Two Women and a Wagon Urban Farm LLC

04/10/2025

Last year we installed a French drain and rain garden for a client who'd been having severe flooding in her home and had tried three previous solutions. She'd already had a subpar concrete job done to divert the water that had failed. We would have done it in addition to what we proposed but didn't want to undo work she'd just paid thousands for.

She called me yesterday to tell me that after the severe rains and tornadoes that ravaged her neighborhood last week that for the first time in over a decade she had no water inside her home. This was a huge relief because prior to us coming she'd been out of her home for almost a year after she lost her kitchen and dining room to the water damage.

She just referred me to three other clients in her neighborhood and it looks like my May calendar is already getting full. If you would like to learn more about drainage options inbox me.

04/08/2025

My class on Herbalism and Home Apothecary through Dekalb County starts this month. It will be followed by a course on Vegan Soapmaking. If you're interested in either DM me for the details!

02/12/2025

Medicinal Plant Knowledge: The Healing Wisdom of African Herbalists
Long before modern medicine, enslaved Africans and their descendants used their deep knowledge of medicinal plants to heal, protect, and sustain their communities. Rooted in West and Central African herbal traditions, these healing practices became essential in the Americas, influencing Black herbalism, Southern rootwork, and modern holistic medicine.

African Herbal Wisdom in the Americas
🌿 Plant-Based Healing – Enslaved Africans recognized and cultivated medicinal plants like sassafras, aloe, and wild yam, using them to treat wounds, fevers, and digestive issues.

🌱 Spiritual & Medicinal Remedies – Herbal knowledge wasn’t just science; it was spiritual. Plants like mullein and mugwort were used in healing rituals, protection practices, and ancestral veneration.

🧉 Knowledge of Roots & Tonics – Enslaved healers brewed root teas and tonics, using plants like ginger, burdock, and sarsaparilla to detox the body and strengthen immunity. These remedies inspired modern holistic health movements.

The Role of Black Herbalists & Root Workers
👩🏾‍⚕️ Community Healers – Black herbalists, midwives, and healers treated everything from childbirth complications to infections when enslaved people were denied access to medical care.

🧪 Influencing Modern Medicine – Plants used by Black herbalists became the foundation for pharmaceutical drugs, like wild yam for birth control pills and foxglove for heart medication.

⚖️ Preserving Knowledge Despite Oppression – Many healing traditions were forced underground due to racism, colonization, and medical exploitation, but Black herbalists and Hoodoo practitioners preserved these traditions in secret.

Healing the Future with the Past
Today, Black herbalists are reclaiming ancestral plant medicine, blending traditional practices with modern wellness movements. Herbal gardens, apothecaries, and educational programs are reviving the lost wisdom of African-descended healers.

🌱 The legacy of Black herbalists proves that healing isn’t just medicine—it’s knowledge, resilience, and connection to the land. 🌱

02/10/2025

Cattle Ranching: The Overlooked Legacy of Black Cowboys & African Expertise
Before the image of the American cowboy was romanticized in Hollywood, African cattle herding traditions shaped the ranching industry in the Americas. Enslaved Africans brought their expertise in cattle management, breeding, and roping, influencing the development of modern ranching from Texas to Brazil.

African Roots of Cattle Ranching
🐄 Herding Traditions from West Africa – Many enslaved Africans came from regions like Senegal, Mali, and Nigeria, where they practiced cattle husbandry for centuries. They knew how to raise, breed, and care for livestock, making them indispensable on plantations and ranches.

🐎 Skilled Horsemen & Ropers – African cattlemen mastered roping techniques, branding, and herding, laying the groundwork for what would later be recognized as the cowboy lifestyle.

🌱 Sustainable Grazing & Animal Care – They introduced rotational grazing to prevent overgrazing and kept cattle healthy through herbal medicine and nutritional feeding techniques.

Black Cowboys in the Americas
🏜️ The True Western Cowboys – One in four cowboys in the 1800s was Black. Skilled in cattle drives, horse training, and frontier survival, Black cowboys like Nat Love, Bose Ikard, and Bill Pickett became legends in the West.

Cattle Ranching in South America – In Brazil, Colombia, and the Caribbean, enslaved Africans worked on cattle ranches, shaping the vaquero (cowboy) traditions still honored today.

💰 Economic Power Through Ranching – Even after slavery, many Black ranchers built their own herds, establishing self-sufficient communities and cattle-based economies.

