06/22/2026
Hey everyone, here’s a recap of our recent farm volunteer day, where we planted rose and lavender bushes. It was a long and productive day—we grilled, shared delicious food, and soaked in the good vibes. Unfortunately, just as we were finishing up, a few volunteers and I discovered that our berry bushes had been trampled, plants were snapped, and someone had ripped out our hibiscus. We then had to spend an extra hour clearing the area and doing our best to save the remaining plants. What started as a joyful, productive day ended in frustration. This is the side of our work that often goes unseen. We’ve had ongoing challenges with people in the neighborhood: trees stolen, trash dumped on the farm, and now, someone seems to be targeting us. This Sunday, we found our speaker stolen as well. The work is hard, exhausting, and at times deeply discouraging—constantly trying to show our humanity just to receive a bit of care and respect for what we do. Between unreliable funders and having to fend off those who harm what we’re building for the community, it can feel overwhelming. Yet, despite it all, we keep trying to find the good, taking things one day at a time. Anger is draining, and we refuse to let it consume us. We learn from these moments and adapt. For the future of The Black Joy Farm and The Alice Fields Community Center, we will keep moving forward, and there will be a shift.
Our GoFundMe campaign is still active, and we need your support to reach our goal and save The Alice Fields Community Center! If 5,000 of you can donate at least $10, we will be able to keep inspiring and supporting our community in the ways it needs most. Every contribution counts—please help us make a difference!