James Johns, Johns Farm, Alachua
James and Susan Johns own and operate Johns Farm in Alachua County. Johns Farm started in 1998 by planting pecan trees a few times a year. Since then, the farm has expanded to include seasonal vegetables, cane syrup, and even bee keeping. Johns Farm prospers thanks to family members’ active role in the farms’ daily operations. The Johns Farm has always implemented BMP principles with the help of the water management district by purchasing a new air blast sprayer to apply nutrients more efficiently. The Johns have also minimized the area they irrigate and put fertilizer on to conserve resources. BMPs are a set of guidelines that advise producers on how to manage the water, nutrient, and pesticides they are using to reduce agriculture’s impact on the state’s natural resources.
The Johns are active in their community as members to The Family Church of Gainesville, where they also volunteer. They enjoy working in the soil, watching plants produce, and knowing the food they grow is the best quality it can be. When asked why they believe it is important to protect our environment, James responded, “We want to be good stewards of what the Lord has blessed us with and want to leave the land in better condition than we found it.”
