Black Farmers Index

We absolutely love the work that military veteran, Ruby Daniels is doing in keeping alive Black or Afrolachian foraging and herbal medicine culture. Her farm and foraging company, Creasy Jane's is named after her ancestor, of whom she carries on the traditions of cultivating and foraging herbs. Recently, Farmer Ruby D, as she likes to go by, facilitated a foraging class in McDowell County, West Virginia. She also works at the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and helps farmers in West Virginia take advantage of the offices resources. #blackfarmersindex #westvirginiafarmers #womenfarmers

Farmer Marcus Roberson is a fixture in the Black agriculture community. A veteran, farmer and entrepreneur, he has moved his service into serving the people, healthy food and advocacy. His green patch, WoodBox Farm is an anomaly as it sits on historical land with an interesting twist. Farming on the old George Washington plantation, as in President George Washington, you know the guy who wore the teeth of enslaved people as dentures? Well Farmer Marcus ensures that the ancestors who toiled the land and those who were forced off it to create the bloody institution, are center in his farming narrative. For him, it all started with him wanting to grow fresh, healthy strawberries for his daughter. Then it turned into passion he digs deep into after serving decades in the Army. Once he began to pull into the soil, the NYC native remembered a deeper memory. “My mom always told me to water her plants when she was away.” As a kid, the small act was a chore. As a man, that duty embedded a ritual he carries with him. For his modest operation, he grows watermelon, cucumbers, pumpkins, garlic, tomatoes, and peppers. He also works with local universities to conduct studies on soil health. Farmer Marcus is also a Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) farmer who uses conversation methods to enhance about soil health, the environment, and education. Plus, he is a CNG certifier for Virginia. His other business, Good Earth Therapy uses the land to heal communities through good food and soulful vibrations. We salute Farmer Marcus who made the trip down to New Orleans for our "Night in NOLA" event. A definite bright light who brings commitment and passion, he can also work in education and community organizing. #blackfarmersindex #blackfarmers #virginiafarmers #historicalfarms

This past Monday was Veteran's Day, so this week we are featuring active and military veterans who are also farmers and growers. We found out that there is a visible representation of farmer veterans who use growing as both therapy and another career.

Farmer Kyle Smith of Smith Poultry is more than a farmer, he is a man who dedicates every waking hour to make sure his community is fed, and local farmers in New Jersey and the surrounding area, thrive. Kyle Smith is a mechanic for the Air Force Civilian Service during business hours. All the other times---night and weekends---he tends to his farm in Williamstown, which is rural country in South Jersey. Smith’s Poultry, the name of his operations, is mainly a poultry and pig farm based, but he also taps into his family’s Carolina roots when he does whole hog barbecues. At one point, he offered an egg CSA. While he still sells eggs, he is more focused on poultry and the hog with pork-based products from his farm such as sausage. When we reached out to him, he graciously invited us to spend the day on his farm when the New Jersey Department of Agriculture visited. Farmer Kyle is part of Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA), which is a USDA initiative?that that helps state, tribal, and territorial governments buy local food to support local producers and under-served communities. Each state is awarded money to provide food to local food banks. Farmer Kyle works with a processor that specializes in small farms, and for his operation, he is paid upfront for feed, labor and other costs in order to mitigate big expenses and the wait time in getting paid. “The biggest issue for [farmers] is the money it takes [to raise them and process them],” he told Black Farmers Index. Through this initiative, Farmer Kyle has created an ecosystem of local farmers to benefit. We learned about him three years ago, but we heard of the work he did when we visited an elder farmer (K&J Organics) who said that Farmer Kyle helped him sell is produce. Then another farmer (Wildflower Farm NJ) mentioned his name in creating a coalition of Black growers in the Garden State. As well, we see his work with FarmerJawn in Philly. Farmer Kyle’s community farmer model comes from a legacy he continues. He comes from Southern migrants who brought their culinary and agricultural traditions with them. Growing up, he helped his grandfather farm and give produce to the community in the nearby Atlantic City; especially elders. Farmer Kyle’s granddaddy was known as the the “Collard green man.” Carrying on that tradition, Farmer Kyle works to get as much food to communities in the NJ-Philly area, and provide business opportunities to farmers. In a competitive market, it is good to see how a grower can show the power of moving as a collective. Oh, and he also provides trainings. While most of what he raises goes to chefs, butter shops, CSAs and government program, reach out to him to see what you can buy for the holiday season, and beyond. This is part of our work with Pennsylvania Certified Organic in the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program. We commit to more Black farmers obtaining USDA certified organic grower status. #blackfarmersindex #veteranfarmers #farmers

