Growing Together in the Caribbean
- Jordan Roberts
- Jan 24
- 3 min read
Black Sustainability, Inc. at the 27th Annual Bordeaux Farmers’ Rastafari Agricultural & Cultural Vegan Food Fair
The energy was immediate. Music, food, laughter, and conversations pulsated through the lush hills of Estate Bordeaux on St. Thomas. From the moment we arrived at We Grow Food Inc's the 27th Annual Bordeaux Farmers’ Rastafari Agricultural & Cultural Vegan Food Fair, it was clear: this gathering was about community, culture, and cultivating the future together. Farmers, families, elders, artists, and youth flowed through the grounds, exchanging seeds, stories, recipes, wisdom, and visions for food sovereignty across the Caribbean. Every booth felt alive with purpose. Every conversation felt rooted in legacy.
Where Culture Meets Cultivation
We Grow Food, Inc. is a non-profit agricultural collective based in Estate Bordeaux on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Established in 1998, their mission is to protect Virgin Islands agriculture, assist local farmers, and provide the community with affordable, locally grown produce and organic vegan food.
To lose agriculture is to lose our culture, integrity, self worth and pride. Without these characteristics, we, as a people fail to exist. - We Grow Food, Inc.
Fresh produce, herbal remedies, handmade crafts, and vibrant vegan dishes filled the air with color and flavor. Live music and dance rippled through the crowd while workshops created space for learning about seed saving, regenerative farming, health, and Afro-Indigenous agricultural traditions. The fair reflected something powerful: when agriculture is grounded in culture, sustainability becomes personal and transformative. Throughout the weekend, conversations centered on strengthening local food systems, preserving ancestral knowledge, and creating pathways for the next generation of growers. That alignment made this gathering a natural home for Black Sustainability, Inc.
The Black Sustainability, Inc. Booth
At our booth, curiosity quickly turned into connection. We shared information on NRCS practices that can be applied on farms to ensure conservation practices are implemented and awareness of USDA NRCS programs and resources were clear to attendees and to those who visited our table. We also had an opportunity to introduce the AfroEcology + BGA: SovereignSeedz initiative, and invited community members to join our collective mission of seed sovereignty and biodiversity across the diaspora. SovereignSeedz is more than distributing seeds it’s a movement for intentional planting, remembrance, and reverence of seed saving, designed to promote food sovereignty and ecological knowledge. In 2026, our goal is ambitious: 6,000 seeds saved across 100 diverse growing sites, supported by 25 growers in the U.S. and 25 bonus growers across Africa, the Caribbean, North and South America.
Participants commit to selecting three crops from our curated list, reserving at least five plants per crop to save seeds. Experienced growers and educational partners will mentor those who pledge to grow, ensuring proper seed saving techniques and sustaining the network’s impact. These conversations at Bordeaux highlighted the eagerness of local farmers and community leaders to join this diaspora-wide effort and learn more about implementing conservation practices. It was inspiring to see how excited people are to participate in intentional planting, biodiversity preservation, and cultural continuity through seed saving.
Bridging Gaps Across the Diaspora
One clear theme emerged: there’s a critical need for connection to each other, to resources, to knowledge, and to shared opportunities. Farmers and organizers voiced excitement about expanding AfroEcology programming into Caribbean spaces that honor ancestral agricultural practices while strengthening modern sustainability systems. Bordeaux became a living example of what’s possible when community leads the way. With initiatives like SovereignSeedz, Black Sustainability, Inc. is empowering growers to take ownership of their seeds, their land, and their future, while fostering a decentralized, resilient seed network that spans the diaspora.
What Comes Next
As the weekend wrapped up, momentum was palpable. Relationships built, ideas exchanged, and seeds planted (literally and figuratively) are already shaping what’s next for Black Sustainability, Inc. in the Caribbean. We left inspired, grateful for the warm welcome, and energized by the shared vision for thriving, culturally-rooted food systems. Bordeaux 2026 reminded us why intentional community work matters and we can’t wait to return next year, growing stronger partnerships, expanding the AfroEcology Series, and saving even more seeds across the diaspora!
We will be back in June 2026 for hands on support to our local We Grow Food farm community! Deepest gratitude to our hosts and the organizers for such an amazing event - Special shout out to Sister B, Ras Cubu and Sister Dara for their deep commitment and love to ensure our mission could reach our St. Thomas family.
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