Bartlesville Urban Farmers Find Their Niche with Help of NRCS

By Carrie Chlebanowski, State Public Affairs Specialist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Stillwater, Oklahoma

When Matt and Amanda Hakola moved to Oklahoma, they brought with them a desire to get a garden growing and share its abundance with their new neighbors, like they had done back in Oregon. They knew the work involved, but were not prepared for the poor soil quality, insect pressure and extreme weather that makes growing in Oklahoma so challenging. These environmental factors, coupled with the recognition of the food insecurity caused by supply chain problems in their area during the pandemic, solidified their commitment to using no-till regenerative practices to build a healthy ecosystem and living soil in their backyard garden.  In 2021, that garden became the catalyst for starting Ragtag Resilience.  Their goal was two-fold: educate others on how a simple community approach to agriculture can shorten the supply chain while also feeding the community with the excess from their garden by selling at the Bartlesville Farmers Market. 

Ragtag Resilience is unique in both its design and production.  Focusing on exotic and niche crops not found in traditional grocery stores allows them to provide an abundance of food offerings for a diverse customer base. In less than one acre, some of their favorite crops to grow include soft neck garlic, purple sweet potatoes, Tahitian melons, Malabar spinach and herbs like saffron, lemongrass and lavender interplanted with pollinator habitat plants.  Their farm is one of the only farms actively participating in the Cherokee Nation WIC program at the farmers market, but also maintains Bartlesville’s first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that provides weekly food baskets to members during a specified growing period. 

Feeding the minds of their community is just as important to the Hakolas as their unique crop choices. Ragtag Resilience’s urban neighborhood location and a fortuitous conversation with a neighbor looking to sell her home allowed them to expand their growing space and operate an Airbnb next door to their home where they also now host workshops.  From April through October, they also host a monthly fine-dining collaboration called “The Harvest Table,” with a local chef who sources all the protein and vegetables from within a 20-mile radius. 

Amanda initially contacted NRCS to inquire about the EQIP High Tunnel Initiative but realized their residential property didn’t have adequate space.  Their local Resource Conservationist, James Dixon, knew there were other conservation programs that might benefit their farm-namely the EQIP Organic Transition Initiative (OTI). Matt says they are still in the early stages of the contract, but they especially appreciate the technical support James has provided and the cost share for the irrigation system that “freed up a large amount of time, saving water where we were using inexpensive sprinklers to make do.” 

Matt says they have already applied for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and “look forward to learning more about how we can improve practices in building soil and more habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators.”

He advises his fellow small-scale Oklahoma farmers to not hesitate in reaching out to NRCS for technical and financial assistance:

“The paperwork looks more complicated than it really is. Don’t let that deter you from applying for help and working with government organizations that are there to help you thrive as a grower. We’re so grateful for the support of the USDA so that both other growers and the greater public can see how viable small-scale urban agriculture is to help provide livelihood, local food security, and community engagement.”

To locate your local USDA service center, go to: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center