Crops and Culture: A farm that feeds a movement

Annisha Stewart Start Date: Apr 15, 2025 - End Date: Aug 14, 2025
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development

My Travel Story

by: Annisha Stewart Start Date: Apr 15, 2025 - End Date: Aug 14, 2025
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
My name is Annisha Stewart, founder and Executive Director of Mama’s Healing Garden in Toronto, Canada. I was born in Jamaica, and I’m returning to my ancestral homeland to acquire and cultivate farmland—but this is far more than a personal journey. It’s the start of a transnational movement rooted in healing, cultural restoration, and food sovereignty for Black and Afro-Indigenous communities across Jamaica and Canada.

Through this campaign, we are raising funds to purchase and develop farmland in Jamaica that will grow nutrient-rich, culturally relevant herbs and produce like callaloo, cassava, sorrel, breadfruit, and more. The farm will serve as a regenerative food hub, using ancestral growing methods and sustainable practices to address the deep-rooted issue of food insecurity.

But our impact doesn’t stop at the soil.
Here's how your donation helps make a difference:

We will donate fresh produce to basic schools and inner-city communities in Jamaica, improving children’s nutrition and supporting families facing poverty.
We will export culturally relevant produce to Canada and the U.S. to support our social enterprise and help feed marginalized, low-income families in Toronto’s underserved neighborhoods.
The farm will create jobs and training opportunities for local Jamaican youth and women, supporting economic empowerment and skills development.
Profits from the farm will help sustain Mama’s Healing Garden’s free wellness programs, healing circles, and community gardens in Canada.
This project is the bridge between my Jamaican roots and my Canadian work. It’s a love letter to both lands—and a bold, practical solution to restore dignity, access, and wellness in our communities.

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