Who is
Our Mission
Soulful Soil Farms is a nonprofit organization that uses farming and gardening as powerful tools to educate, heal, and strengthen communities. Inspired by the rich legacy of Black farmers, we create spaces where youth and adults alike can reconnect with the land, grow their own food, and reclaim traditions that promote resilience, self-reliance, and cultural pride.
How We Got Started
Soulful Soil Farms was founded by our CEO, Tina Marie, after more than 20 years in the healthcare field. While working in hospitals and clinics, Tina realized that treating symptoms wasn’t enough—real healing starts with what we eat, how we live, and how connected we are to ourselves and our communities.
She grew up in Richland Farms, also known as “The Farms”—a tight-knit pocket of Compton where neighbors kept horses, grew food, and lived close to the land. It was a meaningful part of her childhood, and now, through Soulful Soil Farms, everything feels full circle. As she often says:
“The more I do this work, the more I understand my calling. Farming is in my DNA.”
What We Do
At Soulful Soil Farms, we believe the soil holds more than just food—it holds healing, history, and the power to transform. Our programs include:
Community Gardens: Creating shared spaces to grow food, build relationships, and restore neighborhoods.
Youth Education: Teaching young people sustainable gardening and farming practices that promote leadership, wellness, and self-sufficiency.
Hands-On Workshops: Offering skills-based training in growing food, land care, composting, and environmental practices.
Wellness Through Land: Using land-based practices to promote mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
Why It Matters
We’re not just growing food—we’re confronting food apartheid. Our work directly challenges the systemic barriers that have kept fresh, healthy food out of Black and Brown neighborhoods for generations. By reclaiming our relationship with the land, we’re building a future where communities have the tools, knowledge, and access they need to thrive.
Our Roots, Our Future
Soulful Soil Farms is rooted in agricultural heritage and grounded in community care. Every garden we build, every seed we plant, and every young person we teach is part of a bigger vision: a world where the earth provides food, medicine, and meaning—and where people are empowered to live in balance with it.
