Inspiring Conversations with Clarenda Stanley of Green Heffa Farms

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clarenda Stanley.

Hi Clarenda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I spent a large part of my childhood being raised by my maternal grandparents in Alabama’s Black Belt. I was raised to have an appreciation for land both for its ability to provide and as a wealth-building asset. When my mother passed in 2009, she left me one asset – a twenty acre tree farm in my hometown. Eventually, I landed in North Carolina and  in 2018, bought another almost fifteen acres of raw farmland to start a new farming business with my then-spouse who would handle the actual crop production. Things fell apart and in late summer 2019, I found myself responsible for this land that was basically a blank slate. I began to develop the vision for what you now know as Green Heffa Farms – a regenerative, organic medicinal plants and herb farm. The first Black-owned farm to become a Certified B Corporation, we produce functional herbal teas and beauty steams to enhance wellbeing and most recently, we began to offer a selection of seasonal herbs for purchase as well. I am one of very few single Black women farm owners not only in this region but in this country.

I didn’t see myself as a farmer. As a matter of fact, I ran away from my grandparents’ farm. I wanted nothing to do with an agrarian lifestyle. I had built a very successful career in nonprofit marketing and communications and later, as a fundraising professional. During the first three years of building Green Heffa Farms, I also worked full-time as a global fundraiser for a large conservation organization. It was here that I was able to fully understand the challenges we are facing environmentally- our climate, our oceans, our lands. And it was also here that I began to understand the true magnitude of the disparities that exist and the blinders that many are wearing as it pertains to equity. I began to speak out about the inequities that I witnessed. Often being the only Black person in the room, and a Black woman at that, meant that I was often the target of animus and hostility which took its toll on my mental and emotional well-being.  I  began to look to herbs to help with some of my own challenges dealing with anxiety.

We live in a world where we give the title leader to many who are lost. Farming and growing botanically rich plants while nourishing the soils became part of my healing. I can’t say I am doing good if I am actively participating in the systemic exclusion of others. It’s not about saving the world for me. I am much happier positively impacting the worlds of others. I can grow good things that help people live more enriched lives and do it in a way that shows my utmost respect and appreciation for this precious nugget of land that I am stewarding. And I can do it without dimming my light to make others comfortable.

And so here I am.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am a Black woman. That alone comes with inherent challenges. But I am also a Black landowning woman farmer in the south who grows medicinal plants and herbs versus the more expected fruits and vegetables. Additionally, I am an advocate for equity in the environment, in agriculture, and in economic prosperity. These are spaces rife with racism, sexism, misogyny, ageism, and even regionalism.

I just recently became a full-time farmer this year. As both a farmer and a CEO of a fastly-growing brand, there is also the challenges that come along with the fact that farmers are not seen as entrepreneurs and are often left out of many important conversations. We need to rethink how we see farmers and who we picture when we think of a farmer.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Green Heffa Farms?
Green Heffa Farms is more than a business. It is a movement. I work with other Black women and femme-identifying farmers who are also passsionate about creating environmentally and financially sustainable businesses based on social responsibility. I love sharing about the powerful plant medicine I have the honor of growing. We currently produce over two dozen species of medicinal plants and herbs ranging from Camelia sinensis (true tea plants) to Cannabis sativa (hemp). We acknowledge and give honor to traditional plant medicine practices and seek to demystify the herbs and how they can be used to enhance wellbeing. I choose tea as our introductory offerings because of its cultural significance and it is beginner user friendly for those new to medicinal plants and herbs.

We have two product lines – our teas, which do not contain hemp, and our steams, which are essentially our tea formulas with hemp added. Current laws make it easier for me to sell you hemp to smoke than to sip so we offer steams. If it falls in your cup, that is not our business.  Our herbs are grown with the utmost care so can be used both to enhance your well-being as well as your beauty routine. Everything is grown with the same care and consciousness – our farm is a Certified B Corp and is in the process of attaining USDA Certified Organic status. We are committed to our 4Es: Economic prosperity, Equity, Environment, and Education and work hard to ensure that we are embodying our core values. We aim to refrain from much of the spiritual raggedness we see in the business world.

We have been featured in countless media outlets including Oprah’s now defunct O Magazine, HEMP Magazine, Mission Magazine, NBC News and most recently, Ebony Magazine. While these are all momentous events, I am most proud of the authentic, supportive community we have built. Many of our customers share that they were not into loose leaf teas or steams before trying our herbs and are now loyal customers who realize genuine benefits from our products.  We also attract long-term plant medicine practitioners and herbalists who love the way we nurture our plants from seed to sip.

Our products are available in all Weaver Street Market locations, on Thrive Market, or directly from us. We are small-batch and artisanal so we encourage customers to purchase when products are available – we do sell out. This season, we are also offering some seasonal single herbs for our customers to build their own personal apothecaries.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Covid-19 taught me the importance of being able to pivot and the importance of nimbleness to a CEO. Prior to Covid-19, I had developed a revenue generation model that was going to be heavily reliant on in-person engagement.

Of course, with the onset of the pandemic, that all changed. The pandemic definitely sparked creativity for me – I attribute that to the fact that I had to be still. I learned just how valuable your network is and why curating the energy in which you surround yourself with is of paramount importance in establishing peace and purpose.

Pricing:

• 1 0z steams 29.99
• 1 oz teas 15.99
• .35 oz teas 6.99
• .35 oz steams 11.99

Contact Info:

• Website: greenheffafarms.com
• Instagram: @farmercee and @greenheffafarm
• Facebook: Facebook.com/farmerceeGHF Facebook.com/greenheffafarms
• Twitter: @greenheffafarms
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/farmercee

Image Credits
Kyle Duncan, Nate Burrows, and Lem Mobley