Beauty Blooms LLC
is a 10-acre, woman-of-color-run farm in Damascus, MD that grows vegetables and flowers of primarily African heritage heirloom varieties. Founder and Farm Manager Nia Nyamweya is regenerating land that had been in corn and soybean production. They received a $5,000 grant to purchase a high tunnel to extend their growing season and install a rainwater catchment and drip irrigation system.
Founder & Farm Manager Nia Nyamwea told us that instead of buying a new high tunnel and having it shipped to the farm, they opted to purchase a 30’x96’ foot high tunnel that was previously used by another local farmer. While the additional work of disassembling and assembling the structure was challenging, Nia reported community involvement with her project that increased engagement.
“We have now completed assembling the high tunnel, and intend to use it for rain collection this 2024 growing season. As a result of completing our high tunnel in the fall 2023, we were able to extend our growing season into December 2023 and January 2024. This increased our food production capacity and as a result we were able to provide collards, kale, radishes through December 2023, and have garlic and spinach planted for an early spring 2024 harvest. All of the extra food produced is provided to local food banks/distributors to increase food access for low-income families. [This increased capacity] helped us to secure a long-term lease of 10 years with an option to extend for 5 additional years.”
