A FARM WITH FOCUS

Wonderful People Microfarm teaches underrepresented communities how to grow food utilizing regenerative farming practices.

Through educational programming, specialty workshops, and technical training opportunities, we teach food autonomy. Our students learn to grow and produce nutritious food, becoming a source for themselves and their community.

Programs

Events

As a result, most other people — such as women, youth, and Black Indigenous People of Color — have been excluded from the lineage of generational knowledge, money and land that farming typically requires.

Historically speaking, white men have dominated the farming landscape in the U.S.

It’s time we level the playing field.

Wonderful People Microfarm trains, educates, and empowers the next generation of small-scale urban farmers, enabling greater access to nutrition for all.

Grow with Us

Growing Food, Minds and Community

LET'S GET DIRTY, DIRTY

In an effort to uproot the food deserts in our community and expand access to healthy foods, we cultivate the land, sow the seeds and harvest the crops to directly procure fresh, seasonal food. The first step in nourishing ourselves and our community is becoming the source of our own nutrition — putting the power back into our own hands. Through the profound act of growing our food, we can meaningfully fight back against the food injustice to which BIPOC communities have been subjected for so long. By growing food in urban landscapes utilizing sustainable methods, we empower our community to be agents of change; the source of their own food sovereignty.
From our leaders and teachers, to our students and volunteers, everyone is encouraged to approach growing with curiosity and humility. We know there is always something to learn, and we know our minds will never stop expanding as long as we continue to nurture them. We learn from one another, we learn from our efforts and we learn from the land, the seeds and the plants, themselves. We cultivate the land so we can grow our minds, and in so doing create better opportunities for ourselves and our community.
Communities aren’t created solely around a geographical location. Communities are built through shared histories, shared dreams, and shared efforts. Growing nutritious food and expanding our minds together allows us to expand our possibilities and ultimately grow our community. Through these efforts, we are able to liberate our historically marginalized communities from the oppression of the past and instead grow our people to become – both individually and as a group – stronger, wiser and greater than before.

Our plan Is simple:

1. Learn

We learn about the Earth — how to care for it and tend to it — and we learn about ourselves in the process.

2. Grow

While we grow food, we also grow our minds, our bodies, our community and our worldview.

3. Transform

Through these efforts, we can transform our food ecosystem and subsequently transform access to fresh, nutritious food.

Join the evolution

Although urban areas and urban people suffer from an unfair grocery gap,

we are making strides towards righting this wrong

Wonderful People Microfarm is a small, regenerative farm and educational center based in the greater Nashville area teaching people from historically underrepresented communities the fundamentals of growing food.

We empower students to become skilled growers who can create their own small-scale urban farming operations, thus closing existing grocery gaps, improving health and creating a sustainable method of supporting themselves and their community.

Through these efforts, we strive to create a more durable food ecosystem for all.

our manifesto

“When the day of gardening came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole garden where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be harvests of love that grew and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the secrets of the earth and began to speak with compassion as the harvest enabled them.

They devoted themselves to the garden’s teaching and to friendship, to large feasts and to meditation. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the land. All the neighbors were together and had only the garden in common.”

meet our tribe

Tonya Lewis

PROGRAM DIRECTOR
The visionary responsible for conceiving Wonderful People Microfarm, Tonya Lewis is a successful entrepreneur with a passion for people. She spent the first decade of her career as a counselor in Williamson County Public Schools, but pivoted to entrepreneurship in 2013. She and her husband opened a beloved vegan and gluten-free focused East Nashville restaurant, The Post East, and she later co-founded a vertically integrated hemp company called NuSachi Holdings. Her latest and most personal venture, Wonderful People Microfarm is her self-described legacy project. Here at WPM, Tonya is our head honcho – and she does it all. From scheduling our myriad Farm & Garden 101 workshops to tilling the land and turning the compost, Tonya’s hands are in the actual weeds of everything that goes on here.
Chris Cowley

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Our multi-talented director of operations, Chris Cowley’s varied and extensive experience is invaluable in advancing our mission of increasing awareness of and access to farming education. His professional background includes sound engineering, video production, operations, accounting and education – to name a few – and as the Director of Operations here at WPM, Chris ensures we continue to make progress, meet our goals, and ultimately have an impact on the communities we strive to serve. Having worked in music education for the past 17 years, he is passionate about inspiring and educating youth, and he’s eager to do so through the art and science of farming.
Maxwell Patterson

FARM MANAGER & EDUCATOR
Our resident green thumb, Maxwell Patterson’s experience with all things growing is a large part of what makes Wonderful People Microfarm such a wonderful place to grow. Having spent the last six years of his career focused on various facets of agriculture, Maxwell not only understands the physical side of farming, but he’s well versed in the business side, too; his expertise ranges from greenhouse planning and plant scheduling, to cash flow management and financial reporting. Fiercely committed to regenerative agriculture and ecologically-conscious farming, Maxwell constantly teaches our team and our students to respect the land, so that it will do the same for us.

