The Black Farmers Market returns to Brixton Station Road tomorrow (10 September) and on Sunday 8 October from 10am to 4 pm with a closing party at Pop Brixton until 11 pm.
Entrepreneur Natasha Pencil, founder of Taino and a Lambeth resident, has been selling her own Caribbean-inspired small-batch condiments since 2018.
Often popping up in Brixton market, she found herself speaking with other entrepreneurs, usually women and people of colour, all with the same complaints about a lack of investment, resources and publicity for their businesses.
So she organised an event that showcases talented food growers from the Black community.
More than 3,000 people visited the first market in October last year.
People of colour make up only 4.81% of environmental professionals compared to 12.64% of the overall UK Workforce (as quoted in The British Ecological Society). Black Farmers Market is tackling this issue head-on, Natasha says.
This year, the market will bigger than ever, with fresh produce from a diverse set of growers historically excluded from the UK’s agricultural industry.
The Black Farmers Market aims to empower the next generation of Black farmers through entrepreneurship, healthy living and sustainable farming.
The social enterprise received donations from Brixton Business Improvement District (BID), Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Farmarama Radio and Impact on Urban Health.
Natasha Pencil says this enabled it to incubate its growers, charities and community groups, by offering small grants and support to become “market ready” and trade alongside established businesses.
Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, Lambeth council cabinet member for stronger communities, leisure and sport, said: “Lambeth council is delighted to be welcoming back the Black Farmers Market to Brixton, helping to secure this area’s important legacy as the first home of the Windrush Generation”.
On both days, visitors will be able to to buy locally grown, pesticide-free produce from the likes of Go Grow With Love, The Alkaline Farmer, The Kenyan Pig Farmer, Bluestream Aquaponics, C&J Fishery and Black Rootz.
There will be tasty street food to purchase alongside books, cards, candles and fashion from independent Black businesses.
As well as live cookery demonstrations by vegan chefs, there will be free permaculture workshops from May Project Gardens, natural balm making and herbalism workshops from Earth Tenders, terrarium making from Rooted Rhapsodies and Wander Wild Forest School hosting leaf and flower printing for children.
Fun for the family will include face painting and street family Zumba, music and vibes from DJ Scandal.
Black Farmers Market works in partnership with the Brixton BID, Brixton Project, Ubele Initiative, Peabody Community Leaders, Give Black, Lambeth council, POP Brixton, Incredible Edible Lambeth, and others.
Images: Black Rootz
