Editorial

I’m so excited to be publishing this first issue of 2021 … it means that we survived 2020 and are still moving forward! That in itself feels like an accomplishment worth celebrating.

Beyond survival though, there are other reasons to celebrate a new year of the sustainable local food movement. Due to the pandemic, more people than ever are beginning to pay attention to their food sources and with more time at home there has been a return to the kitchen and even an increased interest in gardening and producing food at home.

Our own audience has grown substantially over the past year and I’m happy to welcome any new readers to this wonderful community of people committed to making the world a better place through our actions and choices as they relate to our food systems.

As we go into 2021, you can expect us to continue our coverage and celebration of our local food systems - the farmers, the chefs, the advocates who are working hard to bring us fresh, healthy and sustainable foods.

I’m excited to finally be able to continue our restaurant feature series (which I started at the beginning of 2020, but had to suspend). We will be continuing our regular features from 2020: Native Plant Highlight, Small Farm Spotlight, Community Gardens, and Some Kinda Good in the Neighborhood. New this year, we’re introducing the series Ask the Expert, bringing some great advice from some experts in areas relating to sustainability.

I’m always excited for every new issue! I love that I get to meet so many awesome people who inspire and encourage me on my path and I hope that you enjoy meeting them and learning a bit of their stories.

My goal and mission for Southern Soil is to inspire, encourage, educate, and work toward a food system that restores health to our planet and our bodies and restores dignity to those who work the land and honors the lives of the animals we raise for food.

I thank you for joining us on this journey!

LEEANNA TATUM, Editor

I would like to say a special “thank you” to my friend Tara Ruby who has contributed her skills as a photographer for several articles over the past couple of years. She is moving to Texas and I will miss her friendship and her talents!