Miss McDonald has a farm.
E-I-E-I-O.
As a black female farmer celebrating black history month.
I would like to acknowledge and thank all the great people of color for their contributions.
With their advocacy, sacrifice, strength and honor the world is a more equitable place for all people.
Although the struggles are very real as a black female farmer, I stay positive.
I would like to inspire young people, by letting them know they have the ability to be whatever they want to be.
My grandparents and great grandparents were farmers in Jamaica.
Of seven children, I alone choose to continue to play in the dirt although it’s a family business.
I am totally supported by my siblings and offspring on and off the farm.
I started out 10 years ago as a test cropper on a quarter acre of land and minimal funds.
As I believed in myself, we went on to grow the business out of pocket alongside family contributions.
Today, we operate a successful farm and farmers markets.
We attribute this to passion, hard work, diversity, loyalty, originality, listening and delivering an awesome customer experience.
The moral of the story is, you don’t have to do a job you hate you can do what you love to do.
You too can make good things grow.
The struggles will always be there, work with it.
Learn something new this Black History Month.
Audrey M is a staff member at CHIRS and also the founder of The Greenhouse Eatery.