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Learn How the Godmother of Urban Gardening Grows Hope and Sustainable Food

Karen Washington, farmer, urban gardener, food advocate, activist, and New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) Trustee was a distinguished guest recently on my Ladies Who Lunch Conversations monthly talk and interview show. 

I’m so very honored to host such extraordinary, inspiring women to explore their captivating, candid, & inspiring stories about their life journeys. These great dames are surely our time’s “women of rank and dignity”; thought-leaders who share their challenges, grit, optimism & more to help turn a talent, hobby, or dream into a well-lived life  


Karen was long a community activist who has been referred to as “urban farming’s de facto godmother” by The New York Times


In our Conversation, you’ll see and hear Karen describe how she became a community gardener, working with Bronx neighborhoods to turn empty lots into community gardens! 

She has been instrumental in not only protecting and preserving community gardens, she has tirelessly worked to educate communities and expand access to food in the Bronx. 

Listen how in 2014, she founded Rise & Root Farm, a cooperatively run farm in Orange County, New York that advocates for building a strong local food economy.  Karen describes how they were hard-hit by Superstorm Ida. They now have a Go-Fund Me campaign to help get back on track. 

Karen reminds us how humbling Mother Nature can be.  She tells us of “lessons to be learned… “

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What helped her become this “She-roe” to so many?  Karen tells me how her parents influenced both her and her brother because these great role models were involved as leaders in many civil rights efforts.  “When they saw injustice, they stood up, she says. “I brought that with me to the Bronx when I started growing food and became a physical therapist,”  she explains. 

What makes a leader? She tells us how powerful our voices are. That we can make a difference…

Learn how her “sweat equity” changed something that was “horrible” for their  neighborhood seniors and children in poor communities and created farms and gardens that brought light and hopefulness to a blighted area. 

You will be amazed to learn how they worked as community teams with the City to turn empty lots into oases of community gardens and in so doing, strengthened the neighborhoods and demonstrated the citizens’ resilience. 

 

Karen also is a member of La Familia Verde Community Garden Coalition, a “Just Food” board member and trainer, board member and former president of the New York City Community Garden Coalition, and founder of Black Urban Growers (BUGS). In 2012, Ebony magazine voted her one of the 100 most influential African Americans in the country, and in 2014, she was awarded the James Beard Leadership Award.

And wait for it, Karen made a very big announcement near the end of the show:  She said she was “humbled” to be receiving two very prestigious awards:

  • United Hospital Fund As “The Godmother of Urban Farming” The Hospital Fund presented Karen their 2021 Distinguished Community Service Award “in recognition of her exemplary work as a champion of food sustainability for over 30 years and as a community organizer for food justice.”

  • GreenThumb, NYC Parks, is the largest urban gardening program and they know a big heart and a grand leader ~ she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from GreenThumb. 

Congratulations Karen. Thank you for sharing with us. These Honors are so well-deserved. Karen shines a light for all of us to see and follow… 

During our Ladies Who Lunch Conversation, you all will also learn how her leadership skills engaged and motivated (rather than intimidated or commanded as a lot of “bosses” or folks in charge do), as she explains how she brings disparate voices and talents together to allow the community of voices to bring their success to the projects. 

No commander in chief, but rather a “leader in guiding.”  

Just like the fairy godmother that she is.  

I was so gobsmacked by her leadership style and success ~ and suggested that perhaps she could offer a kind of “Danny Meyer business of hospitality roadmap” to teach other community groups around the nation how to succeed in building teams to change their neighborhoods, grow sustainable food, and bring justice to their own citizens.  

Don’t you think Karen could monetize this?  A kind of guidebook for other communities to adapt and follow…

You could model Karen Washington!  She could speak to your group about how to go about establishing a plan to build successful community gardens. Just sayin’

During our Conversation, Karen also offers solid advice about how to balance her work, her community activism, and her family. When I marveled about her many accomplishments and wondered how she did it while still caring for her children, she readily answered my questions about that challenge with her quick response: a faith-based foundation. Karen explains that she is a very spiritual person… 

And undoubtedly, there is the unconditional belief in herself.  She said she “has a burning desire to do the right thing.” And faith helps her along the way. Along with her friends and family. Of which there are legions..     

Karen told us that she was planning to “retire” ~ (I shared that I had been crying in my homegrown soup since I first heard of that!) Nevertheless, she confirmed that it’s time for the next generation.  

She said she considers herself as the “Elder.”  How lovely is that?  I personally think we need more of honoring and respecting the Elders in our society. They possess wisdom that we sorely need…

She said her fans and friends refer to her as “Mama K.”  Ahhhhh. So sweet. All that garden love… 

She’s planning her retirement move to Georgia.

And yet…. On June 18, Karen will be a featured speaker at NYBG’s major, institution-wide exhibition, “Around the Table: Stories of the Foods We Love.” 

Karen will moderate “Stories from the Farm, a powerful, multigenerational panel discussion devoted to stories of Black farmers from many perspectives: North and South, Upstate and the Bronx, sharecroppers to family growers and urban farmers. Participants will give historical and contemporary context for Black farmers’ contributions to communities and food justice/sovereignty movements in urban and rural America.

Applause, Applause, Karen.  You will always inspire us.  Thank you. 

This is a Conversation we need to continue… 

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"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art."
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 I adore plants. Plants are my muse ~ they are my paramour… I’m a garden artist; a nature lover, & horticulturist. I’m an author & writer. My passion for culture & beauty, along with my trait curiosity, brings you an authentic celebration of life. I’m a storyteller ~ weaving the artful gifts of horticulture, garden design, tablescape decor, floral design, cocktail culture, garden-to-glass recipes & their glamorous garnishes, homegrown edibles, food & drink; & cooking, to bring you my flair & what I’ve been told is an avid elan ~ as well as the stories from those who inspire me ~ to pursue an elegant, enduring, & joyful, entertaining lifestyle. It’s an honor & a privilege to do what you love.

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