Reclamation FARMacy To Add Six-Acre Operation At Williamson Preserve

KNIGHTDALE – A Raleigh-based nonprofit farm is expanding to six acres at the Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve near the Johnston-Wake county line.

Reclamation FARMacy has joined Triangle Land Conservancy’s Williamson Farm Program, which provides beginning farmers access to farmland, shared equipment and other agricultural infrastructure.

The Williamson Farm Program has 120 acres set aside for farming and provides participants access to equipment including a tractor and the preserve’s Agriculture Pavilion.

Reclamation FARMacy becomes the fifth farming operation participating in the program, joining Karen Community Farm, Project Pando, Farm of Zebulon and Broadwell Farms.

The nonprofit focuses on agricultural education, hands-on training and growing culturally relevant foods.

“Expanding to six acres means more space to grow culturally relevant foods from the Black diaspora, honor the agricultural knowledge of our ancestors, and deepen the Black community’s connection to land and one another,” said Shy Palmer, founding farmer and executive director of Reclamation FARMacy.

Palmer said the partnership will also allow the organization to expand opportunities for people to learn about farming and local food production.

Plans for the new site include growing produce for a farm stand, establishing a community garden where participants can plant and harvest food, and creating areas for a pollinator garden and beekeeping.

Triangle Land Conservancy Associate Farm Manager Heather Szaro said the partnership will also strengthen the existing farm program at Williamson Preserve.

“Shy and her team work tirelessly to support and grow community in their quest to strengthen our local food system,” Szaro said. “Our shared goals will not only allow for RF’s expansion, they will also add tremendously to TLC’s farm program.”

A public groundbreaking celebration is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve, 4409 Old Country Mial Road.

The free event is expected to include African drumming, a land blessing and a documentary viewing.

Triangle Land Conservancy said the Williamson Farm Program is intended to give beginning farmers access to land and resources while keeping farmland in production in a rapidly developing part of the Triangle.