Бывший врач из Филадельфии создала крупнейшую в Пенсильвании ферму чернокожих владельцев для оздоровления города

As the owner of the largest Black owned farm in the state of Pennsylvania that grows food, Christa Barfield gave up a promising medical career to "farm her beloved city back to health," she said. The Germantown native and chief executive officer of FarmerJawn Agriculture, located in West Chester, just outside of Philadelphia, said she was showing up at her medical job and serving everyone else, but not herself. That changed when she took a trip to a Caribbean island in 2018. "I got on a plane to Martinique, and I met Black farmers while I was on the island, and what I saw inspired me,” said Barfield. “I came home five days later and started planning to become a farmer.” “Here we are eight years later and we’re the largest Black owned farm in the state of Pennsylvania that grows food,” she said. “We will be one of the only regenerative organic Black-owned farms in the whole world." Laser-focused Barfield said she is laser-focused on making sure she uses her produce to benefit her community. To that end, Barfield said FarmerJawn plans to launch a new venture named CornerJawn on Oct. 1, a food and medicine corner store that will open in Kensington.  “All of those residents (in Kensington) deserve regenerative and organic food, and they all deserve to know where their food comes from and who their farmer is,” she said. “Our commercial corridors should not leave anyone out, and that’s what CornerJawn is we’re going to build something really dope.” CornerJawn is part of her larger FarmerJawn locations in West Chester, Kensington and Elkins Park. Each has a different role, she said. Kensington is considered urban farming; Elkins Park is suburban farming and West Chester is rural farming. The goal is to show all three can be successful in their respective areas, she said. “We deserve to be in this space and to do well in this space,” she explained. “To actually build profitable businesses and that’s what I’m looking to do is to be an example for others.” Fresh produce for those in need  On a recent trip to her farm, The Tribune got a chance to tour Barfield's 123-acre farm, with rows of tomatoes, corn, watermelons, collard greens among other produce. The farm has been around since 1799 and is located on the campus of Westtown School in West Chester. FarmerJawn employs 26 people. “We’re really working on building a relationship, cleaning up the food system, and making the food system better,” she said. “Growing food and building storefronts in urban areas to make sure this food gets to communities that need it.” One of those communities is her own.  “That’s why we’re also building the stores in Philly because we have to get back to the city, I’m really happy to see Philadelphia show up for us in this way, the name of the company is FarmerJawn it was my writing a love note to my own city that I’m going to farm us back to health." The 38-year-old St. Joseph's University grad would also like to partner with more area schools so students can learn more about farming. In addition, Barfield explained that she wants the Black community to lean into farming because it has played a significant role in history and society keeps moving away from it. When she is not managing her farm Barfield wants to get back into music, she was a lead vocalist in a band, likes to read, and spa visits. Barfield said she initially funded her business through a combination of gig-working for Uber, Lyft, and Instacart where she delivered groceries to people. She explained that being a Black owner of a farm has been challenging but said the Philly and the West Chester community have both supported her. “I don’t take it lightly (responsibility of being an inspiration to Black and brown people)… I am just a girl from Germantown who is a mother, a daughter, who wants to just be good to people,” said Barfield. “Building something beautiful that can be replicated in other parts of the world.” For more on FarmerJawn Agriculture call 610-675-0055, or email   [email protected], or Instagram: @farmerjawn and Facebook at FarmerJawn Agriculture. Stay informed and connected — subscribe to The Philadelphia Tribune NOW! Click Here