Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Goltermann.
Hi Melissa , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After a serious car accident I experienced chronic pain and limitations on my mobility. I did the usual physical therapy, many types of doctors, and all kinds of medications. After 10 years of chronic pain medical management, I wasn’t improving and began to look into other ways of healing. I stopped all my medications and went through a unpleasant withdrawal period. Afterwards with the help of my son Chris, I learned about Moringa Powder and its many benefits. After adding it to my diet I began to improve. Then I started growing the Moringa tree myself and making my own powder. Friends and family wanted to know what I was doing because they all saw how my health was improving. That was how Momma G Farms was born. We are a not for profit 501c3 educational farm. With my husband John, we began to make and sell the powder, and teach others how they could grow and make it themselves. We started growing other plants like turmeric and ginger, tropical spinaches, medicinal herbs, and other edible and health improving plants. Our mission is to teach children and families how to grow and use these nutrient dense plants to improve their health and food security. All of our classes are free and we work by donations. We have classes and tours at Momma G Farms in Eustis, we offer workshops at the Cassia Community Club, we host homeschool groups at the farm, as well as public and charter schools, we do workshops at the Center for Health and Wellbeing in Winter Park and presentations at schools, churches, gardening clubs etc. Groups can reach us via our email of mommagfarms@gmail.com or by text 407-591-0406. They can also visit our website www.mommagfarms.org
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has had ups and downs. We started by joining multiple farmers markets for several years where we sold our products and shared our mission, then covid hit. We had to bring our customer base to the farm and utilized social media and a website to reach others. Over the years we have struggled financially and had to personally support the farm with our own retirement income. God has always made a way for us to stay open. We want to keep the classes free no matter what so that no one is left out. Everyone deserves the opportunity to learn of ways to improve their overall health and have food security. Unfortunately, we are a unique farm and finding regular donors and grants has been difficult. We have no employees, my husband and I do all the work. We welcome volunteers. Our other source of income is the sale of our products that we create with the plants we grow here at the farm like Moringa Powder and Turmeric-Ginger Extract to name a few. We also sell these plants.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Over the past 15 years I have research plants that we can grow here in Central Florida that can give us nutrient dense food and help improve our health. Plants that are easy to grow and manage. I have no formal training, I am just a person dedicated to learning how to help others by growing and using a variety of edible plants. Years of research and using these plants myself has given other people a hope their health can improve too. I started my journey out of desperation. My life needed changes and plants helped me heal and manage my pain. They’re are so many blessings in these wonderful plants that are growing at our feet, we just need to see and recognize their value.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is helping others and giving them hope. Giving people the knowledge I now have so they wont have to suffer like I did for so many years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.mommagfarms.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mommagfarms?igsh=bHJxc2c2bnJ4NWY5
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/168Xj1TmfM/
