Protect What Grows Here

When Akirah and Mancoba Hlatshwako founded Ubuntu Permaculture Mission, their vision was always bigger than farming alone. Their journey began in Newark, New Jersey, where they taught permaculture through the lens of African Indigenous wisdom, sharing the philosophy of Ubuntu—our shared humanity and interconnectedness with one another and the Earth.

Working alongside their community, they saw firsthand that the challenges facing many neighborhoods extend beyond a lack of agricultural knowledge. Communities are also affected by food insecurity, contaminated soil, polluted water, and limited access to healthy green spaces. They wanted to do more than talk about solutions—they wanted to create a living example of what was possible.

Through Foodshed Alliance’s SAgE Program, that vision is becoming a reality.

Today, on six acres in Sergeantsville, Ubuntu Permaculture Mission is creating New Jersey’s first integrated permaculture food forest. More than 100 trees—including figs, papayas, Chinese chestnuts, and American chestnuts—have already been planted alongside medicinal herbs, vegetables, and pollinator-friendly flowers. Their long-term vision is to cultivate more than 100 species of fruit trees, nut trees, herbs, vegetables, and flowering plants, creating a thriving ecosystem that nourishes both people and the land for generations to come.

The farm is also a classroom. Through their 72-hour Permaculture Design Course, students learn regenerative agriculture by working directly with the land. The food forest serves as a place where people of all backgrounds can explore sustainable farming, reconnect with nature, and build the knowledge needed to cultivate healthier communities. Akirah and Mancoba are especially passionate about creating opportunities for aspiring BIPOC farmers and growing the next generation of environmental stewards.

Like any young farm, bringing this vision to life requires ongoing investment. Protecting young trees from deer damage is an immediate priority, but building a resilient farm also means investing in irrigation, soil health, biodiversity, shared infrastructure, and spaces where education and community can flourish.

Your support invests in more than a single project. You’re helping farms grow healthy food, restore ecosystems, share cultural knowledge, create opportunities for future farmers, and demonstrate what is possible when we care for both people and the planet.

Together, we can grow a living example of what it means to live the spirit of Ubuntu.