The 2025 Farm & Garden 101 Cohort

LaKeithea Anderson

I’m so excited to be part of the 2025 Wonderful People MicroFarm! Learning about farming, sustainability, and the power of community while being in nature feels like such a meaningful experience. There’s something special about growing food alongside like-minded people and deepening my connection to the earth. I love learning and can’t wait to explore new ways to sustain both ourselves and our communities.
Michelle Bacon

I can’t wait to learn how to grow and make bread. I’ve always wanted to learn so the moment I heard about this program I knew I wanted to take part not only for myself but to be able to teach my kids.
Janelle Beasley

I have been looking for ways to be connected to my community and so glad I found this cohort. I have recently taken up gardening and I am excited to learn, grow, and share what I've learned to help others in the community.
Oten Bedengere

I’m so excited because to be real, I’ve been wanting to do something different, and I just can’t wait for everything this program has to offer!! I can’t wait to get into some dirt!
Lolita Bryant

I am looking forward growing some delicious vegetables and enjoying farm to table meals!!
Danielle Byrd

I am so excited to explore new sustainable practices and engage with a community that shares these values. I believe that knowledge empowers us to make meaningful change, and I look forward to sharing this valuable education with others. Connecting with nature is something I hold deeply sacred, and I’m truly excited to begin this transformative journey.
Rickinsha Calbert

I'm thrilled to join the Wonderful People Microfarm program! It’s a chance to grow, connect, and make a real impact in agriculture and education. I can’t wait to learn, build, and bring these skills back to my community!
Kara Carden

I’ve been enchanted by plants since childhood, and consider local food an essential form of wealth that should be accessible to all humans. Though I’ve dabbled in gardening for years, I’m excited to learn more specifics that will help me ground and expand my efforts at home, while also contributing in community to the development of the Wonderful People Microfarm!
Brittany City

I am excited to be a part of this program for many reasons. First, I recently purchased a home with my fiancé and have goals of starting my own garden and eventually grow 50% of the food I eat. Second, my family has land in West TN and I look forward to being able to share information with them to preserve the land and prepare the next generation. Next, my parents’ church has committed to advocating for the food insecurity of the Whites Creek/Bordeaux area. They hosted a series of farmer’s markets last year to bring awareness to the issue and provide fresh produce to locals. I believe what I learn in this program will help our ministry’s mission. Lastly, I am very excited about connecting with likeminded people.
Becca Denslow

I'm beyond excited to be included in this years cohort and so eager to learn! Discovering a community this close to my home is a welcome surprise and one that I feel honored to be included in.
Raquel Diamond

I am so excited about this opportunity! I'm looking forward to learning to gorw food for myself, my family and my community. I'm looking forward to hopefully expanding my family and communities by collaborating with like-minded individuals in the program
Netta Dobbins

As an entrepreneur, I spend most of my days behind a computer screen, I've always been drawn to the idea of farming and gardening. I’ve never had the time to fully explore it, but now I’m ready to dive in, get my hands dirty, and learn the skills to grow my own food. I’m looking forward to connecting with the land, gaining hands-on experience, and nurturing something from the ground up.
Tyanne Donald

My dream is to own a homestead one day and this program is a great first step.
Shunteria English

I'm excited to be part of a community that's not only growing food, but also growing minds and meaningful connections. This program aligns with my passion to learn how to better nurture both the land and people. I’m eager to deepen my skills, expand my knowledge, and help cultivate a more abundant, connected future.
Amanda Ewing

I’m deeply excited to be a part of this program because it offers a chance to reconnect with the land in a way that feels both transformative and essential. Growing my own food is not just about self-sufficiency—it’s about rediscovering a profound connection to nature, understanding the cycles of life, and embracing a more intentional, sustainable way of living. This program speaks to my desire to nurture both the earth and myself, and I’m eager to learn, grow, and contribute to a movement that honors the land and our relationship to it.
Danae Gaiter

Gardening and Farming is completely new to me, so I'm thankful that I get to grow through hands-on learning and experiences. I'm excited to positively impact my family, friends, and community members by sharing new skills with them and getting them excited about farming and gardening as well.
David Grant

I'm excited to be apart of this program because I'm given the opportunity to learn a skill that will benefit my family, community and self. It's an honor to get to assemble with like minded individuals.
Lisa Grillos

I am excited to learn how to be truly independent and use this as a radical act of freedom for people of color. I look forward to sharing what I learn to empower other people to grow their own food.
Jennifer Gutman

