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Standing 6 toes, 5 inches tall, with a soccer participant’s physique, solely his grey beard offers away Nelson Wells’ age. At 58, he says his good well being is a mirrored image of his way of life – and he desires all Alabamians to share in that mindset of wellness.
He and his spouse, Joan, personal Lifetime Natural Organic Farm in Macon County, which grows, harvests and sells U.S. Division of Agriculture-certified natural seasonal produce. The Wells are a provider to Whole Foods, Publix and a college system in Alabama, however they’ve an formidable imaginative and prescient to increase their financial base and be a catalyst for change within the well being of individuals within the Black Belt.
He nonetheless talks a bit just like the surfer dude he was rising up in San Diego – mates usually name him “Kahuna” – earlier than he went on to play soccer on the University of Southern California. He labored as a venture supervisor for Fortune 500 firms and has traveled the world, however now he’s a farmer, and he’s proud to name Macon County dwelling.
Alabama Dwelling: Discuss concerning the genesis of the Lifetime Pure Natural Farm (LNOF).
Nelson Wells: My household had a jail ministry in Verbena, Alabama, and I stated we should always do one thing to carry some cash into the ministry. I made a decision to pitch an natural farm. I put collectively a crew, and a few of that crew continues to be a part of the LNOF. We put collectively a couple of 10-acre farm, with 80 styles of fruit bushes.
We have been a biointensive farm – mainly a high-yield farm, the place you’re rising your crops nearer collectively to get that larger yield. We needed to promote the produce, and I didn’t know what to do. We had this lovely product that was natural. I went to Entire Meals sooner or later, stated a prayer, and requested, “is the produce supervisor in?” (No, however a Entire Meals government was; the relationships constructed then carried over to LNOF.)
That farm, Verbena Hills Farm, was profitable, however they selected to not pursue it. Being a nonprofit, it wasn’t of their imaginative and prescient. So we moved on and regarded for property to start out a industrial farm.
AL: And also you landed in Macon County.
Wells: Our adviser shared that we should always go all the way down to Tuskegee University, and go to the Carver Museum. I felt just like the Lord needed us to be in Tuskegee. Actually, it’s been a blessing. We felt this is able to be an important place to put our heads, not solely as a result of we believed there could be a labor pool that desires to work, however (due to) the wealthy heritage of (scientist and inventor) George Washington Carver and (Tuskegee College founder) Booker T. Washington.
There are such a lot of individuals who imagine there’s going to be a revival (right here). It could be wonderful if we might be part of that historical past and reviving Tuskegee and Macon County, the place individuals all around the world would learn about Tuskegee by LNFO. That might be fairly cool in my e-book.
AL: Consuming natural meals – why is that vital to you?
Wells: What you eat turns into a part of you. If you happen to eat one thing wholesome, your physique turns into wholesome. When your physique is wholesome, the thoughts turns into clearer and more healthy. As soon as the thoughts is evident, you’re capable of discern and change into sensible, and it impacts you in your skilled life and your progress.
I’ve been a vegetarian nearly all my life. Consuming proper and residing proper – I work out nearly day by day. And understanding within the area, you keep wholesome. If you happen to stay proper, you eat proper, age is nothing. Life is nice!
AL: You need it to be part of your online business mannequin as properly?
Wells: A part of my imaginative and prescient is to carry the well being message: Even earlier than I believed concerning the natural farm, I’ve at all times considered well being. I used to be enthusiastic about beginning a TV present, or perhaps a cooking present, or a weblog about (wholesome) cooking. We nonetheless plan on doing that.
We (might) exit within the area, focus on what we’re selecting, have a professor discuss concerning the antioxidants of a plant-based meal, go into the kitchen and create an incredible natural vegetarian and vegan meal. We’re engaged on that, however you possibly can’t do all the pieces on the identical time. (Among the many different concepts he and Joan need to pursue: instructing individuals the best way to prepare dinner with recent, wholesome produce; opening a middle to offer courses for the group; and displaying of us the best way to develop their very own meals.)
You simply must hold that imaginative and prescient. You construct the inspiration, after which when the Lord sees match, it involves fruition.
To study extra concerning the farm and its targets, go to LifetimeNaturalOrganicFarm.com. Go to the farm’s crowdfunding website at https://gofund.me/a8736715.
This story initially appeared in Alabama Living magazine.
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