In 2025, Persimmon Collective Fund awarded five $75,000 grants to farmers and land stewards and their ecosystems in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia.

  • Maroon Grove Farm, Southern Virginia

    June runs Maroon Grove Farm in Southern VA where their farm’s mission is to teach youth about farming in a rural setting and introduce them to ethically raised small livestock and sustainable agriculture. They produce eggs from hens raised on pasture, grow small batch cut flowers + medicinal herbs, and provide a safe teaching environment to children and youth in teaching them practical farming skills. 

    They and their ecosystem will use the funding for farm infrastructure to support their collective CSA as they can center vulnerable communities and provide nutrient dense food fresh to them.

  • La Botanica Farm, Southern Virginia

    Brittany runs La Botanica Farms and they sell naturally grown hand harvest flowers, natural dye products, and culturally relevant produce in the Northside of Richmond, Va.

    Brittany is working with local growers, chefs and markets in order to develop a more sustainable model of cooperation that will allow for shared resources, skills, labor and rest. The project with foster organizing and collaboration across generations and disciplines to enhance community care through food, flowers and herbalism.

  • Feed My Sheep at Wilburn Farms, Southern Georgia

    Erma Wilburn is the founder of Feed My Sheep at Wilburn Farms in Warwick Georgia where they grow food to feed their community and host The Black Farm Land Owners Sustainability Conference which brings black farmers and community leaders together to address ongoing issues.

    Erma will use the funding to support her ecosystem of farmers to gain greater and sustainable access to labor, farm equipment and infrastructure and markets.

  • FarmaSIS, South Carolina

    Bonita is the founder of FarmaSIS and is based in the South Carolina Midlands. FarmaSIS’s core tenets are nourishing solidarity among Black women, cultivating health and wellness, and promoting economic development. 

    Bonita will be working with her community of farmers to provide collective support around post handling harvest, particularly for elder farmers.

  • Vicks Farm & Fishery, South Georgia

    Clinton owns and operates the Vicks Estate and Fishery. Clinton grew up farming and now focuses on agritourism and farm education to the local community.

    Clinton will be working with other farmers and partner organizations to address issues of food disparities in Dougherty County, GA. Funding will support access to Dutch agri-technology to enhance year-round growing capacity while overcoming challenges such as climate, irrigation, and soil health. The initiative will also develop a community-based growing infrastructure to enable year-round food production, facilitate vegetable trading among neighbors, and expand farm-to-school programs to provide fresh produce to two local elementary schools.