Collaboration is deeply rooted in the soil of Memphis, and that makes the local urban farming community ripe for impact! In a time when it is easy to be disconnected from your food sources, Memphis farmers are stepping up to make sure the community has a meaningful connection with their food and the people growing it.
In 2015, Derravia and Bobby Rich turned their gardening hobby into a business with Black Seeds Urban Farms. Their impact goes beyond their plot of land in Uptown — they work year-round to build community. They bring their produce to the people through a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program and serve as a sustaining supplier of Roxie’s Market, a vibrant community-driven marketplace located near St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“Memphis is cool in a way that we’re reaching a critical mass of urban farmers. It’s not just Black Seeds — it’s Alpha and Omega, The Works, Tubby Creek, Jones Orchard, Greenleaf, The Produce Tribe ... and we’re all CNG-certified, which is the same standard as organic growing. We have the same ethics, the same certification, good agricultural practices, and the farmers that are CNG certified go and [work together to] recertify each other's farms — you scratch each other’s backs.”
Another collaborator in the Memphis urban farming scene is Camille “Farmer C” James, who has been getting her hands dirty through Halls of Ivy since 2021. Halls of Ivy focuses primarily on the educational side of the food system through programming like Farmer C Garden Project, Seed 2 Market entrepreneurial training, and the What Color Are You Today? book series.
Both Black Seeds Urban Farms and Halls of Ivy have bountiful opportunities to grow together as a community and learn from each other. Part of their work involves showcasing career opportunities. Yes, there are roles that let you dig in the dirt, but farm management also involves business strategies, supply chain logistics, science, civic knowledge, marketing, and more. Plus, as Memphis continues to lead as the AgTech capital of the world (yes, the WORLD!), job opportunities can scale up. So, for youth in Memphis who want to have a meaningful role in the workforce, urban farming is an option they can explore with role models like Black Seeds Urban Farms and Halls of Ivy.
Want to hear more about the collaborations taking root in Memphis?
Listen to this conversation with Black Seeds Urban Farms and Halls of Ivy on Meanwhile in Memphis!
Hear from real leaders making a real impact in Memphis each week on the Meanwhile in Memphis podcast, airing on Tuesdays at 8am on WYXR 91.7 FM and streaming wherever you prefer to listen podcasts.
Great cities need great leaders, and New Memphis builds them. New Memphis is a leadership development organization that infuses Memphis with leaders who are passionate about positive community change and have the skills needed to take action. New Memphis’ leadership development programs inspire thought, connection, and action, helping participants find meaningful ways to use their talents and networks to be effective city advocates at any point in their careers — from the college classroom to the C-Suite executive.
