Same Land. Same Legacy. Next Generation.
Gilliard Farms, located on 50 acres in Brunswick, Georgia, has been in the care of the Gilliard family since 1874—over 150 years of land stewardship, resilience, and organic farming. Today, it’s a vibrant hub of heirloom vegetables, regenerative practices, and Gullah Geechee culture, stewarded by siblings Matthew and Althea Raiford and Matthew’s wife, Tia.
Chef Matthew Raiford is a farmer and James Beard Award semifinalist who views his land through the lens of legacy, “Our grandparents and great-grandparents thought about how to put in the work to leave something behind. Now it’s our turn—to farm in a way that gives more than it takes.”
To date, everything is cultivated by hand, guided by a deep reverence for soil health, ancestral knowledge, and the power of food to transform lives and communities. Now, the 6th generation is preparing to bring in the 7th. Kayla and Kenton Raiford are stepping into the family legacy, ready to carry forward the farm’s values of regeneration, hospitality, and community leadership. But starting a new chapter on a historic farm comes with both opportunity and challenge. Farming is physically demanding, and the right tools are essential to making this transition viable, sustainable, and joyful.
What Your Support Will Fund
That’s why we’re raising $10,000 to purchase a BCS walk-behind tractor—a game-changing tool for beginning farmers. Unlike larger, heavy equipment, the BCS is perfectly suited to small-scale regenerative farms. It replaces hundreds of hours of manual labor and powers essential tools like compost spreaders, mowers, and seeders—all while protecting soil health. This tractor will allow the next generation to farm with less physical strain, build healthier soil faster, and scale up their vision for a thriving, resilient Gilliard Farms.
To demonstrate our belief in this vision, Mad Agriculture has already contributed the first half of the project cost. Your donation helps complete the circle. Think of it as doubling your impact: we’ve seeded the effort—now we’re inviting our community to carry it forward.
How Mad Agriculture Is Involved
This project is supported by Mad Agriculture, a nonprofit that helps farmers thrive in regenerative agriculture. This campaign marks the beginning of what we hope will become a long-term mechanism for getting funds directly into the hands of farmers we’ve partnered with and believe in. Mad Agriculture is facilitating this campaign—and 100% of funds raised here will flow directly to the Raifords to support this project. In addition to providing financial support, Mad Agriculture is also bringing technical support to this project.
A Thank You from Us
As a token of appreciation, anyone who donates $100 or more will receive the next issue of the Mad Agriculture Journal on us! You’ll receive your copy once the fund has been closed.
Watch Because of All the Things—a short film offering a window into their lives, legacy, and land. The film was an official selection of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, and beautifully captures the spirit of Gilliard Farms.
