Agriculture Bae: 6 Black Women Making Farming Accessible And Revolutionary
We see it all over social: The recipes with fresh fruits and veggies and exotic spices. We see all the health-conscious gworls adding soul to what would be bland salads and soups. We double-tap content of women moving down South or overseas to nurture crops in their backyards or start urban gardens on city rooftops.
With the challenges of food deserts in Black communities, as well as the global food problem that negatively impacts communities of color all around the world, representation is important. And as Black women heading households, meal prepping, trying to stay healthy, and facing issues like lack of access and funds to keep up, there are activists, creatives, farmers, and advocates working to forge change for all of us.
Here are a few of them that we should all be giving our flowers to this Black History Month and beyond:
Abril Giles of Beauty Herbs Tea
Giles, who has shared her journey (and struggles) to gain ownership of 87 acres of Georgia land (that includes multiple streams and pear, apple, and persimmon trees, to name a few), founded an online shop that offers tea, merchandise, and classes from trained herbalists.
She also launched a herbal retreat, that allows attendees to enjoy luxury while getting knowledge on indigenous herbalism and culture, and a school. She’s been super-clear about her mission to educate about the impact of land theft and funding discrimination that Black farmers and land owners have historically faced while empowering via content embracing a mix of Afro-centric beauty, fashion, art, and of course, farming.
Kelis of Bounty Farms
It was a big shock to many when Kelis decided to pursue her love for food as a trained chef in 2014, and then, when she stepped back from publicly prioritizing music for a bit to focus on her farm in 2020, We've all been inspired not only by the beautiful star quality she lends to anything she does, but the fact that her mere presence as an unapologetic Afro-Latina woman in fab branded dungarees, continues the legacy of Black women farming the land and using the fruits for everything from food, to hair products, to sauces.
Her boxes, filled with goodies like organic face creams made with cucumber seed oil, or kits that include raspberry-infused red wine vinegar often sell out within hours of their release, giving a nod to the fact that the stuff that grows from the earth can have divine, diverse, and wildly popular uses.
Clarenda Stanley of Green Heffa Farms
Stanley, CEO of Green Heffa Farms, left a career in fundraising to start her farm and attracts a robust Instagram following of more than 180,000 with her tell-it-like-it-is depictions of what it truly means to be a Black woman who fully owns a farm. She’s big on what she calls “the 4Es: economic empowerment, equity, education, and environment,” helping to connect other underrepresented and underserved farmers with resources, educating them on starting, owning, and expanding farms, and embracing sustainability and ethical farming practices.
Jillian Hishaw
A strategist and attorney trained in agriculture, food systems, and asset protection, Hishaw has fought on behalf of Black farmers who have experienced discrimination and other tactics that threaten land ownership. She brings her passion to the work from her own personal experience: Her family lost their Oklahoma farm by shady means and they later found out the farm was replaced by an oil pump, according to her book. She has written other books educating farm and land owners about their rights and other issues related to underserved communities when it comes to the multi-trillion-dollar asset of farm real estate.
She is also the CEO of Family Agriculture Resource Management Services (F.A.R.M.S.) an international non-profit organization that provides legal services to small Black farmers within the U.S. and globally. Her efforts have helped small farms beat foreclosure, addressed rural poverty through donations and advocacy, and combated food insecurity in communities around the world.
Alexis Nikole Nelson of Black Forager
More than 5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram love her refreshing and fun content informing us all about the everyday joys of finding amazing fresh foods, as she collects and cooks everything from yellow dandelions to summer oyster mushrooms to Kentucky coffee beans. Beyond exposing us to the wonders of free goodies possibly growing right in our backyards, her content advocates for respect for nature while opening all of our eyes to consider trying to produce, spices, and herbs beyond what we might traditionally be used to. She also shares unique vegan dishes via her own recipes.
Karena Polk of Lettuce Live
Polk serves as “chief farm officer” of Lettuce Live, an urban farm project founded in 2012. A partnership with United Health Care and Wal-Mart in Memphis has expanded into a community-based initiative to launch a small business selling herbs and vegetables, as well as offering monthly cooking classes with a culinary art school.
Polk is a garden educator who hosts hands-on garden courses and team-building workshops. She also builds on-site gardens for individuals and corporations, serving the mission of Lettuce Live to “create more opportunities for people to grow their own food while ensuring under-served communities have access to fresh produce.”
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'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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How Power Women Protect Their Finances With Smart Money Boundaries
No matter what it is, setting boundaries can be challenging, especially when those boundaries involve money. But if you want to sustain success and financial freedom, boundaries are important, both with yourself and with others.
Many wealthy successful women have mastered setting boundaries and prioritizing accountability so that they can ensure they remain that way. Let's face it: If you want a certain quality of life and you work hard to achieve that, you don't want to risk it by taking on habits that jeopardize your financial stability.
Be inspired to not only set money boundaries but keep them by taking heed to the common financial boundaries power women of today establish:
1. They pay themselves first.
Building consistent savings habits is important to wealth-building no matter how much you earn, and the practice is often one that continues even after you're well-booked and well-paid. Actress, producer, and philanthropist Queen Latifah has always been a proponent of this after learning from her mom to "save your money."
This is the epitome of the energy behind paying yourself first. You squirrel something away and take care of yourself by taking care of your future first, before paying any bills. You invest in yourself (within your means and with a budget in mind, of course).
2. They don't loan money without clear repayment rules and expectations are agreed upon.
It's awesome to be able to help people out by loaning them money, but when you don't communicate clearly about repayment (or what will happen if the money is not repaid) you set yourself up for a cycle of taking on other's debts and maybe even building more debt of your own.
Unless you're doing charity, set those boundaries early about when and how a loan will be repaid. And if you know you won't get the money back, rethink the loan altogether.
3. They create budgets that are realistic and reflect their current lifestyle.
In her book, What I Know for Sure, Oprah Winfrey wrote, “I hope the way you spend your money is in line with the truth of who you are and what you care about.” This is key for many successful women, especially when they're budgeting and investing.
Issa Rae told Money.com, "I don’t splurge just because. I will never have 17 cars. I will never have expensive jewelry. I don’t spend that much on my clothes, or shoes. I will spend money on a stylist, and a makeup artist, because those things feel necessary for work. But material things? No."
There's a clear indication that there are clear value systems sustained by what matters to them no matter how much they make, and budgeting is a huge part of that.
4. They consider the long-term effects of a rash purchase before proceeding.
It's totally okay to treat yourself, but if you find yourself impulsively buying things you don't really need or always living check to check because you've maxed out your credit card to take that sixth trip in one year, there's a problem that might put a damper on those financial freedom plans. (That is unless your trip is part of how you make your money, and it's a worthy investment into expanding your prospects.)
Successful women are conscious of the long- and short-term effects of purchases, small and large. They're always thinking about how one action can impact the bigger picture.
5. They are givers and believe in the reciprocity of that.
Many of us are familiar with the famous quote, "To whom much is given, must is required," and there's that undertone of service and charity that is a common thread for wealthy, successful women, especially those who run businesses or lead brands. Involving yourself in acts of service not only enriches your development and that of communities, but it increases your exposure, network, and credibility, often leading to more opportunities to make more money.
Most leading CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals are big on giving back, whether it is through resources, a nonprofit, money, or their time. "As you become more successful, it's important for you to give back. Even if you can't financially give back, kind words and sharing about other businesses on social media mean so much. Every little thing counts. Help out your friends and family with advice, encouragement, and support," said Angela Yee, award-winning radio host and entrepreneur.
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Originally published on August 16, 2024