The Ageno's Farm Project

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Our Story

First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to my ancestors. Without their guidance and support, I would have never been able to acquire 20 acres of farm land, debt free, in an area of Black folk! And because of this, Ageno’s Farm is no longer just an idea, but is now real! The mission of Ageno’s Farm is to create a safe haven for Black folk everywhere, focusing on the native people of Millen, GA. I want the name Ageno’s Farm to be synonymous with sanctuary, in which Black and indigenous folk can physically, spiritually, and economically be fed.

The Vision

While this biodiversity farm will have many moving parts, each part is intentional and serves a specific purpose. One acre of the land will be dedicated to community farm sharing, in which Black natives of Millen, GA will be able to reap what they sow, harvest what they plant, and eat what they grow, from dedicated community plots, all free of charge. This is important in not only providing organic, nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriated foods for the people, but also feeding their spirit by empowering their self-sufficiency. Give a man food, and you have fed him temporarily. Allow him to grow his own food, and you have fed him immeasurably. It was during my 2-month teaching abroad in 2012 in Pabo, Uganda that first sparked my love and respect for farming. Divinely aligned, it was the Acholi people of Uganda that gave me the name “Ageno” which means “I trust you” in the Acholi language. It was in this community of farm sharing that I witnessed and experienced the power of eating what you grow, and the sacred relationship between (wo)man and Earth. What I have gained from that experience is exactly what I hope to offer to the local people. I pray that the community plots of the farm inspire, motivate, and serve as a guide for the native Black folk to further acquire land for themselves, their families, and their communities, passing down this embedded ancestral knowledge for generations to come.

Also, because this birth work is sacred to me, another acre of the farm, warmly named Nana Esi’s Oasis, will be dedicated to the growing of plants/herbs/flowers that serve to support the womb health of Black women, including but not limited to, women who wish to conceive, pregnant women, postpartum women, nursing women, and women with babies and small children. Here, you will find nettles, yarrow, mullein, peach trees, lemon balm, hibiscus, and all other plants essential for birth workers. I plan to offer this space as a resource to my community of known midwives, doulas, and holistic birth workers to better support the work they do in ensuring better outcomes for birthing Black women and Black babies. It is also my hope to bring in elders of the birth world to host workshops and facilitate gatherings on the land to further teach in a more intimate, hands-on environment. Lastly, Nana Esi’s Oasis will include a small dwelling in which Black families can opt in having a home-birth experience on the farm with herbal medicines easily accessible. This too will include the collaboration and working with local certified midwives and other birth workers.

The rest of the land will be dedicated to organic cash crops, fruit trees, and farm animals such as chickens, goats, cattle, and pigs. And it goes without being said, that our land will provide a safe space for Black and indigenous folk to participate in ancestral ceremonies, rituals, and gatherings.

How Can You Help?

This project is for the people, and I am confident that the people will support its growth. Right now, we are asking for monetary support. However, in the future we will be accepting volunteer work on the farm. All donations will be used to support the beginning phase of our project, including partially clearing the land, fencing the border of the land, and the building of basic infrastructures, such as digging a well, running electric poles, cutting operable roadways, installing solar panels, soil testing, building dwellings for the animals, purchasing animals, purchasing cultivation equipment, and purchasing starter trees, seeds, and beehives.

With the help of our community, we are looking to have a fully functioning, sustainable farm by Summer 2023.

If you are for Black people, food sovereignty, or Black land ownership, Ageno's Farm warmly accepts your monetary donations. Please feel free to share our campaign with others!

We will not forget any of our donors! Ya'll will be exclusively notified of our Summer 2023 grand opening!

Peace & Blessings!

Donate Now!

Meet the Farmers

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This is truly a family affair! The married couple, Sharifa, warmly known as Ageno, and Barsabas, warmly known as Sabby, will spearhead this project. With Sabby's passion for raising farm animals and his experience of growing up on a small farm in Gasparillo, Trinidad, he will be in charge of caring for all of the farm animals on the land.

"We live in a society today that cares less about how the animals are raised and more about what they can produce. What we tend to overlook in this capitalist approach is how the overconsumption of mass-produced animals living in stressed environments is a reflection of how much we undervalue ourselves.

With Sharifa's love for all things plants, she will be in charge of tending to the crops, fruit trees, and Nana Esi's Oasis.

"I am many things. I am a Black woman, a mother, a wife, a home birth advocate, a teacher, a full spectrum doula, an herbalist, a spiritual healer, a mentor, and a small homestead farmer. But most of all, I am for Black and indigenous people, in all of their capacities."

Sharifa and Barsabas, along with their 7 children, are excited to bless the land of Ageno's Farm and in return create a safe haven for generations to come.