How an Indiana Urban Farmer and Potter Team Up to Help Feed Local Artists

Beyond the Plate Local Food Hero Nominee: Rebecca Graves-Prowse and Jason Michael Thomas are good friends, yes, but they’re also neighbors who’ve teamed up to provide local artists with much-needed food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When the shutdown was imminent,” says Graves-Prowse, owner of Indianapolis-based Gravesco Pottery, “I started thinking of ways to help provide food security to local artists and had an idea (literally) in the middle of the night.” And she explains, it was only natural that she reach out to Thomas, to see how he could help.

Thomas runs a working farm situated a few blocks north of downtown Indy and cultivates organic vegetables (among other items) for the local community. And along with Graves-Prowse, has started the #FeedTheArtist campaign, a partnership that’s distributing boxes loaded with enough fresh food to feed someone for a few days.

“Artists tend to be the ones who are always giving and it’s hard for them to ask for help,” says Graves-Prowse who makes custom pottery pieces and sells them to fund the project. “It’s a way of paying it forward for people who’ve had shows cancelled and aren’t able to provide for themselves as they were before (the pandemic).” As for the pottery collection, it has a cool, vintage vibe and includes a number of different pieces like mugs with a plague doctor and even a whimsical one with an 1891 sketch of toilet paper.

“We sell the mugs and use that money for the cost of materials and to help keep our staff employed. But,” adds Graves-Prowse, “ we pay people along the chain, so to speak, and will continue to do so to help foster the local economy.”

As for what goes in the boxes, Thomas says it can vary from week to week depending on what’s available from local producers but typically includes a variety of fresh produce as well as beans and rice.

“I have access to buying in bulk and getting items directly from farmers and I know how to pack things so they stay fresh longer and can be stored properly,” says Thomas. “Sometimes the boxes might have a protein like eggs or chicken or something else if someone’s vegan.” But, no matter what goes in, Thomas says it's all nutritious, wholesome food and nothing heavily processed.

“Sometimes I get fresh food from others (local farmers) and put that in as well,” he said, noting that it helps them move their produce too. “Like the sustainable food movement, we’re Building a community that’s based on supporting one another.”

Graves-Prowse agrees. Since the inception of the #feedtheartist project, Michael and Graves-Prowse have created and delivered 94 boxes to artist and they anticipate delivering another 100-150 by the end of May.

“We’re providing food security to others and to our teams by keeping them employed … and I love knowing we’re able to feed people and take some worry off their plate.” Literally.

Read more Beyond the Plate local food hero stories. Learn more about our partners, Niman Ranch at nimanranch.com.