Wanna go on a farm tour as a post-election decompression? We certainly are. Join us in Davie, Florida, just outside of Ft. Lauderdale as we tour Mack's Farm on Saturday, Nov. 9th from 11am to 3pm. The tour will be followed by a Caribbean feast on this farm-to-table suburban oasis. Owned by Farmer Barbara McKenzie, who has been a farmer providing the Ft. Lauderdale Metro with tropical produce, goat meat, beef, chicken and eggs for almost 20 years. Now she is entering into the organic space, and starting over, we wanted to highlight her story and bring our community to experience the life of a Black farmer in Florida. #blackfarmersindex #floridafarmers #caribbeanfarmers

Beekeeping in Newark, New Jersey is not for the weak. Ask Marcellis Counts of Apiary in the Sky. Yet, he stands 10 toes down in his commitment to feed and educate the people about healthy, local food grown in their backyard. As well, he is about addressing climate change through conservation efforts. "Despite the commerce and business that these cities generate, many Black communities live in substandard conditions compared to our counterparts," says Farmer Mercellis on his website. He continues, "To combat the layered, complex social issues that exist in many urban areas we have instituted a holistic approach to community healing. Using honeybees, a vital asset as a lane within agriculture to inspire stewardship and mend ties with the land." We wanted to see how his apiary plays into the growing interest of urban farming, and how he builds community and learns how to incorporate growing methods in a post-industrial space. So, we visited his microfarm and apiary just as the fall season began to emerge in early October. A 20-something visionary who is serious about food equity and access, he grows herbs and runs a modest beekeeping operation in the West Ward. Where he is located is also in one of the most economically challenged neighborhoods in the district. Beekeeping has become a growing enterprise in urban farming where green spaces are few, and the need for pollination is incredibly high; especially in areas where the environment and ecological landscape has been taxed by pollution and the residues of the metropolis. Before he can tend to his bees and plants, he must pick up refuse left from some revelers the night before who are still working on learning how to respect the city's green patches. But like many mornings after working a late night shift, Farmer Marcellis diligently collects the trash then tends to his farm. Like many young farmers, land access and resources are a serious uphill battle. Apiary in the Sky is on land that the City of Newark leases to him for a small fee. Since the pandemic, Farmer Marcellis has slowly, but gradually, built his urban green estate with much of his own funds. While he pours every dime that he can, he hopes that he is able to remain on his small plot because he was noticed that other gardens or leased operations are vanishing. That is the way of many urban farmers, and growers that we visit. The passion is deep, but the resources are few. Yet and still, Farmer Marcellis has been an emerging presence in urban farming and beekeeping, and has built a network where he teaches other nascent beekeepers. Looking forward to his honey and salute his hard work.