A Legacy That Lives On
Today, the contributions of Black cowboys and ranchers are finally being recognized. African-descended ranchers continue to pass down herding techniques, livestock care, and horsemanship, keeping their ancestors’ traditions alive.

🤠 Black cattle ranchers weren’t just laborers—they were innovators, entrepreneurs, and the true architects of the cowboy legacy.

02/08/2025

Indigo & Cotton: The Untold Story of Black Agricultural Expertise
The indigo and cotton industries shaped the economies of the American South, the Caribbean, and beyond, but few recognize the skilled labor, agricultural expertise, and innovations of enslaved Africans who made these crops successful. From seed selection to processing techniques, Black farmers built the foundation of two of history’s most profitable industries.

The Science of Indigo Farming
🌿 West African Knowledge – Enslaved Africans brought generations of experience cultivating indigo, a plant used to produce highly sought-after blue dye.

💧 Fermentation & Dye Extraction – Indigo leaves were soaked, fermented, and aerated to extract the deep blue pigment, a labor-intensive skill perfected by Black farmers.

🌀 Textile Revolution – Indigo dye was critical to the global textile trade, fueling fashion and military uniforms in Europe and the Americas.

Cotton: The Backbone of an Empire
🌾 Mastering Cotton Cultivation – Enslaved Africans developed techniques for high-yield cotton farming, including soil management, irrigation, and pest control.

👐 Hand-Harvesting Expertise – Before the cotton gin, cotton was hand-picked, cleaned, and processed—a backbreaking skill requiring precision and endurance.

📦 Economic Powerhouse – Cotton became the driving force of the U.S. economy, with African agricultural labor making it the most valuable export of the 19th century.

A Legacy of Innovation & Resilience
Despite oppression, Black farmers carried forward their agricultural knowledge, influencing modern organic cotton farming and natural dye production. Today, historians and sustainable fashion advocates honor this legacy by reviving traditional techniques.

🌀 Indigo and cotton weren’t just crops—they were symbols of African agricultural mastery, global trade, and resilience in the face of exploitation. 🌾

02/08/2025

Rice Cultivation Expertise: How West African Farmers Built America’s Rice Industry
Long before rice fields flourished in the Carolinas and Georgia, West African farmers had already mastered the art of wetland rice cultivation. When enslaved Africans were forced to the Americas, they brought generations of agricultural expertise, transforming rice into one of the most profitable crops of the colonial economy.

West Africa: The Birthplace of Rice Expertise
🌾 Deep Knowledge of Wetland Farming – African farmers from regions like Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Ghana cultivated Oryza glaberrima, an indigenous African rice species adapted to wetland conditions.

💧 Irrigation and Water Control – West Africans developed complex irrigation systems, tidal flood control, and dike-building techniques to regulate water levels, preventing crop loss. These same techniques were later applied in the Carolina Lowcountry.

🌱 Efficient Planting & Harvesting – Farmers knew the best seasonal cycles, soil types, and hand-harvesting techniques, increasing yields and ensuring food security.

Rice in the Americas: Built on African Knowledge
When European settlers in the American South attempted rice farming, they struggled—until they relied on the expertise of enslaved Africans. Their knowledge shaped the rice industry in:

🌿 South Carolina & Georgia – The Gullah Geechee people, direct descendants of West African rice farmers, carried on rice-growing traditions that fueled the region’s economy.

🌍 Caribbean & South America – African rice farming techniques spread across Brazil, Haiti, and Suriname, influencing both agriculture and cuisine.

The Legacy Lives On
Today, historians and chefs are working to revive traditional African rice varieties and honor the contributions of Black farmers. Modern sustainable farming owes much to the techniques perfected by West African rice cultivators centuries ago.

🍚 Every grain of rice tells a story of survival, expertise, and the enduring agricultural legacy of Black farmers. 🍚

02/06/2025

Soil Fertility Management: The Ancient Wisdom of East African Farmers
Long before synthetic fertilizers, East African farmers, particularly the Kikuyu, Chagga, and Baganda peoples, developed innovative soil fertility techniques that kept their lands productive for generations. These farmers understood that healthy soil meant abundant harvests and used natural, regenerative methods to maintain fertility.

The Secret to Thriving Farms
🌱 Mixed Cropping – Instead of planting a single crop, East African farmers strategically combined legumes, grains, and root crops. This technique balanced soil nutrients, prevented pest infestations, and reduced the need for artificial fertilizers.

