“Own the Science, and the Sovereignty will Follow.”
Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm — 3811 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore City
What inspired you to pursue a career in agriculture, and what keeps you passionate about it today?
My inspiration didn't come from a romanticized view of "back-to-the-land" farming. It came from a diagnosis. Growing up in Baltimore, I saw the "Bad History" of our community written in the health charts of my neighbors. As a Biologist, I saw high rates of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension—diseases that were being treated as inevitable when they were actually preventable. I realized that if food was being used as a weapon of neglect, it could also be used as a tool for liberation. I was inspired by the idea that an urban farm in the hood could transform and function as a clinical treatment center. I wanted to move beyond just "planting vegetables" and into the high-science world of Cleaner Greener Foods (CGF). I wanted to be an architect of a system where the elementary school children grow food in their community to feed senior adults and those most at risk.
What is the biggest challenge you've faced as a woman in farming, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge I've faced isn't the physical labor or the climate; it's the perception gap. In the traditional agricultural narrative, women—especially women of color in urban spaces—are often categorized as "community gardeners." There is a soft, almost patronizing assumption that we are just "playing in the dirt" or managing a "neighborhood hobby." When I walk into a room to discuss 10,000-gallon rainwater harvesting arrays, Internet of Things (IoT) mini weather station, or the legislative reclassification of urban grow areas to "Agriculture Production Zones," I often encounter a wall of skepticism. People expect a "feel-good" story about a community garden, but they aren't always prepared for a High-Science CEO who is building critical municipal infrastructure. Being underestimated is a constant hurdle, but it is also my greatest competitive advantage. I didn't overcome this challenge by asking for permission; I overcame it through Technical Mastery and Data Fidelity. I shifted the conversation from "planting seeds" to "engineering resilience." By mastering the Digital Heartbeat —from the labs that test our soil to the sensors that track our rainfall, wind direction, temperature and current overall conditions—I made our results undeniable. It's hard to patronize a farmer when she's presenting real-time data that proves her "Cleaner Greener Foods" are more nutrient-dense than anything in the commercial supply chain. I focused on the Agrihood Academy. By training a fleet of young women to manage our Gothic high tunnels and modular systems, we created an "Engine of Scale" that can't be ignored. When people see a team of young women from Park Heights operating a technology driven urban farm with six (6) ongoing IRB Approved Studies onsite, the "hobbyist" label disappears. I stopped trying to fit into the "traditional" black urban farmer mold. I leaned into the "Reality-Based" approach of Agrihood Baltimore. I recognized that my role is as much about Land-Use Strategy and Preventative Medicine as it is about biology. Today, I don't just farm; I manage a global innovation node. I overcame the challenge by proving that a woman's place in agriculture isn't just in the field—it's in the lab, in the boardroom, and at the helm of the global 410-to-868 corridor. From the streets of Baltimore 🇺🇸 to the islands of Trinidad & Tobago 🇹🇹, we are showing the world that the most dangerous thing you can do is underestimate a woman with a plan, a high tunnel, and a burning desire to lift up women across the globe.
Are you a first-generation farmer, or are you carrying on a family legacy?
I am a 2nd generation farmer… my grandfather was a 4-H supporter and an Equine member.
What is one piece of advice you would give to the next generation of young women entering the agricultural field?
"Own the Science, and the Sovereignty will Follow."
What is the most rewarding part of your day-to-day life on the farm?
Nothing compares to the moment I see a young woman in the Agrihood Academy stop calling herself a "Helper" and start identifying as a "Specialist." Watching a young student from Park Heights lead a tour for city officials and explain the mechanics of our 2,000-gallon rainwater harvesting array or the protocols of our six IRB-approved studies is incredible.
