Sweet Jones Farm-Louisiana
Some people have big visions. This is one of them. Sweet Jones Farm grows healthy food and opens doors for people to connect with agriculture. J’Quincy Jones Sr. grew up playing hide-and-seek in the sugarcane fields of southern Louisiana. He remembers eating sugar cane instead of chips. His love and appreciation for farming blossomed over weekends with his grandfather, when he would pick pecans on Saturday and sell them after church on Sunday. It was during those weekends in the groves and in the community that Quincy was gifted with his grandfather’s foresight and wisdom.
“Just the jewels he would drop about being connected to your food and growing your own food is like printing your own money. One time, he said, you know, people say money don't grow on trees; that's not true. You have orange trees, apple trees, and pecan trees. Money is growing on this tree.”
Quincy may not have known then, but life would lead him to become a farmer. Now, he owns and operates Sweet Jones Farm LLC, a family-owned and operated, mixed-produce Louisiana farm. They sell directly to consumers through a community-supported agriculture, or CSA, service. Members can order for delivery or pick up on the farm. On-farm pickups give members the bonus of time to play with goats, sometimes even baby goats. But growing food hasn’t been Quincy’s only mission. He and his family are out to build community well-being through agricultural experiences and education. He feels called not only to farm for his livelihood, but to make it purposeful and a spiritual act.
“People need to be educated and fed. They can feed themselves if they know what they need to know to grow food.” Quincy applied for a Brighter Future Fund grant from American Farmland Trust supported by Tillamook and others. Originally, he thought he would replenish his beehives (a major source of income) that Hurricane Ida wiped out. $5,000 wouldn’t go far enough to rebuild a farm. So, after consulting family and mentors, he decided to use the money to build educational opportunities and community connections—funding that can be difficult or impossible for farmers outside a non-profit to access. This financial support allowed Quincy and his family to lean into their values of helping people grow food where they live.
They have supported 10 families with raised beds, vegetable seedlings, and guidance on caring for the plants. They’ve helped people save money on food and showed them how they can eat healthier with a garden. At a time when inflation is at an all-time high, this work matters. The gardens also provided therapeutic stress relief and created a place for families to connect.
