Second year farmer Nicolette has always grown things. “As a kid I gardened with my mom, grandma, and grandpa, going to stores, getting flowers and planting them together. Then I started to plant vegetables on my own. I’ve grown at home in pots and grow bags, tomatoes, and peppers mostly.”
Nicolette learned about Big River Farms at work and decided to up her game by applying to the grower training program. “Now I’m on ¼ acre at Big River Farms. I grow watermelon, hot peppers like scotch bonnet and aji dulce, and greens like kale and collards. I also grow sunflowers, zinnia, and cosmos.”
Nicolette sells her produce to The Food Group, The Good Acre, and several farmers markets, but near and dear to her heart is The Food Trap project in North Minneapolis, where she donates food. “It’s a free fridge that Black and Indigenous Northside community members can take food out of.”
Nicolette has big dreams for the future. “I’d like to buy a farm in the next couple of years, 1 or 2 acres where I can grow vegetables and flowers. I’d like to have a CSA with food that is more culturally specific to Black and Indigenous people. And I’d like to be selling, or donating, food to lower income communities.”
“I want to help people set up their own gardens, farms, or community garden spaces. For example, gardens at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and affordable housing projects. Food sovereignty and seed saving is a passion of mine.”