We know y'all want to know how our "Night in NOLA: A Journey in Urban Agriculture" went two weeks ago. Well, it took us that long to recover. It was such a special event to have 33 people convene that included 12 farmers, 4 gardeners and 4 food justice activists. We started with a Friday night meet-and-greet at Backataown Coffee Parlour. There we discovered that we had some heavy hitters with us like Konda Mason and Farah Lopez of Jubilee Justice. Farmer Konda owns the only Black-owned USDA certified organic farm in Louisiana where she also has a rice mill. Also there was the esteemed Prof. Hilery Gobert of Driftwood Farm who has been making waves with his conversation teaching farm where he uses organic practices and grows rice for Farmer Konda's rice farming collective composed of 10 farmers in 5 states in the south. Next, we had Nicole Johnson and Trey Lively who have moved their ginger and tumeric farm to their own 2 acres in New Iberia. They are part of the mentorship program for the USDA TOPP initiative and are planning to get their new land certified in 2025. We were also happy to see Nick Victorian and his wife, Olivia, who are founders of 4 Vics Farm in New Roads. They will be transitioning in the USDA certified organic program and will be joining the mentorship program. We've been working with Farmer Nick for over a year. Also their was Marcus Roberson of Woodbox Farm which is a 4 acre plot on George Washington's former plantation. That is all types of deep history there. Plus, we had Tashel Martin of Mama Isis Garden, Kaleb Hill of Okovue Produce, Ashley and Andres Barcelo of Barcelo Gardens. At the stop at Barcelo Gardens, we went to their educational garden, small grow garden and community market. There, they shared their story of wanting to bring fresh produce to the 9th Ward, and in an area where they are the only fresh produce store for 4 miles. Much of what they grow are local food favorites, but they are working to expand and offering a variety to a neighborhood steeped in tradition where it takes time to expand their palettes. After the farm tour we have a city-food tour where the guide Keyan talked about the old farmers markets and food. The last stop was at Congo Square. After taking a break, all of us dressed in our nighttime affair for Compere LaPin restaurant owned by Chef Nina Compton and Larry Miller. The food was exquisite and Larry was a gem. Following, some of us took a night cap to the Dew Drop Inn and ate some more and had great NOLA cocktails. Admittedly, we closed it down. Surprisingly, one of our participants, Alvaniqua who is known as "Li Li" invited us to Second Sunday's second line. Oh my, what an experience and a way to finsh the weekend. So yes, are just getting it together but are so happy to work with Florida Organic Growers and thank you to Accredited Certifiers Association for supporting our initiative to tell stories of Black growers working towards organic certification.

Remember when we posted about Prof. Hilery Gobert. Well, he is being highlighted again with time being American Farmland Trust where his farm was featured in a field day. The day highlighted his conservation methods on a 65-acre estate growing vegetables, fruit and rice, including raising beef cattle, poultry and eggs. We were there and were interviewed, but our words didn't make the final cut. However, you see Kaia and Amara somewhere at 3:55 which is the part where they capture a few of the women who were there. The beautiful feature captures Prof. Gobert, but there is so much more to tell and more resources and bring to his farm. That's where we come in, and that is why we have a system of documentation that tells another narrative that is important to add. We salute Prof. Gobert and his work as he is a refreshing presence in south Louisiana farming. https://lnkd.in/eJgfDH6i

Congratulations to Prof. Hilery Gobert, a retired Georgia college instructor who returned to his home of Iowa, Louisiana to farm. Prof. Gobert helped write the curriculum in organic farming for community colleges as a professor. Now he practices organic growing and conservation on his beloved Driftwood Farm. Thank goodness NPR saw how brilliant he is as he grows everything from figs, leafy greens like turnips and collards and bok choy to now cultivating rice. We asked him at a field day that he did for American Land Trust to talk about his rice growing project with Jubilee Justice, the only black-owned USDA organic farm in the state. Prof. Gobert is part of The Organic Council, which is a group of farmers who use organic practices. Thank you to Accredited Certifiers Association for supporting us to launch this initiative and listen to the stories of Black growers working towards organic certification. Here's the NPR story https://lnkd.in/gu2ZgmC5

We have been sayings this for years, and we are going to continue to expand on this fact. Many Black farmers grow organic produce, but have some of the lowest representation of being certified growers for USDA. Like Farmer Larry Jamison who managers Field Masters Produce in Tylerton, Mississippi. A family farm, the Jamison's use #organic growing practices to produce healthy, rich seasonal produce. That is why we're working to get more certified in the USDA's TOPP program. Back to Farmer Larry, like many older growers, he invests in the future with his S.T.EA.M. educational classes for children. But let's focus on that beautiful squash, big gorgeous garlic and leafy greens that you can get at his farm stand. This has us already digging out our butternut squash recipes for the fall. Back to you the reader, please think about diversifying your food supply for the coming holidays, but a Black farmer's harvest on your plate.