Under the leadership of Phillip and Dorathy Barker Operation Spring Plant has been a
valuable source for information and support for the small farming community in North
Carolina. We have managed programmatic funding for 39 years now providing the
farming community with education, technical and financial assistance through the
outreach we have provided. We have built a reputation as a trusted partner in the
farming community to bring timely information from USDA, NCDA&CS, Universities, other NGO’s and partner agencies, to the farmers at our Small Farmer Annual Conference. Operation Spring Plant has been the recipient of many awards over the years. In 2020 Dorathy Barker OSP’s Executive Director, received the James Beard
Outreach Leadership Award for her work with Operation Spring Plant. Since its
inception OSP has assisted numerous women to obtain, manage and put into
production small to medium parcels of land. In 2025 we provided outreach to over 5000
farmers, veterans, and landowners in conservation, food safety, specialty crop
production, sustainable organic practices, rural business cooperative development, land
access, marketing assistance and recordkeeping. Our work with new & beginning
farmers has empowered these farmers with the resources and tools needed to diversify
their farm income revenues. In the end, we know we can foster a more equitable and
sustainable agricultural ecosystem in the state, by starting with our farm as a connection
point to address the greater landscape trends we see.
Olusanya Farm serves as our demonstration site and aggregation hub, where we model
sustainable production practices, food safety, GAP & GHP, as well as innovative
development of alternative products and natuOlusanya Farm serves as our demonstration site and aggregation hub, where we model
sustainable production practices, food safety, GAP & GHP, as well as innovative
development of alternative products and natural resources that will sustain both the
small farmer and the environment. Our goals are to:
1) Facilitate outreach to provide technical support to farmers, veterans, youth
and the community.
2) Increase access to market opportunities for small family farms owned by
people of color in North Carolina.
3) Improve delivery of aggregated products to market, while simultaneously
improving food access and security within marginalized communities.

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OSP AWARDS
1. 2020, James Beard Leadership Award
2. 2011, The “Miss” Addie Tapp Hughes Pioneer Award
3. 2010, 9 th Annual American Indian Mothers, Inc. Award
4. 2009, Certificate of Appreciation-U.S. Department of Agriculture
5. 2008, Certificate of Appreciation-U.S. Department of Agriculture
6. 2000, George Washington Carver Award-California Small Farmers
7. 1999, Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award
8. 1999, World Hunger Year “Stamp out Hunger Award, New York City

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