KentuckyCans
Bringing Home The Farm
KentuckyCans grew out of a kitchen table conversation between three friends
Since April 2023, Blake, Ellen, and Melissa who share a deep love for Kentucky’s working landscapes and the people who steward them have been rolling up their sleeves and taking inventory, and designing hands-on programs that turn intention into action.
Mission –Preserve and build local culture that supports small farmers, rural communities, and strengthens the bond between rural and urban Kentuckians.
Vision – A resilient Kentucky where every community can feed itself, every small farmer earns a fair living caring for the land, and every generation shares the skills and stories that keep agrarian culture alive.
What We Do
Everything traces back to a single goal: “Bringing Home the Farm” for every Kentuckian who values caring for the land, healthy food, and working with good neighbors.
Hands‑On Programs
Canning workshops, farm‑day volunteer crews, and other skill‑sharing events that strengthen the bond between growers and eaters.
Community Culture‑Building
Storytelling, farm tours, and member gatherings that celebrate the heritage and future of rural Kentucky.
Land‑Conserving Advocacy
Partnerships and policy work aimed at protecting working landscapes and promoting soil‑first farming practices.
Help build the culture
We’re looking for people who believe small farms and rural communities are essential to Kentucky’s wellbeing. If you have a passion for land conserving economies we’d love to meet you.
Interested? Email KentuckyCans to start the conversation.
The KentuckyCans Team
Everything we do aims to preserve the culture, resilience, and vital importance of rural communities and small farmers. Join us in Bringing Home the Farm and keeping Kentucky roots strong.
Blake Oliver
President / Chair / Executive Director
Ellen Downing
Vice President / Treasurer
Melissa Davis
Vice President / Secretary
WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
“Take what you have affection for and put it to work.”
Preserving a visual of Kentucky's Landscape
Kentucky's landscape is like no other! If you have pictures of an old tobacco barn or folks working together on the farm we encourage you to share them and tell us the story! We will share the pictures and stories with our members!
Kentucky's Garden Project
Help us grow "Kentucky’s Garden” – We are collecting and planting seeds from all 120 Kentucky counties. Do you have heirloom seed to share!? Please send a couple of seeds to us along with your story and be a part of preserving Kentucky's history! We will build an interactive map to share the history as we build Kentucky's Garden!
Join KYCans in these activites!
- We can work together and host a cultural event related to small farming or food preservation. Sign up, contact us and tell us about your interest!
- Let us help you on your farm / Contact us to discuss how we can help you and in turn help us learn! We will bring free labor to the farm!
- What are you interested in doing to help small farmers? Drop us a note!
- Do you know how to preserve or can food? Do you have a family member that you would like to pass on a skill to others related to agriculture or small farming?
- Participate in our group discussions related to agrarian culture, rural community, and bridging the rural / urban divide.
- Recommend an event!
- Become a Member!
Reach Out
become a member of KYCANS
Why This Matters
Kentucky’s small farmers make up less than 1 % of our population. They need fair markets, local supply chains, and communities who value and support their work. We’re here to:
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build land‑conserving economies
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advocate for parity programs that let farmers profit while protecting soil
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create food and fiber systems and programs to support those farmers that are building soil.
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keep elders and youth in conversation so agrarian knowledge never dies out.