Break Ground with Us!

Coyote Gourd Farms is borne of our family, living and ancestral. A granddaughter of sharecroppers and plant ladies, herbalists and root workers of the highest degree, my people fled the South but the South never fled us. Our connection to the Earth has been unwavering since childhood, and She calls us to steward Her even in the direst of circumstances. We don’t think of the hood as Land, but it is. Underneath our concrete jungle is living soil, and every tree or shrub that comes from that soil is our kin. Many of us in the city have forgotten that, or don’t have the space to connect with that Earth that we love, and that nourishes us. We have broken and fled the chains that bound us in the old country, but at some point we must stop running and face our destiny as stewards and lovers of the land.

Coyote Gourd Farms is our understanding of that destiny. A Black family owned and operated farm, right here in South Central. A place where community can come and grow together, share and receive guidance on nutrition and health, and most importantly, receive the healthy,nutritious delicious food of our people. Collards, mustards, turnips, pumpkin and sweet potato, good tender okra, eggplants, cabbages, sweet peppers, and everything that has sustained our people. All grown by us,for us, on land that we have watched over now for hundreds of years. Land that we can now steward in a good way, bringing back native plants as well as growing delicious, nutritious food for our community!

We envision a farmer’s market, filled with Black grown produce, herbs, staples and necessities, where we can come and shop, get a healthy snack, get some herbs right around the corner. We are forging partnerships with local growers to provide good fresh staples, like black eyed peas, Lima beans and rice, and other beans, roots and important cultural foods. We are planning community programming, offering gardening and nutrition workshops, community events and resources, free seeds and seedlings as well as offering produce.

For now, we are focused on breaking ground at the church on 65th and Western, removing the concrete parking lot, remediating the soil, adding compost and hopefully beginning planting by Summer/Fall 2025.

We are raising money towards this, with our first goal being $2,000 for the cost of removing the concrete parking lot. Other upcoming costs will include:

Soil Testing and Remediation - We will need to test the soil for chemicals, and consult with a Native soil specialist and habitat remediator to support us in our natural restoration process. We anticipate this process in full will cost us $3-5,000.

Inputs and Infrastructure: After remediation has been complete (which we anticipate taking 6-9 months), we must add nutrients back into the soil via compost and other organic matter. We also have to layout the structure of the farm itself, including the marking out of rows, building of beds, and any outside infrastructure we may need (such as a tool shed, irrigation, or other structures. Inputs are estimated at $2,000, including labor, tools, cost of compost, manure and transport. Infrastructure costs are not yet confirmed.

Programmatic Costs: We will be offering regular programming at the farm including workshops on nutrition, herbalism, home gardening, seed saving, and other relevant community programs. These will cost money, including supplies, speaker fees, food and childcare. We would love any and all support, whether that’s donating your money, time, or expertise!