At Asawana Farms, we believe Food as Medicine is more than a slogan. It is something we grow, teach, share, and practice every day. It connects agriculture to health, culture, community education, and self-reliance.
That is why we were deeply honored when Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks visited Asawana Farms. His visit was a meaningful sign of support for small farmers, culturally relevant agriculture, and the growing movement to connect food, farming, and public health across Maryland.
During his visit, Secretary Atticks came to learn more about our 5-gallon moringa and bitter leaf grow bag program. This program is built on a simple but powerful idea: you do not need a large piece of land to grow healthy food. A porch, patio, balcony, small backyard, church lot, senior center, school courtyard, or community space can become a place where health begins.
When Secretary Atticks visited the farm, he purchased his own 5-gallon moringa seedling and bitter leaf seedling to grow at home. He also harvested bitter leaf stems from Asawana Farms to take home and propagate. For us, that moment was powerful because it showed that he was not only interested in hearing about the work — he was willing to participate in it.
A few weeks later, Secretary Atticks sent us photos of the bitter leaf stems he had propagated. The stems had germinated beautifully and were ready for planting. This simple act encouraged us deeply. It showed the kind of leadership Maryland needs: leadership by example.
Leadership by example means being willing to touch the soil, learn from farmers, try new crops, and show the public that growing food is possible for everyone. It means demonstrating that healthy food can begin with one plant, one grow bag, and one household willing to grow.
This is especially important for culturally relevant and medicinal vegetables such as moringa, bitter leaf, bitter melon, kale, collards, Swiss chard, callaloo, jute leaf, ugu, okra, African eggplant, and other specialty crops. Many of these foods are deeply valued in African, Caribbean, and immigrant communities, yet they are often difficult to find fresh, locally grown, and accessible.
At Asawana Farms, we are working to change that. Our goal is not only to grow and sell vegetables, but also to teach families how to grow Food as Medicine for themselves. Through our grow bag program, we help people begin with something simple and practical: one seedling, one container, and the knowledge to care for it.
We are also proud of our partnership with University of Maryland Capital Region Health. Through this partnership, Asawana Farms has provided grow bags, compost, seedlings, and hands-on growing support. Doctors, patients, and hospital staff have visited the farm to volunteer and learn how to grow. The hospital has also grown moringa, bitter leaf, kale, collards, and Swiss chard behind one of its buildings, showing that Food as Medicine can happen at the farm, at the hospital, and at home.
Secretary Atticks’ support reminds us that small farmers are important partners in building healthier communities. Small farms play a role in food access, cultural preservation, public health, climate resilience, education, and community empowerment.
We are grateful to Secretary Kevin Atticks and the Maryland Department of Agriculture for showing interest in Asawana Farms and recognizing the value of small specialty crop farmers in Maryland’s future.
We hope this moment inspires more Marylanders to plant something, grow something, and take one practical step toward better health.
You do not need acres of land.
You do not need expensive equipment.
You can start with one plant.
You can start with one grow bag.
You can start where you are.
Take control of your health. Grow your own Food as Medicine.