Oko Agriculture Learning Regenerative Agriculture

Hi, my name is Saalih Muhammad, a 26-year-old Richmond, CA native who has found love in agriculture. I played professional soccer for five years before journeying into agriculture. My life as a professional athlete reinforced my connection to food and its source, realizing its significance in health and performance. That relationship pushed me to dive deeper into the food cycle and its influence on society. As I began to research the structure of our food systems, the lack of sustainable agriculture practices hit me. Society cannot exist without food, and we have slowly degraded our farmland over time and must reverse the damage done before it's too late. So, I decided to take action and searched for opportunities in the agricultural field and found the fantastic people at Rio Grande Community Farm. They're an urban farm operating in the North Valley of Albuquerque, NM, on land that is one of the oldest parcels of continually farmed land in the United States. They have transformed this land into community gardens, wildlife habitats, and certified organic croplands with hard work and dedication. They've also started a farm incubation program to introduce a diverse group of humans into the agricultural field by reducing entry barriers. The farm provides infrastructure, land, and guidance to all willing to put in the time and effort required in farming.

The people at RGCF have provided me with an amazing opportunity and situated me on 1/4 acre of land. It will start as a market garden and a space to gain invaluable hands-on experience with the vision to scale up commercially over time. My goal is to repay the energy and support Jamie Welles "Executive Director" and Kelvin Schenk "Community Farm Coordinator," have poured into me. My ultimate vision is a commercial-scale regenerative farm business that fulfills multiple functions in communities that need us. I want to feed humans nutrient-dense food free from chemical pesticides and fertilizers, provide work and environmental education opportunities, and be a hub for community gathering and organizing. So, I've created this GoFundMe account because even though RGCF has provided as many resources as possible for my success, I still need the greater community's support to fulfill the requirements for a successful first growing season to be reinvested in Oko Agriculture's continued growth. Any amount is greatly appreciated; my mission is driven by a love for the people and desire to leave as positive an impact on the environment and fellow humans as possible before I leave this earth. Thank You

List of items donations will be used for:

Business:

Business License

Insurance

Merchandise

Germination:

Seeds

50 cell trays

Dome Covers

Heat Mat

2'' Pots

Drain Trays & No Drain Trays

Peat Moss

Coco Core

Perlight

Mushroom Mycorrizhal

Organic Fertilizer

Germination Fridge

Organic Flour

Bed Management:

Drip Header with Attachments for Hose 3/4 flex PVC/Drip Attachments

Drip Tape

Trellis Materials

Landscape Cloth

Digging Fork

30'' Rake

Garden Knife

Water Can

Acorn Shovel

Labeling Stakes

Shade Cloth

Soil Amendments:

Bat Guano

Manure

Compost

Wood Chips

Calcium

Fish Emulsion

Mushroom Compost

Equipment Storage:

Farm in a Box

Harvest:

Quick Greens Harvester, Dewalt cordless drill 20 volt w/2 batteries

Carrying bins colored for pre-wash

Rubber Bands

Harvest Knife

Cleaning:

Bubbler

Spinner

Drying Rack

Fans

Branding/ Label Stickers

Carrying bins colored post-wash

Cooler

Sales:

Canopy 10x10 popup canopy

6' Folding Tables

Table Cloth

Branding Banner

Portable Cooler

Display Materials