1. Black Farmers Collective
YES Farm
Ray Williams
Seattle Urban Farmer

2. Who we are
We are a group of Black food system professionals: builders, growers, preparers, and eaters
We are developing an urban farm and innovation center in cooperation with the SHA, WDOT, and the Yesler community

3. Why this project
We believe one of the best ways to improve your mental and physical health is to grow some of your own food.
Serve as an anchor to keep an African American presence in central Seattle
Facilitate sharing of cultural traditions of the many ethnic communities in the neighborhood

4. Meet the Collective
Ray Williams and Lottie Cross

5. Meet the Collective
Nyema Clark
Ron Harris-White

6. Meet the Collective
Chief Tarik Abdulla
Tom and Venice Willis

7. Our Collaborators Jared from Seattle Housing Authority
Student Conservation Association

8. Our Collaborators Seth with Anything Aquaponics The Common Acre
Seattle University
Africatown Center for Education and Innovation

9. Our Collaborators Earth Corps PNW Black Growers Hilltop Urban Gardens
Nurturing Roots Farm
Antioch’s Urban Environmental Education
Clean Greens Farm and Market
Black Dollar Days Task Force
Seattle Farm Coop
Seattle Park’s Urban Food Systems

10. Our Collaborators
Youth
&
You

11. What we support Farm Development Youth Programing South Walker St.
Yes Garden
Africatown Grow
Home garden space
Yes Farm
Africatown Center for Education and Innovation
Yesler Terrace

12. Yes Farm 2+ acre in central Seattle Cooperative farm
Great southwest exposure
SHA has brought water to the site
Pedestrian access from Yesler Way
Grow food for the local market
Value added products
Training and education
Community Engagement

13. Urban Farm at Yesler Way and I-5

14. YES Farm
“before”
View from Yesler Way

15. Questions we have Infrastructure Community
How do we mitigate the impacts of the freeway?
Electric power
Rainwater collection (have city water at site)
Farm design
Soil remediation
How can the farm connect the diverse communities in the area?
Including houseless people

16. Questions we have Farm business Education
How do we develop an equitable business structure?
How can we leverage our assets?
What forms can our education efforts take?
What should our primary learning objectives be?

17. Why should you choose our project?
Help your community
Help yourself
Reduce health impacts of poor diet
Create urban oasis for people and wildlife
Model for other projects
Ground floor project
Opportunity to work with POC leadership
Connections to our other partners

18. Thank you
Ray Williams
Black Farmers Collective