The green thumb is embedded in my bloodline. My grandmother and great–grandmother were both tobacco farmers in Virginia long before I was born. One would think that after their time farming tobacco, cultivating anything else would be at the back of their minds. Instead they both ended up growing their own food in Baltimore, a skill passed down a few generations to me to carry on being a steward of the land.
I grew up food insecure, but was still able to eat fresh vegetables from my great–grandmother’s garden on Sundays for dinner. Growing up in West Baltimore during the 90s there honestly were more choices for food than there currently are. You had the choice, if you had the funds, to eat from carryouts, Safeway, and Lexington and Hollins market. There were also churches that hosted pantries and gave out free food and clothing to people in the community.
When I was younger, I went on field trips to farms, always in rural areas. My association of farms was always with country land. It wasn’t until about 2018 that I was introduced to what an urban farm was. I was asked to photograph a friend of mine in a location that was right across from Whitelock Community Farm. I don’t think the farm was in full production, but it was just cool to know it existed in a community similar to mine. Ironically that was the same year that I started my West Baltimore Ruins project, taking photographs of vacant homes and businesses in West Baltimore that became an educational coffee table book three years later, which would provide me with my full circle moment in the next few years ahead.
In 2022 I experienced a devastating loss at the beginning of the year. My uncle was killed in a vehicular accident, and at that time I felt like I lost half of myself. But even though I was dealing with that grief, I still had work to do. The clock didn’t stop for me. Prior to my uncle’s death, I was hired for a photojournalism job that I was going to let go of because I felt like I couldn’t fulfill the commitment. But not taking this job would have been a big mistake. My assignment required me to photograph businesses in the Sandtown area, which led me to working at the farm I’m currently at, Strength to Love 2. Upon my visit I inquired about volunteering and ended up volunteering twice before I was hired. My inquiry happened partially because I was tired of working at Amazon and was looking for something that fit my personality and provided me peace. I also thought about my grandparents and the growing they have done in their lives and thought they would be proud of me if I picked up the skill. Self-sustainability probably played the biggest part in me quitting my job and taking a leap of faith.
We talk about high crime rates in impoverished areas of the city, not knowing that behavior starts with what we put in our bodies.
I feel that I was destined for this career because I adapted to it so easily. I learned the skills needed very quickly and my days at the farm didn’t and still doesn’t feel like work. Food insecurity is probably one of the most important issues that I tackle as a farmer. It is the root cause of many issues that you would probably not relate to having a nutritious diet. I’ve learned as a farmer how nutrient-dense food contributes to behavioral health. We talk about high crime rates in impoverished areas of the city, not knowing that behavior starts with what we put in our bodies. A lot of food that is sold in our communities has no nutritional value and contains brain-altering ingredients and sometimes chemicals. When children are acting out in school, rarely is there any inquiry about their diet. I am also someone who experienced some behavioral and learning incapability in my high school years because I was not eating adequate food. Having nutritious food in a direct radius of your home is a privilege, a privilege everyone should have.
Being an urban farmer, I’ve contributed to a better climate for West Baltimore. The air quality in West Baltimore and other pockets of Baltimore is significantly different than in affluent Baltimore neighborhoods. There’s some times where I’m working outside and can’t breathe because the air is so thick. With more urban farms developing in West Baltimore and around the city, it brings more trees which contributes to having better quality air. With more plants in the area they can also absorb toxins that pollute our air daily. Having an urban farm nearby can also improve the soil profile surrounding it. Most of Baltimore’s urban farms and gardens use organic practices, which means that there is life in the soil. That means that typically there are no harmful pesticides or chemicals used that will disrupt the soil’s ecosystem, which allows organisms to thrive and provide benefits for the crops. Living soil contributes to nutrient circulation. Planting flowers and other crops can help remove metals and lead from the soil as well making it safer to use for growing.
Having an urban farm in your neighborhood gives residents access to education. It is easy to yell at people and tell them that they need to eat healthier, but if there is no education around the food being grown then there will be a disconnect between the people and the food. I love that I am able to tell people in the neighborhood and outside of the neighborhood about the food that we are growing. People in the community also have access to jobs with these farms around. The work is demanding, but it is rewarding. It has helped me with my grief. My uncle’s death still disturbs me to the core, but when I am on the farm and I am able to just listen to birds chirping, it settles my spirit. Even if I have conflict on the farm it still serves as a source of peace. I usually just go into one of our green houses alone to decompress when that happens and eventually I am restored. Green houses are meant to keep the climate controlled to promote the growth of crops, but some days they’re my safe haven.
Building community and supporting the existing community is a vital part of my career. The community at my farm is forever changing, but the general Baltimore urban farming community is tight knit. If we don’t know each other personally, we know about each other’s farms. I’ve volunteered at other farms and some of us buy produce from one another to sell when the growing season may not be going well for one of us. When one farm is in need you can count on someone from another farm to be willing to help out.
Growing up close to and spending a little time living in the Sandtown neighborhood helps me bridge the gap between the farm and the community. We offer volunteering opportunities, job opportunities for youth and adults, vend at events, and host events on the farm to connect with everyone. In my three years of farming I’ve found that our challenge is engaging the community and the community having clarity on what we do in the space. I am no stranger to questioning a new development in my community. Having a farm in the middle of your inner city community is not normal, so we get pushback about who owns the space, where the produce is going, and if it is really “for” the community at all. Those questions are valid and with me being in a leadership position I plan to implement more initiatives to connect the farm to the community. If people know that the farm is also a resource for them, the connection and protection of the space strengthens. The block radius around the farm is not heavily populated, but we still have people from the neighborhood pop in to ask questions about the farm and inquire about getting involved.
Food is a great way to build relationships and community because it is a necessity for everyone. There have been a few times where community members have come by and leave with free produce. I have been able to bring people to the farm through my rideshare in the mornings — some drivers would see me getting out of their cars at the farm and ask what I do here. Once I tell them that I’m growing food they get excited and the interaction usually ends with me giving them a business card plus an invite back to the farm. When we are selling at the farmer’s market or attending/hosting events, it gives us an opportunity to network with people from Sandtown and other parts of Baltimore in hopes of being able to share our food with them one day or in that moment.
Food is a great way to build relationships and community because it is a necessity for everyone.
The workload for me is well worth the impact that I have on the community. On a day-to-day basis I am managing, doing farm maintenance, planting, harvesting and more. I wouldn’t trade it for any other career. I’ve been able to build community and understand how farming is a spiritual practice. It takes a lot of patience to be a farmer. A lot of skills that make a farmer can also be applied to your everyday life.
Being the only first-generation family member with a green thumb is special to me. I feel like I was passed the torch and I am meant to carry it to the next generation. I spent enough time around both my grandmother and great-grandmother in my youth so I feel like I am deserving. I’ve watched them both literally bend backwards to make sure the family was fed. I’ve enjoyed watching them harvest fresh cucumbers, collard greens, and green beans on a hot summer day even though I didn’t understand the significance then. Now, I get to return the favor. I’ve cultivated gardens for my grandmother and other city residents. This is my way of giving back and properly paying homage to the work my ancestors have done even, if the root of it did not begin in this city.