We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Isa Jamira. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Isa below.

Isa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Before I answer this question, I need to say that I did not come up with the idea for Liberated Lands alone. I came up with the idea with my ancestors and within a community that supported me to keep exploring the ideas within my head. Liberated Lands is a growing institution where individuals learn how to take care of themselves through taking care of the Earth. The mission of Liberated Lands is to create healing and educational growing environments for free thinkers.

Liberated Lands was inspired by the notion of abolishing the food system…. In the past, I have worked for many farms and food operations. I started working for urban farms in New York City because I understood the role that growing food plays in the process of climate change. Since college, I wanted to become a small organic farmer after I learned about the negative impact of the industrial food system on planet. However, as a young professional, I coined the phrase “Abolish the Food System” and founded Liberated Lands because I realized by becoming a farmer I was participating in the oppression of the land and myself. While I was working for urban farms and gardens, sometimes I was paid, and sometimes I was not. Farming is physically intensive labor, but selling produce is not profitable. Good nutrient filled food needs to be affordable, therefore the physical toll of farm labor is never fully reflected in the price. I switched gears to become an educator. Now I farm, garden, and teach children and adults. Teaching our people how to grow food is a way to liberate the land and ourselves. Through growing food and being on the land, people learn to perceive ecosystems as caring communities that sustain life on this earth. As humans, we need to do our part in sustaining these ecosystems by noticing plants, insects, and even bacteria as our equals and allies in caring for the planet.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was originally drawn to farming because food brings people together. Now, I really love working with the soil because it’s a direct way to take care of the earth and myself at the same time. I love how when I invest in the Earth’s soil health I am also investing in my own and loved ones’ health. The soil is connected to everything: our past, present, and future. The soil is alive, just like us. Repairing our relationship with the soil and how we connect to food will heal a lot of the world’s problems.

I am a garden educator from Mount Vernon, New York. I started urban gardening and farming in 2017 as an environmental studies college intern at Bates College. In college I was hired to manage a 1.6 acre student run farm. I helped name the garden the “PLOT” standing for the literal definition “plot: a small piece of ground marked out for a purpose such as gardening” an acronym “People Learning Outside Together.“ As a full time student, I taught my peers about gardening and assisted harvesting nearly two thousand pounds of produce for the dining hall. Since graduating college in 2019, I returned to New York to work independently as a garden educator. As an artist, activist, and farmer, I create educational experiences around food and land.

I am very proud of founding Liberated Lands Inc and acquiring land to grow the first Liberated Lands campus. I’m proud of organizing and hosting the 1st and 2nd annual Liberated Lands Festival. I am proud of creating my own curriculum for adults and youth. I am proud of my Caribbean roots and heritage. I’m also very proud of all of the partnerships Liberated Lands has established. I quit my 9-5 job to focus on the growth of my company. It’s just the beginning.

Liberated Lands is a NY based educational organization and collective of educators. We offer gatherings that center food, plant medicine, and land. We organize art shows, workshops, after-school programming, and garden consultations for our community of land stewards and the general public. Liberated Lands is committed to the liberation of the land and the people. Through education, we heal the Earth and people.
More @ liberatedlands.org

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My authenticity and consistency.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

As a sole proprietor, in 2021 I hosted my first fundraiser and raised $4k from my supporting community.

Starting an educational farm on undeveloped land has many startup costs. In 2022 I launched a kickstarter campaign to run for 30-days with a $5k pledge goal to assist preliminary start-up costs; I met the funding goal in the first four days. While the kickstarter was live, I still pushed to receive contributions for succeeding costs such as well drilling, septic system installations, building a greenhouse and more. The campaign was backed by 114 people and 160% funded. Kickstarter also awarded the campaign with a “Project We Love” badge. How amazing is that? I am forever grateful for every individual who backed and shared. It’s amazing to know there’s a community who understands the value of education and earth justice work.

Contact Info:

• Website: liberatedlands.org
• Instagram: theartistactivistfarmer
• Youtube: @theartistactivistfarmer

Image Credits
Rasheed Williams, photographer [email protected] ‭+1 (917) 971-1141‬