April 14, 2025, 10:00 a.m. ET
Originally published May 16, 2025
The Richmond Seen met with three Black farmers shaping the region’s agricultural future. In a time of political tension and renewed calls for food justice, we asked each the same set of questions. Their answers speak to legacy, resistance, and the power of growing your own.
In Richmond, a city with deep agricultural roots and an equally deep history of racial inequity, the resurgence of Black farming carries a powerful weight. Land, food, and sovereignty have long been entwined in the Black experience, and today, a new generation of farmers is reclaiming that legacy. With systemic barriers still in place and political tensions continuing to rise, especially around land access, food deserts, and environmental justice, we felt it was vital to hear directly from those cultivating change—literally.
We sat down with three Black farmers from the Richmond area and asked them a set of questions that go beyond soil and seed. We wanted to know what sparked their journeys, how their work ties to generational history, and what it means to grow food, and community, as a Black person in today’s America.
This week, Natasha — a veteran, farmer & owner for Healing Hope Urban Gardens — answers our questions.
What inspired you to start farming, and how does it connect to your roots?
My great grandmother Bessie has been my inspiration, she was raised on a farm. She introduced me to gardening as a young child. I would be helping her pull weeds in her garden and she cooked what she grew.
Given today’s political climate, how important is it for Black people to continue farming?
It is crucial that we continue to farm, grow backyard gardens, start community gardens in our own neighborhoods, and volunteer with other local farms. We must not solely rely on our national food systems, we are seeing first hand how vulnerable and unreliable it is.
What advice do you have for someone in a suburban or urban area who wants to start farming?
I would say to just do it and don’t doubt your abilities and the skills you may already possess. Seek out other local farms, ask about apprenticeships, internships or just ways that you can learn. Start small and have a plan to grow every year.
What are the easiest crops to start growing for beginners?
I would say leafy greens (lettuces, kale, arugula), summer squash, peppers.
How can people support Black-owned farms and food businesses?
Shop directly with us and if you are happy with the service then let others know. Support isn’t always about money either, volunteer some time on the farms, help at the market booth or pass along resources that you may know of.
Learn about Natasha’s small urban farm located in Petersburg, VA and support the growth.
Duron Chavis — advocate, urban farmer, and owner for Sankofa Orchard & Happily Natural Festival — answers our questions next.
What inspired you to start farming, and how does it connect to your roots?
I started farming as a result of working with black farmers. They were some of the earliest vendors at our Happily Natural Day Festival. As our relationship with them grew we started doing pop up farmers markets in formerly redlined neighborhoods and from there were inspired to start gardens. That work turned into us starting urban farms across the city of Richmond.
Given today’s political climate, how important is it for Black people to continue farming?
Farming is one way for our community to take power. If we control our food system, we insulate ourselves from the shocks of whatever the political climate is. Nobody should be reliant on outside forces as to whether or not you eat. Farming for me is about self determination and we need more action that builds our agency, culturally and economically. Food is one way for us to do that.
What advice do you have for someone in a suburban or urban area who wants to start farming?
I would say if you want to start farming, connect with a farmer and start volunteering. Spend time working on a farm. Learn. Study. Connect with us, we got training programs and if you about that life, we can get you on the land through our incubator farm programs across the region.
What are the easiest crops to start growing for beginners?
The easiest crops for me would be greens. Lettuce. Radishes. They don’t take a long time to grow and don’t need a lot. The way we farm its all about the soil. If you got healthy soil you can grow anything that fits our region with ease cuz the plants grow themselves.
How can people support Black-owned farms and food businesses?
Stop boycotting black farmers. That’s the biggest and most important thing people can do to support black farmers, is to stop boycotting them. Ask your friends if they know a black farmer and when the last time they spent money with them. We pay Netflix every month but be hard pressed to remember last time we spent money with a black farmer. That’s the same thing for black food businesses in general but even with black food businesses – I ask the same question – who do they get they produce from? We have to remember we live in a racist society and if we don’t support our own farmers – how do we expect them to survive?
You can learn more on Duron, and his 5-acre property called Sankofa Orchards.
Navi Johnson — owner for the RVA Black Farmer’s Market answers our questions.
What inspired you to start farming, and how does it connect to your roots?
Believe it or not, I’ve only gardened. I grew up helping my grandmother tend to her garden. That was my first experience tending to the land, getting my hands dirty, and how my love for growing and planting came to be. I would definitely call myself an aspiring farmer though. I used to go to my great’s house and pick apples right off the trees, grapes off the vine, and get fresh eggs from the chickens. So it’s definitely embedded in my DNA to grow, and little did I know then, they we’re preparing me.
Given today’s political climate, how important is it for Black people to continue farming?
Black people getting back into the land during times to uncertainty is our survival skill. It’s our connection to self and our ancestors. It’s resilience. Now, we need to sustain ourselves for the long-term. These are survival skills that we’ve let slip away getting too comfortable. We can’t get comfortable anymore.
What advice do you have for someone in a suburban or urban area who wants to start farming?
The easiest way to get started is to start indoors. Start saving seeds from organic produce that you like – plant them and stick them in the window until they sprout and then plant them in a raised bed or even buckets. It doesn’t take much to get started.
What are the easiest crops to start growing for beginners?
Herbs are very easy to grow and they grow fast. They also don’t require a lot of maintenance and can be grown indoors.
How can people support Black-owned farms and food businesses?
Black people can support Black-owned farms most by volunteering. I love visiting my vendor’s farms and helping them with whatever they need, whether it’s turning over soil or building deer fences, a lot of them need the manual help. Come to the market and buy from them. The best way to support a Black farmer is to show up for them.
Learn more about the RVA Black Farmer’s Market, and their summer schedule.
