Starting a Small Farm for Black Heirloom Seeds

My name is Amirah Mitchell, I am raising funds to start my small farm business, Sistah Seeds.

 

Sistah Seeds will be a seed production farm focused on African, African-American, and Afro-Caribbean heirloom vegetable seeds. Additionally, the farm will serve as an educational site for community members interested in learning how to grow and save their own seed crops.

 

In my farming practice, I prioritize regenerative agricultural techniques, such as minimal tillage, cover cropping, and using compost, mulch, and natural amendments in place of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. The goal of such practices is to maintain and even rebuild the health of the land .

 

The money I raise here will be used to:

rent an acre of land from a farm incubator program

rent out tractors and other equipment as necessary

purchase farm tools

purchase seed, compost, mulch and soil amendments

install irrigation

construct a drying shed

create an emergency/ contingency fund

support myself in the first year of growing

Goals:
$12,000 - will cover my startup costs

$15,000 - will create emergency fund

$32,000 - will be able to give myself a small stipend to live on for the first growing season

 

About me:

I have a Bachelors in Horticulture from Temple University and have worked in agriculture, and food/land justice organizations since 2007, including four years at Truelove Seeds, a Philadelphia-based farm and heirloom seed company. I also create educational programming around seedkeeping and agroecology, most recently, piloting a fellowship program at Greensgrow Farm for aspiring seed growers.

 

I look forward to starting my own farm, to provide seeds to local farmers, and to continue developing educational programming for the community.


To support, donate here or on my website: https://www.sistahseeds.com/support