Name? My name is William Stanton. Everyone knows me as Billy. Mr. Stanton is the Farm Manager of Buffalo Go Green. He works on the Glenwood property. 

What do you like about nature? What I like about nature is the ability to be able to smell  the air, see what’s going on, see how it feels, the warmth, the cold. Nature is everything. Nature can help you become  more in tune with energy. 

Why do you care about urban farming? I care about urban farming because it’s a way for people to have access to fresh produce especially in areas where it is extremely hard and expensive to get. Having these outlets helps people understand how to grow. What to grow and the benefits behind growing things and the benefits behind eating what you grow. 

In your own words, what is the mission of Buffalo Go Green? The mission of what Buffalo Go Green I believe is trying to do and that’s to teach people how food is medicine and if you eat properly your body will respond properly and help you avoid a lot of unnecessary ailments that afflict us as we age. Also providing steps and maintaining Wellness through yoga meditation reading and staying active.

What have you done in the greenhouses? What I have started growing in the greenhouse so far is arugula, spring mix chives, nasturtium, and maintaining the blackberries. I also have radishes growing inside the greenhouse on Glenwood.There is rosemary growing in there also.

What crops are you expecting this spring? What crops I’m expecting this spring are as follows: Cucumbers, tomatoes radishes Eggplants leaks Kale, Collards, red beets, ground husk cherry tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, Carrots, celery, thyme, sage, chamomile, nasturtium, catnip, Mullen, and other various herbs like lemon balm, mint, Yarrow.

Any great farm stories? I guess a good story to tell is,how over the years, working at Glenwood I have created friendships, and understanding with many patrons of the neighborhood who have learned to respect what we do, and what I have done for the area.How I communicate with them. What I’m able to provide for them. In return, we get unbelievable hospitality, and respect. Where nobody does anything to that corner. Whenever I have a chance, I love educating people, trying to answer whatever gardening questions they have to help them learn, and better understand some things that they might not have known. And that goes both ways.

What is one thing you have already accomplished in your time at Buffalo Go Green? While at Buffalo Go Green, I’ve learned a wide range of valuable information concerning urban farming, the business behind it and the hard work that is needed on a continuous basis in order to keep the flow of things constantly going smoothly. Also learning about various challenges that urban farmers have to overcome with certain organizations and the laws governing them. And the challenges behind getting certain things amended.

Any tips on soil health? Any soil tips I might have is all household food waste except for any meat, any meat bi products,and poultry, and byproducts. And create a worm compost which creates what we as farmers and gardeners call “black gold”. And make sure you have good organic matter within your soil. Doing this helps the right fungi, nematodes, algae, and other Microbial organisms  that the environment down below needs in order to create that micro biosphere that the plants thrive on.

A food desert is an area with limited to no access to fresh produce or foods. How do you think food desserts impact the health of the American public? Food Deserts impact all individuals that are without proper nutrition. You do not have proper development of the human anatomy when the body is lacking in certain nutrition. Proper growth of certain organs may be inhibited through lack of nutrition, especially in babies, while their brain is still being developed. So the lack of proper nutrition results in poor health. Which can result in a lot of health issues later on in life. So by creating these urban farms we are able to educate people and provide them with the necessary ways and means  of how nutrition can bring healthy proper development, through eating nutritious food that can help create a better way of life.

Do you think enough is getting done to provide access to fresh and healthy foods in disadvantaged neighborhoods? I do not think that there is nowhere near enough being done to address these food deserts. A healthy society always excels.

I’ve heard you made a recent accomplishment? Can you tell me more about it? Success? I think the success that you’re talking about is how I was able to reverse necrosis of the bone. I applied herbs to the area continuously. What the doctors prescribed to me,was not really a solution to solve a serious issue. Using some herbs that I grow at home. Helped me to better understand the plant’s medicinal benefits, and it taught  me how to develop a solution to overcome necrosis of the bone. So I personally can validate how well this plant and a combination of plants can work.

What is your favorite crop to grow? Which leads us into my favorite crop to grow would be herbs, various different types of herbs.

Anything else you would like to share? And to share something with people, is to understand how beneficial healthy eating can be for anyone in the short term and in the long term.

Thank you for your time and doing this interview with me. Hopefully we can continue getting the message out there, so people can learn to understand.

NOTE: I was able to do this interview with a seasoned farm professional to further explain how efficient Buffalo Go Green is, how amazing the team is and the complex leadership that goes into this farming initiative.