knowledge, or networking. I engage producers and their advisors about whole farm management systems that regenerate soil health, increase public health, and ensure that we can farm for generations to come. 

 How are you hoping to grow from your experience as a Great Lakes Farm Navigator? 

I hope that being a navigator expands my network and knowledge of resources to better serve the needs of farmers. I am certainly not an expert in most things, but I may know someone who is. Conversely, I am a willing resource to those who are interested in soil health, agroforestry, urban agriculture, and community engagement. 

What is one piece of advice you have for farmers who are looking to transfer their farm to a new generation? Or do you have advice for farmers entering agriculture and seeking access to land? 

I advise all farmers to be a friendly face in their local farming community and be open to new ideas. Many people are interested in farming in ways that are not necessarily “conventional” and struggle to find peers and landowners willing to engage seriously. There may be great benefit, and small risk, in leasing a small portion of land to someone who is interested in a different way of farm management. Fear of failure won’t help us adapt to farming in a quickly changing climate. I also advise that those seeking land have a solid idea of what their business plan and infrastructure needs are for their desired crops. It’s much easier to make progress when you have a sense of direction.