WHO WE ARE
We're glad you're here for the Black Soil experience! These year round events include Farm Tours, Farm to Table Dinners and Off Season Workshops where you are connected Kentucky's black farmers/growers/producers. Black Soil events allow attendees to celebrate and educate themselves on the narratives, experience, and expertise of our partner black farmers.
Representing 1.4% of the primary farm operators in the state, black farmers account for less than 600 of the more than 76,000 agricultural operations in Kentucky.
The mission of Black Soil: Our Better Nature is to reconnect black Kentuckians to their legacy and heritage in agriculture.
By bringing together urban families with rural and urban based black farmers/growers/producers across the state, we help introduce opportunities in agriculture that promote self-sufficiency, encourage healthy living, and activate cooperative economics.
Our vision is to help foster a greater market share for black farmers and producers as they provide healthy food options to a larger consumer base.
WHAT WE DO
Food connects us, art tells the story of those connections
Farm Tours
Book your private, customized Farm Tour at one of the over 10 sites affiliated with Black Soil: Our Better Nature. Email Ashley at info@blacksoilky.com to get started!
Farm to Table Dinners
Introducing to some and familiar to many- the Farm to Table concept celebrates locally sourced food. Featuring menu items from Black Soil Host Partner Farmers to showcase the growing talent found in the state. Presented as an upscale, signature buffet or coursed pacing prepared by a Kentucky based black culinary artist. The locally sourced menu features seasonal produce and meats inclusive for ticket holders with dietary restrictions.
Off Season Workshops
At the inception of Black Soil: Our Better, we would gather December to March on the 2nd Sunday of each month, to continue educating on topics related to agriculture. Topics include but are not limited to: how community shared agriculture (CSAs) differ from Buyer's Clubs, comparing growing methods in urban areas, and preservation techniques of food. These mixers occurred in Lexington, KY at the Wild Fig Books and Coffee and the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center.
Off Season Workshops are offered year round throughout the state of Kentucky.
Meet The Team
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Trevor & Ashley
Co-founders
Black Soil: Our Better Nature was Co-founded by partners, Trevor Claiborn and Ashley C. Smith in August 2017.
Smith serves as C.O.O. and oversees the daily operations and strategic partnership and planning of the social enterprise. Bringing over 20 years of leadership, consulting and management to Kentucky's only statewide agritourism company with a mission to reconnect Black Kentuckians to their heritage and legacy in agriculture.
Claiborn brings his expertise as an award winning environmental educator to the Youth & Family Division through presentations, series, challenges and virtual learning modules.
Claiborn and Smith are the proud partners of 17 month fraternal twins, Caroline Faye and Trevor Moran, Jr.
Eli Faulkner-Wheeler, Youth & Family Engagement Intern
