Mayam has been farming off and on for about 12 years beginning in North Carolina with their grandmother on her homestead. Since then, farming has taken Mayam to Utah, Pennsylvania and now they are entering their second growing season in New Mexico. Currently, they are enrolled in a county run farmer training and incubation program.
BEING IN A LOT OF RURAL AREAS AS A BLACK QUEER FARMER – THERE’S NOT TOO MANY OF US IN RURAL AREAS- I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW TO HOLD MYSELF, LOVE MYSELF IN NEW WAYS AND KEEP MYSELF WHEN I START TO FEEL LONELY AND FEELING LIKE I CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE. IT’S BEEN AN EYE OPENING PROCESS – I’VE LEARNED AND GAINED A LOT OF STRENGTH AND KNOWLEDGE IN THAT.
Just in regard to gender and identity, it’s been interesting and difficult – this is the first farming space in a while that has been folks of color. I’ve primarily been on farms with white people – land with white people or farms owned by white people. It’s interesting navigating relationship dynamics…
I want to come out, but it’s hard to do that when:
A. I’m the only black person around for miles, and
B. I’m the only black queer person around.
I’ve had to find balance and safety in that, and still be my true authentic self. That has been a true challenge.
What keeps me coming back is that I love it. I do it because this is my passion. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I always want to honor my ancestors with this practice – that keeps me going – knowing my family has been doing this for generations. I want to continue that heritage growing food to feed myself and others.
Ultimately I want to get the youth involved, and develop a reciprocal process. I want to learn, teach and listen to the youth.
Not Our Farm 