\ngarden in the backyard which had fallen into disrepair in the years following the death of Derravia\u2019s
\ngrandfather. After working grueling hours as a Memphis firefighter, Bobby found that tending the
\ngarden was not only a cathartic process for him, but also helped to bring back cherished memories from his wife\u2019s childhood spent in the home. \u201cAs the garden started to return to its former glory, Derravia would come outside and see places where she had played as a child that weren\u2019t visible before. That\u2019s really the beginning of this journey,\u201d says Bobby.<\/p>\n
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After Derravia\u2019s grandmother passed away in 2019, the couple found that the garden became a place of solace not only for them, but for their family, friends, and neighbors as well. \u201cAfter the funeral, everyone came back to the house and just naturally gravitated towards the garden. I think that\u2019s when I realized the power of these types of spaces…it makes you vulnerable and reminds you of the natural aspects of life and how it\u2019s all interconnected,\u201d says Bobby. \u201cMy uncles are retired firefighters and had grown up farming and working in the garden, so they already had a lot in common with Bobby. When he started working on the garden, they were quick to help out as well and were able to teach him a lot. It was awesome to see how this brought the family together,\u201d add Derravia. As the garden continued to grow, neighbors began visiting the home to pick up herbs and vegetables, much like they had during Derravia\u2019s childhood. This experience not only gave her an important link to her grandparents, but also convinced Derravia that they had the foundation for a successful business on their hands. \u201cI have a background in general management and program development, and I recognized how good Bobby had become at growing. I realized that we had the opportunity to expand our reach and create a legitimate business out of this hobby,\u201d she says. As a firefighter, Bobby had also noticed the abundance of food deserts around the city and knew that the couple could help in tackling the lack of fresh food options for Memphians. The two soon set about looking for an empty lot on which they could establish a community garden.<\/p>\n
After months of searching, the Rich family finally settled on a plot of land in the Uptown neighborhood that\u00a0seemed perfect for their needs. \u201cAfter a long and grueling process, we finally had the home for Black Seeds Urban Farm,\u201d says Derravia. Although the ongoing pandemic impeded the official opening of the business, the couple both say that the past year has been a salient example of the value of community-based food sources. \u201cI think a lot of people realized that these types of events will keep happening if we don\u2019t change the way we interact with nature and our food sources,\u201d says Bobby.<\/p>\n
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\nDerravia says the pandemic also proved the importance of shared outdoor spaces. \u201cI noticed during the height of the pandemic that Bobby and his co-workers were spending a lot of time in the garden and I think it was therapeutic for all of them. You could see the change in their demeanors and how it helped to alleviate the stress of their jobs,\u201d she says. With the goal of an official opening this summer, the Black Seeds Urban Farms aims to be something much more dynamic than your typical community garden. \u201cIn addition to the garden, we will also have an educational component, an area for making tea using our herbs, a space for picnics, and areas for other events such as live music, yoga, art shows and the like,\u201d says Bobby. \u201cAt the end of the day, we just want to create a space where people can access healthy food, visit a beautiful space, and take a holistic approach to their health,\u201d says Derravia.<\/p>\n
Black Seeds Urban Farms is located at 580 N. 4th Street. To learn more about their work and to follow their progress, follow them on Instagram at @blackseedsurbanfarms<\/p>\n
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