Support Black-owned Khelcom Farm

Starting a new career just shy of your 50th revolution around the sun isn't something you do for fun it's something you do for survival and for self-preservation. I didn't create this campaign to walk you through my friends' experience or to make you feel sorry but to acknowledge the perseverance of my friends and to uplift their determination to find a peaceful life in Vermont. 

Every human should be able to safely earn a living and provide for their family -- when repeated circumstances prove an uneven playing field you have to get creative and I'm no stranger to this.

My name is Rachel, these are my friends and more so, my family, and I'm calling on our community. It's my hope that you will consider making a donation or leaving kind words to SUPPORT KHELCOM FARM a black-owned, urban farm coming this summer to Berlin, Vermont. **And because it has to be said, any unsupportive or hurtful comments will be removed.

Marja and Abdoulaye would never ask for a single $ and they are fully determined to figure this out on their own but I wanted to offer an opportunity for people to support the journey of a black farmer in Vermont - it has not been an easy road. The sacrifice and dedication required to plan and execute this new adventure have been immense and like most things, expensive in time and dollars. I am no stranger to the power of COMMUNITY and cannot think of anyone more worthy of being held and uplifted by its power. ANY SUPPORT is very much appreciated.

It is hard to put a number on monetary need. Khelcom is a farm start-up and is being completely funded by them as a family.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND BECAUSE IT MATTERS

Abdoulaye is an immigrant from Senegal in West Africa. He is a trained professional in precision machining. He has worked in multiple machine shops in Vermont and experienced racism in a variety of different ways. He made a valiant effort to work with co-workers and company management/HR to address it in a meaningful way with very little response and little to no progress. Unfortunately, after suffering racist experiences at four separate shops in Vermont, he came to realize he had to accept this as a deep-rooted systemic culture problem. Though he loved his work and relied on his paycheck he decided he needed to leave the profession in order to free himself from pervasive racism. Abdoulaye left machining permanently in April of 2020. He did not come to this decision lightly but refused to continue to sacrifice his dignity and keep his mouth shut about the vituperative culture.

WHY FARMING DO THEY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FARMING?

Abdoulaye and Marja have had intricate gardens at every apartment they've lived in (which are many) and became homeowners in 2018 - they by chance ended up with a perfect slice of land for an urban farm! Their interest and skill in growing things and keeping animals have continued to blossom and last year Marja encouraged Abdoulaye to attend the Farmer Training Program at UVM - he graduated from the program in the fall of 2021. It provided him with an amazing foundation in sustainable agriculture as well as many great resources and contacts. The program ultimately helped their family to achieve the vision for their property and they hope, a means for Abdoulaye to make a living in a dignified way as a self-employed farmer.

WHO BENEFITS?

They are a family of five with 3 small children and have worked hard together to make way for a secure future. Marja is a flight nurse for DHART (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team) and works more than full-time while Abdoulaye focuses on advancing his education and executing the multitude of tasks required to transition into a farming career.

Through all of this - they are greatly distanced from their family in Senegal but find peace and security in knowing that their work here will encourage and inspire their family in Africa and provide them the means to acquire new skills and improve self-sufficiency.

WE CAN HELP

Any financial support they receive would help them to get the farm operational and profitable sooner. They are 100% committed to this career change and this farm start-up. Abdoulaye deserves a career he can have pride in. It is important to him to be able to positively contribute to preserving a healthy environment and to provide access to the local food economy for both his family, community, and anyone who has felt excluded from it. This career will also lend easily to teaching their children valuable land-based skills and position him as an example and a resource to our community and other farmers of color. The sooner they can get the farm up and running, the sooner they can tackle the more intangible goals they have for Khelcom Farm.

They've made it this far and I know they would find their way through on their own but SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT and I think they deserve it - I want them to FEEL it. I want them to know folks don't just believe in their dream for peace and fulfillment but they are willing to show up for it.

They have a ton of expenses. It will be over $25,000 and I would love to be able to cover their farmstand and market expenses which is why I chose $5,000 we have already raised $800 on Instagram! ❤️

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Some of the expenses:

Farmer Training Program

Business Registration and insurance

Farmers market fees

Market stand setup (tables, coolers, signage, baskets, bins, bags, cashbox, etc)

Farmstand setup (paint, used furniture, signage, camera, etc)

Website, online store, payment processing

Creative software, bookkeeping software, iPad for transactions

Farm supplies (seeds, fencing, water, hoses, testing, tools, supplies, etc)

Standing cooler

Greenhouse/hoop house

Wash-station

AND SO MUCH MORE