I'm thrilled to be a Wonderful People Microfarm 2025 cohort member! I look forward to deepening my knowledge and skills in relation to sustainable growing and land stewardship. Most of all, I'm excited to be part of a community centered around care, reciprocity, resource sharing, and food justice.
Arielle Hardin

I’m excited to be a part of this program because it aligns with my passion for sustainable practices, education, and community empowerment. As a veterinarian with an interest in plant medicine and beekeeping, I value the opportunity to learn from experienced farmers while contributing to regenerative agriculture. I look forward to gaining hands-on experience that supports conservation efforts and helps bridge the gap in agricultural education for underserved communities.
Kamaria Hill

If you believe in divine intervention then you’ll understand my excitement. I knew I wanted to learn urban farming as a new producer but beyond YouTube didn’t know how to educate myself. Then this opportunity presented itself by a chance meeting. I feel so very fortunate to have this opportunity and can’t wait to put the lessons into action!
Cara Jane

i’m super excited to be in community and learn skills i can weave back into it! 🕸️🪁
Xaviera King

I'm beyond excited to be part of this program because it aligns perfectly with my passion for sustainability, wellness, and community empowerment. As someone who loves tending to plants and see the power in sustainable growing methods, I can’t wait to deepen my knowledge and apply these skills in an community setting. This opportunity allows me to connect with like-minded individuals, grow in ways that support both the environment and future generations, and integrate these principles into my entrepreneurial journey!
Mollie Laws

I am excited to combine by curiosity in urban agriculture with my passion for cooking fresh meals!
Cresa Lenox

I have wanted to learn more about farming for years, but never knew where to go to learn. I'm just so excited to connect with the land!
Darshell Lewis

This is a skill I have always wanted to obtain.
Brittany Paschall

I am excited to join this program because it feels like a homecoming—an act of deep ancestral memory and remembrance to return to the land with intention and care. As an educator, organizer, minister, and memory-worker, my work centers healing, justice, and the power of collective remembering. Now, as an aspiring farmer and land steward, I see this opportunity as a continuation of that work—one that is not just for me, but for my community and my lineages, past and future. It is a step toward reclaiming our relationship with the land as a source of nourishment, healing, and liberation.
Joseph Patrick

I am excited to continue a practice my grandparents attempted to instill in me when I was younger. I am happy to have the opportunity to grow food on land that they once grew on, to feed my mother and myself over the years.
Ariel Pearson

I’m excited to learn all I can about growing healthy food in a sustainable way for myself and my community! I can’t wait to grow with this cohort and share what I learn with others.
Zeda Riggs

Joining the Wonderful People MicroFarm Cohort is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on expertise in gardening and micro-farming while addressing food insecurity in urban communities. This program provides valuable education, resources, and a network of like-minded individuals committed to sustainable food systems and community empowerment.
Tyler Sangermano

I’m excited to learn best practices for sustainably growing food to retain agency over what I put into my body, and to do so alongside a group of likeminded individuals.
Torsha Sharpe

I’m excited to be in the program because, I’ve always wanted to learn about plants and growing my own crops the correct way. I’m very wagered and excited to learn new things.
Honey Simmons

I am extremely excited to join this program because my entire life has been about nature and wanting to make sure myself and others will always have access to food. I thrive on finding ways to keep life simple and show the world how amazing life can be when you just put your hands in dirt at least once a day!
Jasmine Simmons

I am truly excited to be a part of this program! I’m eager to learn the fundamentals of growing and connect with like minded individuals, building long lasting relationships. I’m thrilled to join the community and look forward to the experience ahead.
Isis Swink

Hi! I’m Isis (rhymes with Kisses) and I am so excited to be a part of this cohort! I have a small family garden that I love working with an am looking to own a farm to grow herbs to sell. I am a holistic wellness practitioner, Artist, mom and lover of all things natural. Looking forward to growing (pun intended) 😁
Bianca Walker

Being outdoors has always been my happy place. Since I began baking, my interest in growing my own ingredients has only intensified. This program offers me the opportunity to continue the journey I started with my family when I was younger. Now, I will be able to gain invaluable skills, connect with an amazing community, and provide for my family and others.
Jimmie Welch III

I'm excited to learn about farming and being a steward of the land for my community. All things begin and end with food so I am excited to embark on this journey.
Nija Woods

I'm so exited to learn, grow, and meet like-minded individuals.
Salina Zuniga

I’m beyond thrilled to be part of the 2025 cohort! I can’t wait to dive into new skills, gain hands-on knowledge, and connect with passionate, like-minded individuals. This is an amazing opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and grow—literally and figuratively!