Two Farmers. Shared Journey. Vision Rooted in Baltimore, Reaching Toward Cuba.
In a time when food sovereignty and land justice are more urgent than ever, we have the power to build something lasting—together. We’re raising $5,000 to attend a Black-led farming and sustainability immersion in Cuba this October: a transformative opportunity for both of us to deepen our work as land stewards, growers, and organizers rooted in Baltimore.
We’re Jen West and MarTaze Gaines—two Black farmers who’ve been on a shared land journey for over five years. Jen is the Executive Director and Farm Manager of Whitelock Community Farm, a historic Black-led farm in Reservoir Hill. MarTaze is the founder of Sankofa Farm of Baltimore and co-owner of land being cultivated into a space for healing and collective power.
If you know anything about Baltimore, you know our urban farming community continues to grow—and that growth is grounded in our connections to each other, and to the many relationships we’ve built across the region, the country, and the world. This journey to Cuba is part of that legacy.
This immersion isn’t just about farming—it’s about learning from Black and Indigenous Cuban farmers who’ve built resilient, localized systems despite scarcity and global blockade. It’s about connecting across the African diaspora, reclaiming traditional knowledge, and bringing back practices that can feed movements for food, land, and cultural liberation at home.
Your support will directly fund our travel, the remaining program costs, and the transport of vital supplies we’re bringing to Cuba—items like over-the-counter medicine, menstrual products, clothing, tools, and more.
We’re collecting donations of physical goods over the next few months to take with us. If you’d like to contribute, let us know.
Core items include:
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Pads & tampons
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Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen
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Gently used clothing
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Old cellphones
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Notebooks, pens, and more
Every contribution is a seed — whether it's money, a donated item, or your vision.
🌱 We strongly encourage you to drop your vision for your community—around food, healing, housing, or otherwise—in the comments.
Even if you can’t give financially, your dreams matter. Don’t be afraid to speak them. Sharing your vision helps shape the world we’re all growing toward.
Thank you for supporting this shared journey. Let’s imagine forward, together.
