Robin and Nathaniel Shannon of Gary are both descendants of farmers. Robin Shannon said her great-grandparents farmed several acres in a small farm area in Gary where they had a shanty home and raised cows, chickens and pigs. They smoked their own meats. They grew their own produce. They had to in order to keep their family fed.
“The idea was this is how I feed myself, feed my family, feed the community. This is an important aspect of our life,” she said.
The Shannons have returned to farming for the very same reasons. The couple have been farming since 2016 when they formed Shannon Farm and Homestead LLC. Initially, Nathaniel would tend the garden as a hobby. Today he spends sun up to sun down in the organic, pesticide-free garden beds during the growing season.
They farm less than an acre of land in the city and produce more than 1,000 pounds of collard greens, which find their way to farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) boxes, restaurants, the homeless, seniors, and those in need. They are also a source of fresh produce for their neighbors, who have few options where to buy healthy groceries within the city limits. This season, the couple plans to add greenhouses to the property so they can extend their growing season.
Farming has always been about sustainability. It was a way to sustain not just a family, but a community. “It’s important for us to continue that legacy,” she said. Robin Shannon said there are more than 50 farmers in Gary. These are people who grow in their back yards or the lot next door and ultimately sell their produce. St. Mary of the Lake Church rents gardening beds to those who don’t have access to growing space. “Whatever they produce they are sharing with the community, selling or sharing within the community,” she said.
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