Hey family! Pull up a chair, grab your favorite cup of something warm, and let’s talk about why supporting Black farmers isn’t just important—it’s essential right now.
A Story Written in Our Soil
Did you know that a century ago, nearly 1 million Black farmers cultivated 16 million acres of land in the U.S.? Today, fewer than 46,000 remain—managing just around 5 million acres. That’s an 87% decline in land ownership—and with it, so much generational wealth and wisdom has been lost. Much of this came down to stolen property, discriminatory practices, and heirs’ property laws that made it easy to dispossess Black families from farmland they’d called home for generations.
Why Supporting Black Farmers Feeds the Future
1. Food & Health Justice
Black farmers often grow food with ecological awareness and ancestral knowledge. When we invest in them, we’re choosing produce that nourishes our bodies and our connection to culture.
2. Reclaiming Economic Power
Agriculture is capital-intensive. By choosing to support local farmers—especially Black growers—we’re helping rebuild the land and wealth often denied to their families for decades.
3. Uplifting Community Ecosystems
Meet Dreaming Out Loud, a D.C.-based CSA program led by Black women. In the pandemic, their CSA membership shot from 150 to 1,200 families—and they funneled over $350,000 into Black, women-owned businesses while delivering 250,000 meals to hungry neighbors.
Ways to Actively Support Black Farmers
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Buy direct: Farmers markets, CSAs, and farm stands are where your dollars do more than just buy produce—they build community.
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Ask questions: “Where is this from?” “Who grew it?” Let curiosity inform your choices.
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Volunteer or share: Attend farm workdays, amplify their stories on social media, or donate to organizations like the National Black Farmers Association.
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Push for policy change: Advocate for debt relief for Black farmers and support equity-minded legislation like the Justice for Black Farmers Act.
How We Support Farmers
At our current farm site, we share space and community with 10 other farmers. As an act of solidarity, we often lend a helping hand with farm tasks. Whether we’re sharing soil inputs, irrigation supplies, time, seedlings, or good old sweat equity, it’s all about building community. We understand that if one part of our collective isn’t doing well, it affects us all.
It’s important to us that we do our part to support our people. We want our community to be healthy and ready for the struggles that we face. Quality of life and living are important to the overall health of the community. Food sovereignty is just one piece to this intricate puzzle that is life as a Black American.
Final Heartbeats
Supporting Black farmers now is a profound act of reparation. It’s local, practical, and soulful. Whether you’re shopping at a market, joining a CSA, or simply speaking their names—you’re cultivating more than food. You’re cultivating hope, equity, and legacy.