The Garden Alchemista and Teaista

12/09/2024

Inner Earth Food Preservation.

Commonly known and not utilized enough,
the Root Cellar,
an underground or partially underground storage space used for preserving fruits, vegetables, and other perishable foods.

Root cellars have been used for centuries as a natural way to keep food cool, moist and fresh without the need for refrigeration!

The stable environment they provide helps prevent spoilage and extends the shelf life of produce!🌱

12/09/2024

12/06/2024

Tik tok is shutting down on January 19th 2025😭

12/04/2024

Yeah dem greens jumpin’ I know what I’m doing a lil piece 🤞🏾💚🌱

11/30/2024

It’s important to set boundaries in any profession, but particularly as a Black woman farmer in the natural wellness space, I’ve had to learn to prioritize my peace and energy. When people ask me, “How do I get started?” I no longer feel compelled to respond for a few reasons that come down to mutual respect and alignment of effort.

The people whose energy aligns with mine—the ones who truly value not just my time but their own—will have already done some groundwork. They’ve likely Googled the question, taken the initiative to explore the resources I’ve shared, clicked the link in my bio, or even looked at the 250+ videos I’ve made freely available on YouTube. They understand that farming is a journey of self-education, persistence, and respect for the work that goes into it. By the time they come to me, their questions are specific, thoughtful, and informed because they’ve put in the effort. That kind of intentionality shows me they’re serious about this path and not just asking for hand-holding.

As a Black woman, I’m acutely aware of how society often tries to guilt us into overextending ourselves. That "to whom much is given, much is required" scripture gets thrown at me as though I haven’t already poured tremendously into my community. It’s exhausting when people assume that my success means I’m obligated to be everything for everyone, constantly giving without consideration for the toll it takes on me.

But I’ve learned to curate the energy around me intentionally. My peace is sacred, and I’ve accepted that it’s not my job to save or help every single person who crosses my path. That doesn’t make me less generous or less committed to the collective—it makes me human. I give in a way that feels good and brings me joy and I will continue to give in meaningful ways, but on my terms.

If you are an aspiring or beginning farmer, I encourage you to think through these questions:

- Have I done my due diligence before asking for help? (e.g., researched online, explored resources, read or watched available content, etc.)
- Am I asking specific questions that demonstrate my effort and respect for the other person's expertise?
- How do I show gratitude to those who take the time to guide or support me?
- Have I honored my own time and effort by being intentional in my learning journey?

Ultimately, I’ve come to understand that those who genuinely want to grow, learn, and build in this space will respect the time, boundaries, and resources of those who’ve come before them. And when their energy reflects that respect, I’m much more inclined to engage.

Respectfully,
Farmer Cee

PS - I have 250 videos on my Farmer Cee YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/farmercee) documenting my journey in building Green Heffa Farms, lessons learned, mistakes made, etc. I also go live on Sundays at 2PM.

11/30/2024

Poppy Flowers 🌸

11/24/2024

On our trip back to the ancestral land, I was ecstatic to find that right at the entrance gate of my great-grandfather’s old house stood this beautiful Star Fruit tree, bearing heavy clusters of delicious fruits 😍. So I think it’s a serendipitous sign that the ancestors want us to relearn the moral wisdom from the classic folklore, "The Tale of the Star Fruit Tree." The legend has it....⬇️

Once upon a time, after their parents have passed, two brothers were dividing up the inheritance their late parents left behind.

The older brother, who was greedy and a bully, usurped most of the house, land, oxen, and money for himself. To his younger brother, he only offered a tiny straw shack and the Star Fruit tree infront of the shack.

The younger brother, who was virtuous and mild mannered, accepted his meager share with no defiance. He made a living for himself by working as a field hand for other farmers.

One year, the star fruit tree suddenly produced an abundance of sweet, heavy clusters of fruits. Overcame with optimism, the younger brother planned to sell the fruits to make some money. However, before he could harvest the fruits, a phoenix bird 🐦 arrived and started eating the fruits. The young man pleaded to the bird with tears 😭 . The Phoenix responded: "ONE STAR FRUIT FOR ONE NUGGET OF GOLD. TOMORROW, BRING A 3-PALMS-LENGTH BAG TO BEAR THE GOLD."

The younger brother complied. The next day, he prepared a bag that was exactly 3-palms in length. The Phoenix arrived as promised and took the young man on its back and flew across the ocean. They landed on an island with an endless treasure of gold. The young man took the amount of gold that he could store in his 3-palms-length bag, and no more. The Phoenix took him back to the mainland, where he used the gold to live comfortably and helped others in need.

The older brother heard the story, and demanded his younger brother to give him the shack and the star fruit tree in exchange for all his properties. The younger brother complied.

The next day, as expected, the Phoenix arrived to eat the fruits. The older brother pretended to cry and plead. The Phoenix once again instructed: "ONE STAR FRUIT FOR ONE NUGGET OF GOLD. TOMORROW, BRING A 3-PALMS-LENGTH BAG TO BEAR THE GOLD."

The greedy older brother instead sewed a 12-palms-length bag! The Phoenix arrived the next day and took him to the treasure island. He stuffed the 12-palms-length bag full of gold.

On the flight back, the Phoenix started to swerve because the load was too heavy. The bird pleaded the older brother to discard some of the gold. The brother refused. Unable to carry the heavy load, the Phoenix dumped him and all his gold in the ocean. ........
You've heard me spoken many times on the ancient wisdom of "never take more than you're given." The Native Americans have taught this wisdom for many generations, and so have our Vietnamese ancestors. But it seems, that somewhere along the line, as the human race....we've forgotten this wisdom, and now I believe we’re starting to learn the price of taking more than we're given.

11/24/2024

🚨 Calling All Black Women Farmers! 🚨

The Black Women Regenerative Farming Project is seeking up to two new farm partners for 2025! This is an incredible opportunity to grow and sustain your farming operation while being part of a network that centers Black women in agriculture.

Selected farms will receive:
💰 $8,000–$15,000 annually in funding (renewable for up to 3 years)
🌱 Education and training tailored to regenerative practices
🌍 Support for soil testing and more resources to improve your land
🤝 Ongoing community and expert guidance

Want to be a part? Be sure to check your inbox if you’re on our email list—it’s where the details and interest form link went first!

Not signed up yet? Join the list at BlackWomenFarming.com to stay connected to opportunities like this. The email list is free and open to all, though we proudly center Black women because equity in agriculture is essential to its future.

Don’t miss your chance to take your farm to the next level! More information is in the email including eligibility. Yes, you must be already farming and be EQIP eligible. 🌟

11/20/2024

Animals belong in a permaculture / regenerative agriculture setup.

One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture https://amzn.to/3B3Y4OF

Practical Permaculture Project: https://amzn.to/3d6N0by

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