We were lucky to catch up with Pamia Coleman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Pamia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.

Black Girls With Green Thumbs (BGWGT) was founded in 2016 by myself- Pamia Coleman and Latiaynna Tabb, two friends who bonded over their shared love for the outdoors, nature, and growing plants. Having attended both high school and college together, their connection to the earth grew alongside their personal friendship. What started as an Instagram account to document their urban gardening experiences blossomed into something much bigger—a community that thrives on education, wellness, and empowerment through gardening.

BGWGT evolved from a simple platform for sharing personal stories of growing plants in an urban environment into a nonprofit organization with a broader mission: to cultivate a community of seedfolk committed to healing, nourishing, and learning through gardening. With a focus on urban gardening and community engagement, BGWGT offers workshops, educational programs, and hands-on activities designed to inspire others to connect with the earth and foster sustainable lifestyles.

Today, BGWGT continues to grow as a movement that not only highlights the importance of gardening but also empowers Black communities, encouraging them to embrace the healing, spiritual, and practical benefits of gardening. Through their work, they aim to help individuals, especially those in urban settings, understand how gardening can be a path to wellness and connection.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up in the vibrant West Oak Lane and Mt. Airy sections of Philadelphia, where nature was always a part of my life. Gardening became a personal journey for me, not just as a hobby, but as a way to connect with the earth, help my child eat healthier, find peace, and promote well-being. My background in trauma-informed yoga, and working with individuals with special needs has shaped how I approach gardening today. It’s not just about planting seeds, it’s about creating spaces where people can heal, grow, and feel connected.

As co-founder of Black Girls With Green Thumbs (BGWGT), our programming ranges from hands-on gardening workshops to plant-based cooking classes, yoga, and wellness activities. We run programs like Green Thumbs in Your School, where we work with students in autism support classrooms, and community projects like sensory gardens. We also offer online education and community events, like Grow and Walk Philly, to make gardening accessible and engaging for everyone.

What sets us apart is our deep commitment to inclusivity and our focus on holistic wellness. We bring together gardening, mindfulness, and community empowerment to create a unique experience that addresses both the physical and mental health needs of our participants.

I’m most proud of how our work serves not only individual gardeners but entire communities, from families to schools. I want people to know that BGWGT is more than a gardening group—it’s a movement toward self-care, community care, and environmental stewardship.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson I’ve had to unlearn is the idea that constant hustle and productivity are necessary for growth. As someone deeply committed to my work, I used to believe that if I wasn’t always busy, pushing forward, and grinding, I wasn’t progressing. But the garden taught me a different way.

Through my journey with Black Girls With Green Thumbs (BGWGT), my partner and I coined the term “lessons from our garden” to capture the life lessons mirrored in the natural world. One of the most profound lessons for me is learning to move with intention and ease. In the garden, everything has its season—there’s a time to plant, a time to water, a time to harvest, and a time to rest. When I started observing these natural cycles, I realized that forcing things out of season doesn’t bring results; it brings burnout.

The plants grow at their own pace, responding to the conditions around them. They teach us patience, presence, and the importance of aligning our efforts with the natural flow of life. Similarly, I’ve learned to listen to my body, my environment, and my intuition—to understand when it’s time to push forward and when it’s time to step back. Moving with intention doesn’t mean rushing; it means being mindful of the actions you take and trusting that, like in the garden, growth will come when the conditions are right.

This lesson has changed how I approach my work and my life, bringing more balance, joy, and fulfillment.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most defining moments of resilience in my life has been my journey with my son, who was diagnosed with autism around 2.5 years old. As a mother, I faced many challenges as he grew—particularly with his food aversions. For years, he would only eat foods that were tan or red, limiting his diet in a way that worried me deeply. It wasn’t just about nutrition; it was about helping him explore a world of new experiences that he couldn’t access through language. He’s nonverbal, so finding ways to connect and help him grow has been a constant learning process.

Gardening became one of the most transformative tools for both of us. As he learned to care for plants, I saw a remarkable change in him. Gardening provided him with structure, a sense of responsibility, and an opportunity to engage with the natural world in a tactile way that worked for him. The biggest shift came when he started growing his own veggies and herbs. Slowly, he began to open up to new foods—foods he had grown with his own hands.

From there, he started making smoothies and healthy recipes, incorporating fresh ingredients from our garden. Today, he even has his own juicing business! Watching him evolve from a child with strict food limitations to someone who grows and enjoys his own produce has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s a testament to resilience—his and mine—and the power of gardening to heal and nurture in unexpected ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blackgirlswithgreenthumbs.org
• Instagram: @blackgirlswithgreenthumbs
• Facebook: Black Girls With Green Thumbs

Image Credits

Shalana Austin