Peace. I’m Maurice.

MY STORY

For more than 25 years, I’ve been teaching and training people to start and grow thriving gardens and farms. I know the seasonal rhythms and technical details that make the difference between frustration and abundance, and I love witnessing the moment when someone realizes they can grow their own food with confidence. My work is rooted in the same principles I’ve used to build profitable farms and vibrant community gardens, now shared through Small Farmz to help people move toward real food freedom.

IT WASN’T ALWAYS EASY

Back in the 1990s, after more failed attempts to grow food than I’d like to admit, my neighbor Ed offered a lesson that changed everything: “You have to invest in your soil.” Together we blanketed our community garden with leaves for the winter, and by spring the soil came alive—producing a harvest so abundant it felt like a miracle. That season, I sold my first two pints of cherry tomatoes to a local restaurant, marking the true beginning of my farming journey.

SMALL FARMZ TODAY

In 2023, I established the current Small Farmz demonstration farm on nearly three acres in the metro Atlanta area. This space is both a working farm and a living classroom—a place where people can see regenerative practices in action, learn by doing, and reconnect with the power of growing food.

LET ME HELP YOU SUCCEED

Whether you’re planting your first edible garden, scaling up a farm project, or seeking inspiration through a keynote, I’m here to help. Through Small Farmz, I offer personalized coaching, hands-on consultation, and expert guidance tailored to your vision. Together, we can build a garden or farm that nourishes you, your community, and the land itself.

Your journey to true food freedom starts here.

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About me and my work

  • Maurice Small inherited his profound respect & love for the earth from his parents. This love for natural process and growth fuels Maurice's efforts to build community as he cultivates a regional and national vision for sustainable agriculture, healthy lifestyles in underserved communities & urban/rural collaboration between growers & vendors. Maurice works to transform the food landscape in North America via regional initiatives that create and rebuild local food systems. Maurice's success rests upon dynamic collaborations with counties, cities, community- and faith-based organizations, non-profits, schools, block watch groups, youth groups, and anyone with the will to transform their community.

    Maurice’s message of transformation and commitment to youth, soil and food has been shared with the following communities: Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, Pittsburgh, PA, Youngstown, OH, Cleveland, OH, Detroit, MI, Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL, Toronto, Canada, Wilmington, NC, Raleigh, NC, Durham, NC, Charlotte, NC, Greenville, NC and Atlanta, GA. Maurice has also been heard on radio stations WCPN 90.3FM, WRUW 91.1FM, WCSB 89.3FM in Ohio & on Mississippi radio stations WJSU and WMPM. He’s been featured in The Plain Dealer, The Free Press, Rodale News, Raleigh News & Observer, The Indie Weekly (North Carolina), WVIZ (Cleveland Public Television) & countless internet blogs. Maurice’s photographic work was published in the 2008 publication of Instructions from The Cook: Recipes for New Conversations, by George Nemeth & Jack Ricchiuto. Maurice was awarded the Organic Pioneer Award by the Rodale Institute in its inaugural year, 2011.

  • Organic Pioneer Award Recipient, The Rodale Institute, Kutztown, PA, September, 2011 (inaugural year)

    Permaculture Design Certification Course (with Darren J. Doherty), Oberlin, OH, 2008

    Representative to Terra Madre event, Italy, October 2004.

    The People’s University, Cleveland, OH

  • “Instructions from The Cook: Recipes for New Conversations.” Nemeth, George, Ricchiuto, Jack and Small, Maurice. Designing Life Books, Cleveland, OH, 2008.

  • Coffee and Brewing Companies

    Atlanta Brewing Co.

    Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Roasters

    Great Lakes Brewing Co.

    Hodge Podge Coffee

    Java Cats

    Scofflaw Brewing

    Spiller Park Coffee

    Non-Profits

    Atlanta Tool Bank

    Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County

    Boys & Girls Clubs of The Triangle

    City Fresh

    Foodwell Alliance

    Free 99 Fridge

    Greening Youth Foundation

    Groundwork Atlanta

    Groundwork USA

    Growing Power

    Habitat for Humanity Charlotte

    Habesha Works

    Historic Westside Gardens ATL

    Lorain County Urban League

    NC Fair Share CDC

    New Agrarian Center

    North Carolina Rastafari Union

    Southern SARE

    West Atlanta Watershed Alliance

    YMCA

    Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation

    Cities

    City of Atlanta, GA

    City of Cleveland, OH

    City of Youngstown, OH

    Regional Institutions

    Metro Health, Cleveland, OH

    Cleveland Clinic, OH

    Cleveland Metropolitan School District, OH

    Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, OH

    Churches

    Christ Church, Strongsville, OH

    Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA

    The House of the Lord Church – Oberlin, OH

    Colleges/Universities

    DePaul University

    Case Western Reserve University

    Cleveland State University

    Lorain County Community College

    Michigan State University

    Morehouse School of Medicine

    North Carolina Central University

    Oberlin College & Conservatory

    Ohio State University

    Spelman College

    St. Augustine University

    Wayne State University

    Restaurants

    A Spice of Life Catering Events

    Agave

    Black River Café

    Café Symmetry

    Ebrik Coffee Room

    Fahrenheit Cleveland

    Flying Fig

    Lola

    Lucky’s Café

    Melt

    Noodlecat

    Root Café

    Smokey Mango

    Soul Vegetarian Restaurant South

    The Greenhouse Tavern