🍂 Composting & Mulching – Farmers used organic matter like leaves, manure, and plant residues to create nutrient-rich compost, improving soil structure and moisture retention. They also mulched their fields, preventing soil erosion and dehydration.

🌿 Agroforestry & Natural Fertilizers – Trees like acacia and fig were planted alongside crops, acting as windbreaks, shade providers, and natural soil enrichers. The leaves from these trees decomposed into organic fertilizer, keeping the land fertile year after year.

🚜 Terracing & Water Retention – In hilly areas, East African farmers built terraced farms, preventing nutrient loss from rain runoff and keeping soil intact for generations of farming.

Sustaining Agriculture for the Future
These indigenous techniques are now being reintroduced in modern regenerative farming to combat soil degradation, climate change, and declining crop yields. By reviving ancient African soil management practices, today’s farmers are restoring land fertility, increasing yields, and ensuring long-term food security.

🌍 Healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable agriculture, and East African farmers have been leading the way for centuries. 🌍

02/06/2025

The Agricultural Legacy of Enslaved Africans: How Their Crops Shaped Global Cuisine
When enslaved Africans were forcibly taken to the Americas, they carried more than just their memories—they brought their deep agricultural knowledge and the seeds of crops that would transform food cultures across the world. From the Caribbean to the Southern United States and South America, African farmers introduced staple crops that are now central to global cuisine.

Crops That Traveled Across the Atlantic
🌾 Rice – West African farmers were experts in wetland rice cultivation, a skill that made plantations in South Carolina and Georgia highly profitable. Their techniques laid the foundation for the American rice industry.

🌿 Okra – A key ingredient in gumbo and stews, okra is still a staple in Southern, Caribbean, and Brazilian cuisine, introduced through African farming traditions.

🫘 Black-Eyed Peas – Brought from West Africa, these legumes became essential in soul food, inspiring dishes like Hoppin’ John, a New Year's tradition representing prosperity.

🍉 Watermelon – Originally domesticated in Africa, watermelon thrived in the Americas, becoming a refreshing and nutritious crop enjoyed worldwide.

A Lasting Agricultural Impact
These crops were not just food—they were cultural and economic lifelines. Enslaved Africans used farming techniques passed down through generations, ensuring successful harvests and deeply influencing Southern and Caribbean agriculture.

Today, these crops remain vital in cuisines across the globe, symbolizing the resilience, knowledge, and contributions of Black farmers. Modern chefs, farmers, and food historians continue to celebrate and honor this legacy through traditional and contemporary dishes.

🌍 African crops changed the world, and their legacy lives on every time we enjoy a bowl of rice, a plate of beans, or a slice of watermelon. 🌍

02/05/2025

Banana and Plantain Cultivation: West Africa’s Agricultural Gift to the World
For centuries, West African farmers have cultivated bananas and plantains, not just as staple foods but as pillars of nutrition, trade, and cultural identity. These crops, rich in fiber, potassium, and essential vitamins, have played a crucial role in sustaining millions across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas.

The Expertise of West African Farmers
Farmers in West Africa perfected the art of banana and plantain cultivation, using techniques that made these crops thrive in tropical and subtropical climates.

🍌 Selective Propagation – Farmers carefully selected the healthiest suckers (young shoots) from mature plants, ensuring stronger, disease-resistant crops.

🌱 Agroforestry Integration – Banana and plantain plants were intercropped with cocoa, coffee, and legumes, protecting them from soil depletion and pests.

🌿 Efficient Soil Management – Farmers used natural mulching techniques—covering the soil with banana leaves and organic waste—to retain moisture and boost soil fertility.

🚜 High-Yield Farming – Through careful land preparation, pruning, and proper spacing, West African farmers were able to maximize production and improve fruit quality.

From Africa to the World
During the transatlantic trade, West African agricultural expertise was carried across the world, bringing bananas and plantains to Caribbean, Latin American, and Southern U.S. farms. These crops became integral to Caribbean cuisine, South American exports, and African-American food traditions.

A Sustainable Crop for the Future
Today, plantains and bananas are among the most consumed staple foods globally, and researchers are turning to African farming methods to enhance sustainability and climate resilience. Farmers are using agroforestry techniques, organic fertilizers, and natural pest control to maintain healthy, high-yield crops.

