This Black Woman Farmer Tackles Food Insecurity And Food Deserts With Field Trips And Fresh Food Access
It was a rainy Saturday morning as a small but excited crowd gathered near a yellow schoolbus parked in front of Lloyd Hall. They boarded the bus and were taken away from the bustling boat house row, out of the city to the rolling green hills and farms of West Chester, Pennsylvania.
It was a rainy Saturday morning as a small but excited crowd gathered near a yellow schoolbus parked in front of Lloyd Hall. They boarded the bus and were taken away from the bustling boat house row, out of the city to the rolling green hills and farms of West Chester, Pennsylvania.
To one farm specifically, Christa Barfield’s FarmerJawn Agriculture. This weekend, her farm hosted its first of what they are calling “Field Trips”, trips out of the city to tour the farm and shop the farmstand of fresh produce and local collaborations with other small businesses.
Providing access to affordable nutritious foods is vital, especially for marginalized communities who often contend with food deserts, areas without access to a fresh food market. Many communities in Philadelphia are devoid of fresh food markets and those they might travel to are often too expensive. What’s worse, many places that do sell food in these neighborhoods are not the healthiest. A recent report from the Department of Health showed that the majority of food sellers in the city sell food high in salt, sugar, or fat.
That is why the work of Christa Barfield is so important. Barfield began farming in a 4x6 greenhouse, or what is equivalent to about the size of a small closet, in her backyard in Germantown, Philadelphia. A self taught farmer who is motivated by the belief that food can be medicine, Barfield educated herself on growing her own food, beginning with herbs. From that closet-sized greenhouse in Germantown, Barfield launched her tea company, then herbal honey products. Over time, Barfield’s agriculture efforts grew from that small greenhouse in Germantown to its current iteration, FarmerJawn Agriculture, over 120 acres of land in West Chester.
Barfield has remained consistent in her values. She still believes food is medicine and regularly participates in produce giveaways, the last being a massive egg giveaway in partnership with several other farms. Barfield regularly hosts or collaborates in community events. These events include educational seminars, volunteer opportunities, and community pop-ups.
Even when her own farm was the victim of a racist attack last year, Barfield turned that hateful event into one that promoted love, inclusion and belonging. Her dedication to keeping communities well fed and community that won her the James Beard Leadership Award.
Barfield is continually thinking of ways to make access to quality, fresh, nourishing food a reality. Every Saturday until October 31st, Barfield’s farm will host the trips. The cost of $10 and a few hours on a Saturday morning can yield participants some of the freshest food for purchase grown in the state. The first trip’s participants returned with brown paper bags and big smiles. This during a time of worsening food insecurity especially for marginalized communities in the Philadelphia area, is a game changer. FarmerJawn field trips are just one way Christa Barfield is making a difference.
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Whitney Roberts
Whitney Roberts is a Philadelphia writer, podcaster, and content creator featured by the NAACP, Wired, NBC, and more. She contributes to outlets like TheRoot and NPR, amplifying diverse voices and stories.
