Meet OGC Mission Fund Recipient: Black Farmers Collective

February is Black History Month, a time to honor the rich contributions of Black individuals and communities throughout history. Meet the Black Farmers Collective, a grassroots organization dedicated to increasing food access, building community and supporting Black farmers in the Pacific Northwest. What started as a small initiative to support people of color who wanted to garden and farm has grown into a dynamic network of farms and educational programs.  

The organization stewards two primary sites: Yes Farm, right in the heart of Seattle, which serves as a hub for community engagement, and Small Axe Farm in Redmond, a production-focused farm that gives guest farmers the opportunity to cultivate their own crops. 

With a blend of education, policy advocacy and hands-on farming, the Black Farmers Collective has created space to empower people and deepen their relationship with the land. The organization does things like guiding preschoolers through food system lessons, working with policy groups to develop community-based food hubs and providing vital infrastructure for new farmers. Thier work embodies a commitment to environmental stewardship, community empowerment and food justice, creating lasting change in the food system and broader community. 

In 2024, OGC gave the Black Farmers Collective an unrestricted OGC Mission Fund grant. 

"Most of the grant money went to pay the folks growing the food. Unrestricted money really helps our farmers. We’re squeezing a lot out of the resources that we have," said Ray Williams, managing director of the Black Farmers Collective. 

OGC’s Mission Fund Grant Program helps build equity in our regional farm and food system, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and more. The Black Farmers Collective is just one of the many organizations the Mission Fund supported in 2024. Find a list of all our 2024 grant recipients here.