🌍 Bananas and plantains are more than just fruit—they are a legacy of African agricultural innovation, feeding generations around the world. 🌍

02/02/2025

Revolutionary Irrigation: How Ancient African Civilizations Transformed Farming
Water is life, and ancient African civilizations understood this better than anyone. Long before modern irrigation systems, Egyptians and Nubians developed ingenious water management techniques that allowed them to transform arid landscapes into thriving agricultural hubs.

Mastering the Flow of Water
Farming in desert regions required innovation. The Egyptians and Nubians engineered systems to control and distribute water from the Nile, ensuring crops flourished year-round.

The Shaduf: One of the earliest irrigation tools, the shaduf was a counterweighted bucket system that lifted water from rivers into fields. This simple yet effective method sustained crops through dry seasons.
Qanat Systems: These underground tunnels, first developed in North Africa, transported water across long distances, preventing evaporation and maximizing efficiency.
Basin Irrigation: Egyptians created large-scale flood control basins, strategically guiding the Nile’s seasonal floods to irrigate fields, making the land incredibly fertile.
A System That Inspired the World
These early irrigation techniques didn’t just sustain African civilizations—they influenced global agricultural practices. The knowledge spread across the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Asia, laying the foundation for modern irrigation engineering.

A Lasting Impact
Even today, sustainable water management remains a global challenge. Researchers continue to study these ancient techniques, seeking solutions for modern drought-prone regions. The ability to conserve and distribute water efficiently is a legacy that began thousands of years ago in Africa.

🌊 Water isn’t just a resource—it’s survival, innovation, and the foundation of agriculture. 🌊

02/02/2025

Are you familiar with African Wormwood?
🌿 African Wormwood: The Sacred Herb of Protection & Healing 🌿

Also known as Artemisia afra, African Wormwood is a powerful medicinal and spiritual herb deeply rooted in African traditions and Black history. Used for centuries by indigenous healers, it is valued for its ability to cleanse, protect, and restore balance.

🌱 Properties & Benefits

✅ Respiratory Health – Clears mucus, relieves colds, flu, and asthma.
✅ Digestive Aid – Eases bloating, indigestion, and intestinal parasites.
✅ Pain Relief – Soothes muscle pain, arthritis, and inflammation.
✅ Antimicrobial & Immune Boosting – Fights infections naturally.
✅ Menstrual Support – Helps regulate cycles and reduce cramps.

🧿 Spiritual & Ritual Uses

✨ Protection & Cleansing – Burned as incense to remove negative energy.
✨ Purification Baths – Used in spiritual baths for renewal and aura cleansing.
✨ Dream & Prophetic Work – Enhances intuition and dream recall.
✨ Ancestral Connection – Used in rituals to honor and communicate with ancestors.

🌍 How to Use African Wormwood

🔹 Tea – Steep dried leaves for health benefits.
🔹 Smudging – Burn to cleanse spaces and energy.
🔹 Spiritual Baths – Add to water for protection.
🔹 Oil Infusion – Use topically for pain relief.

A staple in African herbal medicine, Black spiritual traditions, and Black history, African Wormwood is a true gift from nature. Have you used this herb before? Share your experiences below! 👇🏾

02/01/2025

The Legacy of African Crop Domestication: A Story of Innovation and Survival
Long before industrial farming, early African civilizations shaped the foundation of global food security through the domestication of crops. These early farmers, understanding the rhythms of the land, cultivated millet, sorghum, and yams, which continue to feed millions today.

A Deep Connection to the Land
African communities didn’t just grow food—they engineered ecosystems, selecting the strongest plants and refining agricultural techniques over generations. They learned how to cultivate crops that could withstand droughts, enrich the soil, and provide sustenance year-round.

Millet & Sorghum: Cultivated as early as 5000 BCE, these grains were valued for their resilience to arid climates. They provided fiber, protein, and nutrients, thriving where other crops failed.
Yams: First domesticated in West Africa, yams were central to many cultures, offering a long shelf life and high nutritional value. The technique of propagating yams from cuttings was an early form of sustainable farming.
The Impact Beyond Africa
As African societies perfected farming, their crops and techniques spread worldwide. Through trade, migration, and the transatlantic slave trade, African knowledge influenced agriculture in the Americas and the Caribbean. Crops like black-eyed peas, okra, and watermelon became essential to Southern U.S. and Caribbean cuisine.

