Black Farmers Urban Gardeners Conference


The '''Black Farmers & Urban Gardeners Conference''' (BUGs) is an annual event focused on food justice, sustainable agriculture, and community empowerment in Black communities across the United States. 

Founded in 2010 by Karen Washington,   [[Regina Ginyard]], the conference provides a platform for Black farmers, urban gardeners, activists, educators, and policymakers to collaborate on agricultural sustainability and equity.


== History ==

The conference was established as a response to systemic challenges faced by Black farmers and urban growers, including [[land loss]], [[food insecurity]], and limited access to agricultural resources. [[Karen Washington]], a food justice advocate, and [[Regina Ginyard]], a community organizer, co-founded the event to create a space for networking, education, and advocacy.

The inaugural 2010 conference in Brooklyn, New York, featured [[Will Allen]] as the **first keynote speaker**. Allen, a MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipient and founder of **Growing Power**, set the tone for future conferences by emphasizing sustainable food systems and urban farming.

The conference has since expanded to different cities across the U.S., addressing regional agricultural concerns while strengthening national connections among Black farmers and food justice advocates.


== Themes and Objectives ==

The conference covers various topics related to food sovereignty and agricultural sustainability, including:

* '''Food justice and sovereignty''' – Addressing racial disparities in land ownership and food access.

* '''Urban gardening and farming''' – Encouraging sustainable growing practices in city environments.

* '''Policy and advocacy''' – Engaging with policymakers to support Black farmers.

* '''Regenerative agriculture''' – Incorporating ancestral and innovative farming techniques.

* '''Community building''' – Strengthening networks among Black food growers and activists.


== Notable Speakers and Organizers ==

The BUGs Conference has hosted influential speakers, including:

* '''[[Will Allen (urban farmer)|Will Allen]]''' – First keynote speaker, founder of Growing Power.

* '''[[Karen Washington]]''' – Co-founder of BUGs, urban farmer, and food justice advocate.

* '''[[Regina Ginyard]]''' – Co-founder and community organizer.

* Leah Penniman – Co-founder of [[Soul Fire Farm]] and author of ''Farming While Black''.

* Shirley Sherrod– Civil rights activist and former [[USDA]] official.

* '''Dr. Monica White''' – Scholar on Black agrarian history.

* '''Dr. Gail Myers''' – Anthropologist and founder of Farms to Grow, Inc.

* '''Ash Richards''' – Director of Urban Agriculture, City of Philadelphia.

* '''Jim Embry''' – Food justice activist and farmer from Kentucky.


== Past Conferences ==

List of past Black Farmers & Urban Gardeners Conferences

! Year !! Location !! Notable Speakers

| 2010 || [[Brooklyn, New York]] (Brooklyn College) || Will Allen**, Ralph Paige

| 2011 || [[Bronx, New York]] (Hostos Community College) || K. Rashid Nuri, Audrey Rowe

| 2013 || [[Brooklyn, New York]] (NYC Boys & Girls High School) || Ben Burkett, Dr. Monica White

| 2014 || [[Detroit, Michigan]] || LaDonna Redmond, Bryant Terry

| 2015 || [[Oakland, California]] || Dr. Gail Myers

| 2016 || [[New York, New York]] (Harlem Renaissance High School) || Savi Horne, Owusu Bandele

| 2017 || [[Atlanta, Georgia]] (Georgia State University) || Shirley Sherrod

| 2018 || Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina]] || Dr. Monica White, Leah Penniman

| 2019 || [[New York, New York]] (The New School) || Dr. Heber Brown

| 2022 || [[Atlanta, Georgia]] (Georgia State University) || Dr. Gail Myers, Stephen Satterfield

| 2023 || Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Temple University) || Various speakers

| 2024 || Houston, Texas|| Various speakers


== Impact and Legacy ==

The BUGs Conference has played a vital role in the [[food justice movement]], creating opportunities for Black farmers to share knowledge, access resources, and influence agricultural policy. The conference continues to support the growth of [[Black-owned farms]], community gardens, and urban agriculture projects across the U.S.


== See Also ==

* Food justice movement

* Urban agriculture

* Black farmers in the United States


 https://www.blackurbangrowers.org blackurbangrowers.org

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