After the success of last year, Black Farmers Market will be returning to Brixton Station Road for two market dates welcoming black traders, growers and makers to sell their produce. The first market will take place on 10th September 10am – 4pm, followed by a second on 8th October 10am – 4pm with the closing party taking place at Pop Brixton till 11pm.
The market was founded by Natasha Pencil and Aisha Jade who started their businesses, Taino Condiments and Carisips Drinks, trading at the under-utilised Brixton farmer’s market from 2020. Here they met other food entrepreneurs, mostly women of colour, who had the same complaints – a lack of investment, resources and publicity to scale their farming ambitions.
Launching last year in October 2022 Black Farmers Market saw over 3000 people attend, gaining press coverage including The Independent and Sky News.
With people of colour making 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 the issue head on. This year they are returning 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 has received generous donations from Brixton Business
Improvement District, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Farmarama Radio and
Impact on Urban Health. This has enabled them to incubate their growers, charities and community groups by offering small grants and support to become ‘market ready’ and trade amongst established businesses.
Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Leisure and Sports“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 attendees will have the opportunity to purchase 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 to peruse sold by independent Black businesses.
Vegan chefs will be doing live cookery demonstrations, as well as 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. There will be fun for the family too with face painting and street family zumba. Music and vibes from DJ Scandal.