A Legacy That Lives On
Even today, these crops remain lifelines in regions battling climate change. Researchers study millet and sorghum as future superfoods, resistant to heat and needing less water than wheat or corn. Black farmers worldwide continue to preserve and revive traditional farming methods, ensuring that the wisdom of the past sustains the future.

🌱 Millet, sorghum, and yams are not just foods; they are symbols of resilience, innovation, and African agricultural brilliance. 🌱

02/01/2025

Agroforestry in West Africa: The Ancient Practice Sustaining Generations
Long before modern sustainability movements, West African civilizations had already perfected the art of agroforestry—a method of farming that integrates trees, crops, and livestock into a single, sustainable system. This practice wasn’t just about growing food—it was about maintaining ecological balance, preserving soil health, and ensuring long-term productivity.

The Wisdom of West African Agroforestry
Farmers in West Africa, particularly the Yoruba, Mande, and Fulani peoples, developed agroforestry techniques that worked in harmony with nature:

🌿 Intercropping with Trees – Instead of clearing land completely, trees like baobab, shea, and moringa were left standing to provide shade, reduce soil erosion, and enrich the soil with organic matter.

🌱 Nitrogen-Fixing Plants – African farmers cultivated legumes such as cowpeas and groundnuts, which naturally replenish nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need for artificial fertilizers.

🌾 Multi-Layered Farming – By planting tall trees, shrubs, and ground crops together, farmers created a self-sustaining ecosystem, increasing biodiversity while improving water retention.

🐄 Integrating Livestock – Goats, cattle, and chickens were allowed to roam freely, fertilizing the soil naturally and contributing to the regenerative cycle of the land.

A Model for the Future
This time-tested African farming wisdom has inspired modern regenerative agriculture and is being revived to combat climate change and desertification. Agroforestry is proving to be an essential tool for rebuilding soil health, capturing carbon, and fighting food insecurity worldwide.

Why It Matters Today
With the global push for sustainable agriculture, scientists and farmers are turning back to these African-rooted practices to preserve ecosystems and increase food security.

🌍 West African farmers knew the secret long ago: when you farm with nature, you farm for generations to come. 🌍

01/03/2025

Winter skin needs extra love! My whipped body butter is made with shea, mango, coconut oil, and kokum butter – perfect for deep hydration.

✨ Grow. Glow. Repeat.

Say goodbye to dry, flaky skin this season!

01/01/2025

🌱 Start your garden strong this year! 🌱

There’s no need to wait for spring to begin growing your dream garden. January is the perfect time to get a head start by planting tomatoes, basil, and peppers indoors. These crops thrive when given a longer growing season, and starting them early ensures you’ll have healthy, vibrant plants ready to go when the weather warms up.

✨ Why Start Now?

Tomatoes – A longer growing period means more fruit! Starting them early indoors helps them mature faster once transplanted.

Basil – This kitchen staple thrives on your windowsill. Plant now, and you’ll have fresh herbs at your fingertips long before summer arrives.

Peppers – Peppers take their time! Planting early gives them the boost they need to produce an abundant harvest later in the year.

🌿 Pro Tip: Use small pots or seed-starting trays, place them near a sunny window, and keep the soil moist but not soggy. Germination can take anywhere from 5 to 14 days depending on the plant – but trust me, it’s worth the wait!

✨ Let’s grow together this year – one seed at a time. ✨

👉 Ready to start? Tap the link in bio to schedule a garden consultation today!
💬 Or comment “GROW” and I’ll send you the direct link to get started.

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01/01/2025

🌱 Exciting news from Two Women and a Wagon Urban Farm! 🌿

We're diving deeper into our herbal creations and expanding The Living Tree Bath and Body line! 🌼✨ Our vegan bath and body products are made with love (and lots of herbs) right from our garden. From soothing herbal soaps to luxurious whipped body butter – we believe in the power of plants to help you Grow. Glow. Repeat.

Plus, we're bringing the farm to your feed! Get ready for more garden tips, edible landscaping inspo, and a peek into our urban homestead life. 🌻

Thank you for supporting our little farm and all the magic that grows here. 💚

09/24/2024

Get ready for the fall season with Lo the Builder's special deals on fencing, decking, and raised beds. Schedule your appointment now!

Call now to connect with business.

01/22/2024

Have you signed up for our free 6-week Gardening 101 class? Link is in our bio.