Maurice Small

A food systems visionary, permaculturalist, worm whisperer, land use strategist, and the first Black Farmer to receive the Rodale Institute’s Organic Pioneer award (2011), Maurice Small is responsible for leading the creation & successful implementation of innovative food systems across North America. Over 3 decades, his dedication has yielded over 900 gardens/farms and thousands of students worldwide sharing in his deep knowledge of natural systems and organic farming.
Rooted in a family legacy of love for the earth, Maurice's tireless efforts have been instrumental in reshaping the food landscape. He promotes sustainable alternatives and fosters a deep appreciation for the transformative power of hyper-local food. Maurice’s time-tested growing techniques and expansive vision for transforming the food landscape of North America and beyond empowers individuals, families, communities, schools/school systems, health care systems, and corporate and government entities interested in developing and honing their skills and strategies to build and improve local and regional food systems.
Maurice specializes in garden and farm builds that cater to individual, business, or community requirements. For those venturing into organic farm development, Maurice’s organic and permaculture-focused expertise ensures both sustainability and profitability. His tailored solutions cater to both startups seeking guidance and established farmers looking to incorporate permaculture principles into production for both environmental benefits and increased profitability. Maurice also extends his expertise to land conservation use, providing guidance for the sustainable use of land aligned with client goals and values.
Maurice is an expert consultant focused on solutions for complex, innovative initiatives. He has completed comprehensive assessments of family/municipal/business-owned properties, the establishment of resilient food systems within healthcare networks, provided expert guidance for school systems as they integrated organic farming into the learning experiences of students, optimization of organic production processes for established farmers leading to increased profitability, and development of agriculture-related tourism and education strategies for regional governments. Additionally, Maurice collaborates with community groups and local governments to establish community-based composting systems, contributing to environmental sustainability and addressing waste management needs.
Whether enhancing access to fresh, organic food for individuals and families or implementing Farm-to-Fork initiatives for businesses and institutions, Maurice provides expert guidance to restaurants, colleges, municipalities, regional governments, non-profits, and hospitals. Maurice’s ongoing legacy continues to grow, impacting communities with increased access to local organic food, fostering environmental stewardship, and motivating people worldwide to embrace a vision of vibrant food and a healthy earth.