Episode Summary

On this episode of GrowAbility, Joe speaks with Dr. Mike Courey, a farmer and academic, about his transformative journey from academia to farming at New Moon Community Homestead. Located on a 200-acre farm in Southern Ontario, Mike shares how he integrates sustainable agriculture, biodynamic farming, and social justice into his daily work. They explore the challenges of balancing food production with community engagement, and the farm's collaboration with Rose Land Care Association to preserve land for future generations. Mike also reflects on his previous work with the London Poverty Research Center and how it influences his mission to connect urban and rural communities. Tune in for a deep dive into farming as a platform for social change and environmental stewardship.

About Our Guest

Dr. Michael Courey runs the New Moon Community Homestead within the Rose Land Care Association, a nonprofit dedicated to sustainable agriculture and land stewardship.

From 2017 to 2021, Mike was the Director of the Poverty Research Centre at King's University College. More recently, Mike lead the Inclusive Economy London network, a collective impact project integrating community economic development with poverty reduction and sustainability outcomes.

Academically, Mike specializes in the areas of urban sociology, critical criminology, community organizing, and program development/evaluation. Michael is passionate about bridging the space between academia and community organizing for social change focusing on knowledge mobilization and community based action research approaches. His most recent work involves leading the Inclusive Economy London network, a collective impact project integrating community economic development with poverty reduction and sustainability outcomes.

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn