Key Focus Areas

We work across the following core areas:

Sustainable Agriculture & Seed Sovereignty

We support local farmers in transitioning to regenerative and organic practices

Youth & Community Education

We create learning opportunities and hands-on experiences for youth, educators, and communities

We promote gender equity by supporting women in agriculture through training, access to land and resources

Women & Farmer Empowerment

Umoja Farms Network

The Umoja Farms Network brings together a collective of regenerative, organic, and seed-saving farms that act as open, living classrooms. These farms are more than food producers they are storytellers, educators, and catalysts for change.

Our network is designed to inform and inspire future generations by offering "seeing is believing" experiences: where individuals, students, and aspiring farmers can walk the land, speak to growers, and witness the transformation that sustainable agriculture makes possible.

Overview

Our Vision

We envision a network of farmers who are:

• Practicing or transitioning to sustainable organic farming.

• Committed to educating others about the food system.

• Rooted in ecological, cultural, and community-based values.

We believe that direct experiences have the power to shift perspectives. By connecting people to farms and farmers, we help build a movement of informed citizens who value food sovereignty and sustainability.

Seed Stewardship & Indigenous Knowledge

At the heart of food sovereignty is the seed. Umoja Seeds works to preserve and protect traditional, heirloom, and regionally adapted seed varieties that are vital to resilient food systems. We collaborate with Indigenous communities, seed keepers, and elders to document, share, and honor ancestral knowledge around seed saving, cultivation, and stewardship.

Our work in seed sovereignty includes:

• Creating local seed libraries and seed exchanges

• Hosting seed saving workshops and skill-building sessions

• Partnering with Indigenous farmers to ensure the protection of culturally significant plant varieties

• Supporting policy advocacy that defends the rights of farmers to save and share seeds

We see seeds not just as agricultural tools, but as vessels of culture, memory, and resistance.

Food Access & Local Market Development

Building a just food system means ensuring that fresh, nutritious, and culturally relevant food is accessible to all. Umoja Seeds partners with local organizations and food producers to develop equitable market opportunities and community-driven food distribution models.

Our efforts include:

• Supporting the creation of community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs and farmer co-ops

• Facilitating farm-to-school and farm-to-institution programs

• Hosting local food pop-ups, farmer markets, and mobile food initiatives

• Encouraging local procurement policies that prioritize smallholder and BIPOC farmers

By connecting growers directly with their communities, we help strengthen local economies and ensure food justice at every level of the supply chain.