Footprints in the Garden
Footprints in the Garden is rooted in a legacy that began in 1883, when Harry Martin, great-great-grandfather of Erin and Wesley Martin, purchased the family farm after his service in the United States Army. Grandpa Harry served with the 135th United States Colored Troops (USCT) during the Civil War and later marched in the historic Grand Review of the Armies, presided over by President Abraham Lincoln. This legacy of service, resilience, and stewardship laid the foundation for what the land represents today—freedom, self-determination, and generational stewardship.
In 2012, the Martin family formally established Footprints in the Garden with a clear purpose: to engage younger generations in active land ownership, sustainable agriculture, and cultural preservation, ensuring the farm remained productive and protected for the future.
In 2018, Erin Martin, a seventh-generation land steward, assumed management of the farm and its aggregation center. Under her leadership, Footprints in the Garden expanded its role as a regional food access hub, supplying locally grown produce and value-added products to residents, restaurants, food hubs, and community partners. Today, the farm works with markets across five North Carolina Counties, providing fresh, low- to no-chemically sprayed produce while strengthening local food systems and supporting indirect markets that reach families most impacted by food insecurity.
Footprints in the Garden also serves as a working farm and agritourism venue, hosting educational programs, community gatherings, and cultural events that connect people to the land, food, and history.
Footprints in the Garden’s commitment to conservation and innovation was recognized nationally in 2023, when the farm was named North and South Carolina’s recipient of the Leopold Conservation Award. This honor acknowledged the farm’s ecological practices, conservation ethic, resilience, innovation, and leadership in sustainable agriculture.
In 2024, Erin Martin received national recognition from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, being honored with the National Innovator Award for her work creating equitable food systems in North Carolina and advancing food justice. Erin, along with Carrie and Elana, had the incredible honor of touring the White House during the Innovator Award ceremony and meeting Vice President Kamala Harris, a moment celebrating both their leadership and the impact of Footprints in the Garden on local communities.
Today, Footprints in the Garden stands as both a working farm and a symbol of continuity—where history, innovation, and justice intersect to nourish land, people, and future generations.