Growing Hope Foundation came into existence when our founders, Jerry and Lois Epland, realized that their farmland could be used to grow more than crops, it could be used to grow hope. Growing Hope was created as the mechanism to accomplish this goal. In their estate plan Jerry and Lois have set aside a specific number of acres of their farmland to eventually pass to the foundation. The revenue that comes from renting out that land provides the financial base for the work of the foundation.
Along with the stewardship of their financial resources, over the years Jerry and Lois have set a standard for the foundation in regards to stewardship of the land. Some of the hallmarks of that standard include conservation practices such as either minimum tillage or no-till on all of the land; adequate drainage through pattern tiling and strategically located pumping sites; timely repair of broken tile; the use of waterways when necessary to control erosion; nutrient management, and filter and buffer strips along ditches, to reduce chemical run-off in surface and sub-surface water; and an awareness of the detrimental effects of soil compaction. All of these stewardship practices positively impact the health of the soil, which means the renters can expect higher yields, which means that we will be growing hope well into the future.
If you are a farmer, or own farmland, and you would like to know more about how you could do something similar, click here to be redirected to our contact page. Type “farmland” in the comments section when reaching out to us.