Sisters of the Soil Community Farm is a Black women-owned, no-till farm located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. They are committed to holistic and regenerative practices that improve the health of the land, plants, and community. In early 2021, three Black women gathered together to brainstorm what would become Sisters of the Soil Community Farm. The beat of the drum behind Sisters of the Soil Community Farm was to be a community resource for fresh and nutritious food, family support, and education.
By incorporating regenerative farming practices like composting and cover cropping, we are able to give back to the land what it so expertly gives to us.
Sisters of the Soil does their best to honor the land and treat it respectfully. It is a no-till operation, meaning that we don’t use tillers to turn over the soil and destroy the microbiome of the soil. No-till farming also helps us to reduce soil erosion and decrease the amount of water we need to irrigate crops. We want to be a positive influence on our environment while leaving this world a little better than when we entered it.
We organically grow a variety of vegetables, flowers, and herbs in an attempt to imitate the way Mother Nature does things. Each plant plays a role in supporting the others. Coupling diversity with crop rotation allows the nutrients to be recycled efficiently and optimally. We are dedicated to only using organic growing methods that won’t harm you or the land. This means only using naturally derived and safe to use pesticides when necessary, never planting genetically modified varieties (GMOs) and only using fertilizers that are 100% natural and sure not to contaminate our waterways.
Sisters of the Soil puts a lot of emphasis on the soil because it allows the veggies we grow to sustain a community and increase its health. The health of the soil is the health of the plant and ultimately a large part of the health of the individual and the collective community.
Miriam is the Marketing and Social Media Manager. She comes from a long ancestral line of farmers and growers. She’s been growing a variety of plants and four children at home for over ten years. She sees working the land as a deeply spiritual practice that keeps her grounded and centered. Some of her favorite crops to grow are cotton, basil, and fish peppers.
Trinia is the Operations Manager. She has a passion for improving the nutrition and health of people living in food deserts. She has been growing vegetables, plants, and flowers for her family and community for over six years. Her favorite crops to grow are herbs and tomatoes.
Michelle is the Farm Manager. She has been growing food for nearly 10 years. Whether backyard gardening or managing a farm, Michelle is most passionate about growing food in ways that protect, restore, and sustain the natural environment and health of local communities.
Every Saturday and Sunday between May and November, Sisters of the Soil Community Farm holds a market from 11 am to 2 pm at:
601 Watkins Park Drive Upper Marlboro, Maryland, located across from the First Baptist Church of Glen Arden and next to the Perrywood Elementary School. Keep an eye out for the 2 large hoop houses inside a tall black fence and a brown sign that says “Urban Farm Incubator at Watkins Regional Park.”
Directions:
From Central Avenue, turn onto 193 East
Take the Second Right after the Largo Kettering Perrywood Community Center/School, directly across from the large “Gate 4” sign belonging to the church’s parking lot. Turn right at the “Community Garden Plots” sign and look for the brown sign, “Urban Farm Incubator at Watkins Regional Park.”
From Landover Road, turn onto 193 West
Take the First Left Turn after the roundabout, directly across from the large “Gate 4” sign belonging to the church’s parking lot. Turn right at the “Community Garden Plots” sign and look fro the brown sign, “Urban Farm Incubator at Watkins Regional Park.”
