Black Farmers Collective creates community space for youth in Seattle urban farming program
“It’s about us wanting to learn and then share that knowledge, ” Engmann said. “We focus on how we can empower our community and how the environment plays a role in health equity.”
By Sylvia Jarrus
Seattle Times
Aug 21, 2021
Excerpt:
A 1.5-acre farm that sits on land once occupied by Washington state’s first racially integrated public housing development is producing food, flowers and opportunities for teens of color to dig into history as well as the soil.
For a third year, the Black Farmers Collective has partnered with iUrban Teen to create an urban farming experience for youth at Yes Farm, which grows crops and hosts community-building events and educational programming.
Perched along I-5, the farm bursts with flowers, beehives, vegetables and a medicinal plant garden. When the teens are on the scene, the air fills with laughter, wheelbarrow races, and jokes in between farm tasks and workshops. Each participating student receives a $100 stipend.
Farm manager Hannah Wilson, 24, who’s worked at Yes Farm for a year, is passionate about educating youth.
“Historically, Black folks haven’t had the same access to green space or land ownership, so I really try to ground the youth in the fact that we’re on Indigenous land,” Wilson said. “And I want them to know that Black farmers used to have this major part in America and now less than 2% of farmland is owned by Black farmers.”
