Leading by example

The garden started with only a few wooden plots, but it grew quickly over time. The Tubman House uses a system of colors. Most of the fruits and vegetables are in green plots. They house the produce that are free for the community to take. The cash crops grow in red boxes. According to Amen, Restaurants like Ida B’s Table in Mount Vernon, will purchase red-box produce to use in their dishes. Tubman House has most recently been exploring black lots, which would be provided to residents in the community who are looking to grow their own food.

The garden grew from humble beginnings, in its initial phase Tubman House farmers only had room for a few plots. Amen said that the process of working with the community to change their perceptions of natural produce has been “very slow but very rewarding.” He stressed the importance of pesticide-free farming and chooses fruits and vegetables that are naturally resilient. The garden also employs the neighborhood’s youth. Amen works with them individually to teach them how to cultivate and grow their own fruits and vegetables to take back home to their families.

What the future looks like for the garden

The future of the garden is expansion and increased community engagement. Tubman House recently began raising chickens and collecting their eggs. For Stevenson, that means eventually turning the Tubman House Garden area into a community center that residents can utilize in many different ways. For Amen that means broadening youth outreach and equipping more of the young members of the community with farming and nutrition knowledge. That also includes partnering with more organizations and restaurants around the area that can purchase the crops.