My name is Jatty Vicky Zondo. I am a wife, mother of 6 daughters and grandmother of a one-year-old granddaughter. I am an African refugee from Liberia, blessed to live in America, the greatest country on earth. Indeed, my life is evidence that the American dream can still be achieved with hard work, determination and honesty. Nothing is impossible if you believe and work at it.
Our dream has always been to own a small farm where we can raise our children, have a sustainable farm operation and start a Boys Home for troubled young Black men, providing hands on training in farm and agriculture to equip them to be responsible and productive citizens.
In the early days of the Covid-19 Pandemic, we purchased a 40-acre farm in Todd County, Minnesota which has a 4-bedroom home, two livestock barns, a cow shed, and a 4500sf insulated barn which we plan to convert into boys’ home.
Guided by our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, trusting His Divine Providence we begin buying livestock and prepping 9 acres of tillable ground to grow organic vegetables. Then COVID-19 shout down the economy affecting everyone.
Due to the Pandemic, my husband is unemployed and actively seeking employment. I am the only person working to sustain the home and the farm. With limited hours and less than livable wage, our dream to farm and help trouble young Black men from the inner cities may not be possible without your help. Therefore, I am kindly asking you to please help me ‘Save Our Farm’.
Currently, we have 23 sows, one boar, 50 hens and four roosters. We also have 6 Nigerian dwarfs does, one buck, and eight bred cows. These are our breeding stocks but have not start producing yet. We hope to have 40 does goats, 500 layers and vegetable production to generate monthly farm income to sustain the farm.
Due to limited income, we are struggling to provide for our family, pay mortgage, buy livestock feed, lack farm equipment, and unable to convert the barn into a livable place for the boy’s home. Simply put, without a second income or immediate help, we are at risk of losing the farm we long dreamed.
We are one of few Black Owned farms in Minnesota hoping to stay in business in these challenging times. Less than 1% of farmers in the U.S are African Americans, and we are not immune to the historical challenges facing black farmers. We know these challenges are real, but we believe nothing is impossible if you believe. We believe regardless of race, creed, gender or origin, America is still the best place for dreamers like us, and nothing is impossible.
We are asking for help to keep our farm so that we can also be of help to others, especially young Black men needing second chance and opportunity to be good productive citizens.
Currently, we have one young black man name Israel who reside on the farm. We have received several requests from families, pastors and community leaders who want to send young men to the farm, but we are unable to help due to lack of funding. All the kids we wish to help are mainly from broken homes, single parents, and are unable to afford the cost of food, lodging and training.
Our program is free because those we want to help cannot afford it. Our six-week hands on program are design to train and equip young Black men from the inner cities to be responsible, hardworking and productive law-abiding citizens of their communities. Our Christ-Centered approach meets the spiritual needs of these young men which includes scripture reading, morning and evening devotion and community service such as assisting seniors with yard work, running errands for seniors who are at higher risk due to health, physical disability, mobility and COVID-19.
We believe teaching these young men to serve, and good work ethics will help them become good fathers, responsible and outstanding men who will inspire others to do good.
After calculating the total cost to make the farm a sustainable productive enterprise we decided to raise $ 75,000 to pay for the following:
· Farm Mortgage
· Used Farm Equipment (stock trailer, tiller, plow, tractor with loader, incubator, used box truck)
· Livestock and Feed
· Remodel Boys Home (bunk beds, 3 stall bathrooms with standup showers, toilet, blankets, food, plates, spoons, kitchen, stove, refrigerator, hot water heater, etc.)
· 40’ x 60’ Greenhouse and
· 3 Full time staff
We invite you to contact us or come visit our farm at any time. You can reach us via email or through this page.
By faith we believe God will speak to your heart to help us make this dream a reality, so we can also be of help to others. Thanks in advance for your help and prayers.
