Urban and Community Farming
Cultivating Roots and Nourishing Communities.
AfriThrive’s Urban and Community Farming program strengthens food sovereignty, preserves cultural heritage, and empowers families to thrive. Grounded in regenerative practices and community wisdom, our farming sites are living classrooms, healing spaces, and centers of cultural pride.
Why Community Farming?
Food insecurity continues to affect many families in the Washington D.C. and Maryland region, especially among underserved Black immigrant populations. By transforming underutilized land into thriving community farms and gardens, AfriThrive:
Increases access to culturally appropriate, nutrient-rich produce
Promotes intergenerational learning rooted in African food traditions
Builds knowledge in organic, climate-smart agriculture
Encourages economic resilience through beginner farmer training
Supports systems change by linking food production, distribution, and education
These efforts align with our broader vision of building thriving families and communities.
Where We Grow
AfriThrive Cultural Farm
19125 Jerusalem Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837
Our flagship farm is a two-acre site dedicated to culturally significant crops like pumpkin leaves, African nightshades (Managu), and spider leaves (Saga). It serves as both a regenerative farm and a cultural preservation site, rooted in heritage and sustainability.
Families can participate in seasonal plantings, farm tours, and hands-on education programs that pass on vital skills in food production, healthy cooking, and conservation.
Kemp Mill Elementary School Garden
411 Sisson St, Silver Spring, MD 20902
This school-based garden fosters healthy eating habits among students while teaching practical gardening techniques. It’s a partnership designed to plant seeds – literally and figuratively in the minds of young learners.
Through this garden, we promote nutrition education, environmental awareness, and youth engagement in the food system.
Briggs Chaney Community Garden
2161 Briggs Chaney Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20905
This shared garden space reflects the strength and self-determination of our local communities. Participants grow their own food while learning about sustainable agriculture, soil health, composting, and food justice.
The garden also offers small-group trainings and a collaborative environment for mutual learning and growth.
You don’t need a green thumb to make a difference. Here’s how you can support our farms and food justice work:
- Volunteer at one of our farm sites or gardens
- Sponsor a school garden or training plot
- Attend a farm tour or join Grow With Us
- Donate to expand land access, cold storage, and grower training
- Partner with us to host a food justice event or workshop
Give the Gift of Land Access
$23,756
Goal : $150,000
Access to land is one of the greatest barriers facing aspiring farmers in our community. Your donation helps AfriThrive secure and expand growing spaces where African immigrant and minority families can farm, learn, and thrive.
By supporting land access, you’re making it possible for more families to grow culturally meaningful food, build economic opportunity, and reconnect with the land.
🌿 Your gift helps turn empty lots into life-giving spaces.
Program Achievement
These milestones are a direct result of your support and community participation, including a USDA-funded Specialty Crop Block Grant we recieved in 2023 and 2024.
Want to bring one of these programs to your neighborhood or school?
Reach out to our team to learn more about partnership opportunities.
Share your garden with us! Post your growing journey using the hashtag #GrowWithAfriThrive and inspire others to dig in.
Join the Movement
Grow With Us – Launched on Earth Day
This spring, we kicked off our annual Grow With Us campaign on Earth Day, inviting families across Maryland to plant seeds of sustainability right at home. As part of the launch, AfriThrive distributed free tomato seedlings and provided a practical step-by-step growing guide, making it easy for anyone to join the movement.
This initiative is rooted in cultural tradition and community care and inspires intergenerational learning, healthy eating, and hands-on environmental action. From backyards to balconies, families are growing together, guided by the spirit of Earth Day and the values AfriThrive cultivates year-round.
F. A. Q's
Get Involved, Get Informed
Curious about how to get involved, grow with us, or support our farm sites? These FAQs cover the most common questions about AfriThrive’s Urban and Community Farming initiatives. If you don’t see your question here, reach out, we’re always happy to connect.
Our farms are rooted in culture. We grow culturally appropriate African vegetables and use regenerative, climate-smart practices to promote food sovereignty. Each site is designed not just for food production, but also for education, community engagement, and heritage preservation.
Everyone is welcome. Whether you’re a beginner gardener, a seasoned grower, a student, or a volunteer, there’s a role for you. Our sites are intergenerational and open to families, school groups, and community members of all ages.
You can sign up online through our Beginner Farmer Program or contact us directly at [email protected]. The program offers hands-on training, cultural farming practices, and mentorship opportunities.
Produce from our farms is distributed through AfriThrive’s Mobile Food Pantry, community events, and school-based distributions. We prioritize access for underserved African immigrant and minority families in Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Baltimore counties.
Absolutely. We regularly collaborate with schools, faith-based groups, nonprofits, and local agencies. From starting school gardens to co-hosting workshops, we welcome partnership inquiries. Reach out at [email protected].
Yes. Volunteers support everything from seed starting and garden maintenance to harvesting, event planning, and educational programming. Visit our Volunteer page to learn more or sign up for a shift.
AfriThrive receives support through grants, individual donations, and community sponsorships. Notably, we were awarded a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant to support our farming and conservation efforts.
Each spring, we offer free tomato seedlings as part of our Grow With Us campaign. Families can sign up online, receive a growing guide, and share their garden progress on social media using #GrowWithAfriThrive.
Yes! We host seasonal tours, workshops, and community events at our Cultural Farm in Poolesville, MD. To schedule a visit, email [email protected] or follow us on Instagram for updates.