Food
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Unknown Food Insecurity: Learning About Hawai’i’s Need to Import
Hawai’i is known for its beautiful scenery, lush green mountains that stretch into the sky and beautiful oceans with crystal-clear water. The land appears rich and fertile, as if every tree would be dripping with delicious fruit, and the ground would be full of perfectly ripe vegetables. In Hawai’i, this…
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Community-Owned, Community-Saved: Daily Groceries Co-op Stands Resilient
Daily Groceries Co-op has been an Athens institution since 1992, but earlier this year, the community nearly lost it for good. Unlike a chain grocery store, a co-op is owned by the people who shop there. Members buy in, have a say in how the store is run, and any…
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Diversity in Focus: Many Stories, One Athens
Northeast Georgia has evolved into a vibrant hub for diverse culture, where local markets, grassroots activism and small businesses form the heartbeat of the community. In Athens, this social and cultural impact is on full display. This portfolio brings together a series of individual stories across our diversity beat that…
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A Strawberry Legacy is Replanted at Merk Farm
Early summer Saturday mornings at the Merk Farm in Commerce, Georgia, have taken on a whole new meaning after Ali Merk introduced strawberry season. After waking up before the sun and fueling with coffee, Ali doesn’t have a moment to sit. She handles the full load of daily labor: watering…
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From State Championship to Fiesta Bowl: Georgia Flag Football at Turning Point
When Pope High School senior Kate Davenport stepped onto the turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the high school flag football state championship, she found herself playing under stadium lights and the halo board typically reserved for NFL matchups. She and her team secured their third consecutive state title, 2023-2025, in…
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Kingdom Built from Borrowed Time: Local Renaissance Festival Built on Community
Ace Callahan was told he may only have a couple of years to live. He began to think less about the time he had left and more about what he could leave behind. What followed wasn’t just a change in perspective; it was a decision to bring family to the…
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Laid with Love: Hippie Hens Homestead Works Toward Ethical Sustainability
As more people look for ways to live sustainably, small farms like Hippie Hens Homestead are leading by example. Raising chickens for fresh eggs not only cuts down on waste costs but also promotes self-reliance and ethical animal care. For Lacy Martin, sustainability goes far beyond efficiency. It’s about respect…
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Athens Nonprofits Cope with Post-Shutdown SNAP Demand
Local nonprofits in Athens are continuing to feel the effects of the longest government shutdown in U.S history. “Until something gets taken away, you don’t really realize how much of a gift it is,” said Cole Phillips, CEO and Medical Director of Mercy Health Center, reflecting on the challenges faced…

