@browngirlfarms // browngirlfarms.com
Shop their look: AMERICA NEEDS LESBIAN FARMERS
What made you decide to start Brown Girl Farms?
I started Brown Girl Farms at the beginning of the pandemic. I had just transitioned out of my job. With everyone in quarantine, I noticed people were wanting to grow plants and were wanting to support purchasing locally grown food. I knew I had the skills to be able to grow food, plant starts, and flowers. I was also missing connecting to community so I began cultivating our patio garden space. It felt nourishing to be able to provide people with the experience of growing and eating fresh and locally grown food.
What is the mission of Brown Girl Farms and why is it important?
Brown Girl Farms serves to provide beauty and care to the community through market vegetables, African American heritage crops, and unique seasonal flower bouquets. Our farm was birthed from a belief that queer, black, woman farmers need more representation and celebration in the growing world. Our mission is important because in a field that focuses on the white male narrative, our mission aims to celebrate and uplift not only black women farmers but also black queer women farmers.
How did you decide to take the leap and follow your passion?
I was at the next chapter in life and at first not exactly sure what my next steps would be. However, the pandemic starting so close to when I left my previous job along with my longing to still be connected to the community through food, were the catalysts to starting Brown Girl Farms. During quarantine, I began envisioning Brown Girl Farms before we even had the farm that we live at and operate today. My advice to others hoping to start a small business is to along with visioning about your business make sure to research and make a checklist of everything that is needed to form and operate a business in your state. Also make connections with small business owners that are already operating businesses in the industry you are interested.
How are you changing the sustainable farming space within your community and industry?
First, I believe that my mere existence as a farmer is changing the sustainable farming space. By running Brown Girl Farms, I represent and celebrate the many intersecting identities that farmers can and do have but are not always uplifted or celebrated. Secondly, because our farm focuses on growing African-American heritage crops, our community feels the care and prioritization we take of including produce that is culturally significant.
Favorite part of the farm?
One of my favorite parts of the farm is our hoop house where we propagate all of our plant starts. In the morning it's so calming to water the baby plants and check to see what's newly growing.
What are you thankful for everyday?
I am thankful for our home and farm and the nourishment that it provides to my family and our community!
Can anyone visit?
At this time our farm is not open to the public but we have mobile grocery pop ups where we bring a little bit of the farm to communities. We partner with local businesses to pop up in front of their stores and feature a variety of produce and farm goods!
Do you sell your products online?
We sell merchandise and apparel online like our farm t-shirts, canvas bags and more!
How can people support Brown Girl Farms?
People can support our farm by applying to our csa produce box program so that we can continue to grow year to year! We also appreciate people following our journey on instagram and sharing our posts and stories with others!
Favorite LGBTQIA+ Charity/Organization and why?
One LGBTQIA+ organization that is important to me is Slow Growing Business Coaching which is led by queer and BIPOC entrepreneurs Celeste and Simone. Their organization is one of my favorites because it provides a safe and inclusive environment for queer and BIPOC business owners to show up authentically and gain business and finance skills!
ABOUT:
Ashlee Johnson-Geisse is the farmer and founder of Brown Girl Farms. She lives on the farm in Hayward with her wife Jen, german shepherd Journey, and a funny flock of chickens! When not farming, she enjoy listening to music, going on hikes, and supporting local restaurants and trying new dishes!
