Land, Culture, and Community

When Ashley Walker looks around at the produce harvested by local farmers she’s always amazed at the diversity of crops that go to market week after week. As the Farm Network Manager of the Gullah Farmers Cooperative, Ashley helps coordinate markets, connect farmers to the land, and provide resources through workshops and educational seminars.

The Gullah Farmers Cooperative members grow fresh food on the Sea Islands and coastal counties of South Carolina. Located on St. Helena Island, the Cooperative is in the heart of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. The farmers pack and process locally-grown produce in a food-safe facility for distribution to grocery stores, food retail organizations, colleges and universities, public and private schools, restaurants, community organizations, elder care facilities, early childhood centers, and hospitals.

History of Connecting to the Land

The Gullah Geechee people have a deep connection to the land that spans centuries, rooted in their extensive agricultural knowledge of rice cultivation brought from West Africa. Their traditions include unique farming practices passed down through generations, ensuring the survival of heirloom crops and sustainable farming methods.

“Our farmers grow with sustainable practices, ranging from integrated pest management to certified organic, and the facility and farmers are all Good Agricultural Practices (known as GAP certified),” Ashley explains. She continues, “It’s extraordinary how diverse our customer base is and the amount of fresh, healthy food we produce for our region.”

The Gullah Farmers’ Cooperative was founded in 2010 to establish a profitable, significant local food market for Farmer-Members who honor and continue the agricultural traditions of the Gullah Community. Today, the Cooperative represents ten Gullah farm operations in the coastal counties of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Charleston, and Jasper.

Working with the Open Land Trust

The Cooperative’s goals align well with the land trust’s conservation work. Protecting working farms on the sea islands is a priority for the land trust. We work closely with several farmers involved with the Cooperative, and when the opportunity to join American Farmland Trust to connect new and transitioning farmers to the land, it made perfect sense.

In 2023, the Open Land Trust, in partnership with the Cooperative, joined the American Farmland Trust as a “community navigator” to assist landowners seeking to transfer their properties to the next generation while ensuring that the cultural heritage of Gullah Geechee communities remains intact.
“The community navigator initiative enables us to share our expertise and knowledge about land conservation with landowners and Cooperative members and to learn from them,” explains Kristin Williams, Open Land Trust’s executive director.

“This partnership reflects our strategic priorities of fostering community engagement, nurturing sustainable agricultural practices, and ensuring the intergenerational continuity of land ownership.”

With many farmland owners reaching retirement age, ensuring a smooth transition to the next generation of farmers is paramount.

“When the land changes hands, it’s at its most vulnerable point,” observes Ashley. “Our farmers, like all farmers, need access to the land. Historically, access to land has been difficult. The Cooperative was established to assist growers who have historically had little access to agricultural resources. Now, in partnership with the land trust, we can better connect landowners with conservation opportunities who want to support farming and the Gullah culture. It provides additional tools to build a farming business, requiring years of investment, dedication, and experience. This program will make a difference.”