FarmerJawn; Where Love Grows Abundantly

Christa Barfield is doing the work. The work is seen in FarmerJawn, a massive 120+-acre working farm that stretches across three counties and is considered one of the largest Black Woman-owned farms in the country. The work is seen in FarmerJawn’s mission to intentionally serve underserved communities in the Philadelphia area. The work is seen in restoring an old greenhouse in Elkins Park and dedicating that greenhouse to the victims of gun violence, a collaboration between FarmerJawn and Swarthmore College. The work is seen in how the farm provides access to not just organic foods, but agricultural education and community events.

From its inception, the FarmerJawn team has been service-oriented and community-focused, working to reconnect people to the land, grant access to deep foodways knowledge, and nourish communities. In April of this year, for that work, Christa earned a prestigious James Beard Leadership Award for that service.

This year, FarmerJawn also experienced two incidents of hate. In August, FarmerJawn’s barn was scrawled with multiple signs of hatred. Not far from the new graffiti, spots of newer brown paint are silent testaments to the hateful graffiti previously painted over the back in May.

“Last week, our livestock manager discovered an 8ft Swastika drawn on our barn floor,” Christa posts on the farm’s Instagram. “This is the second hate crime against FarmerJawn this year. This hateful symbol has no place in our world, and we are deeply saddened that such an act has taken place at our farm again—a place where we strive to grow love, unity, and respect regeneratively and organically.”

Local law enforcement are investigating those incidents of vandalism.

The FarmerJawn team was now faced with a dilemma; did they allow the hatred of a few individuals to overshadow all of the good work they’d done? Or did they see this moment as an opportunity for further growth? Rather than allowing a display of hatred to reduce the success and joy that FarmerJawn exudes and gives, Christa and the FarmerJawn team decided to show what really grows on their farm, what really drives their work, and what keeps them going, love.

The day Christa and the FarmerJawn team found the hateful graffiti, they went into action. “Here’s what we plan to do,” Christa wrote. “We’re hosting a special event at the farm. This will be a day of community, education, and solidarity. We invite you to come out, eat our food, meet our team, learn about what we do, get your questions answered, and show your support. More details to follow but mark your calendars.”

In addition, Christa and her team thought of another way the local community and FarmerJawn supporters could stand in solidarity. “We’re creating yard signs to spread our message that “Only Love Grows at FarmerJawn”. Together, we can show that hate has no place in our community. We will invite you to take a sign when they are completed.” Christa wrote to her supporters.

Two weeks later, on Saturday, August 24th, an estimated one thousand people descended upon the farm. Droves of FarmerJawn’s community, fellow farmers, and neighbors made their way to West Chester in full support of FarmerJawn. Many of these visitors expressed their love and appreciation directly to the FarmerJawn team and Christa, showing their gratitude for a local farm that has done so much for others.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FarmerJawn Agriculture (@farmerjawn_)

During the day, visitors to the farm took farm tours, learned about regenerative organic farming, created their own bouquets from farm-grown flowers, and shopped at FarmerJawn’s farm store full of locally created products and fresh seasonal produce.

“THANK YOU!,” the FarmerJawn team wrotes on social media, reflecting on the event. “Our Only Love Grows Here pop-up was incredible, and your support was amazing! What started as a response to hate became a powerful display of unity and love.”