Moretta “Mo” Browne (they/she) is a Black Queer farmer and community builder whose journey to the land began with the influence of their late grandfather, Melvin D. Fields. Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, Mo cherished time spent in nature with him, which later inspired a reevaluation of their relationship to the earth. After earning a B.A. in Advertising from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012, Mo shifted paths toward food justice and community farming. That same year, they joined Renew Richmond, a 501(c)(3) that uses urban agriculture to mitigate poverty in underserved neighborhoods. As Volunteer Coordinator, Mo spent four years cultivating community gardens abundant with seasonal vegetables and herbs while supporting local residents in reclaiming their food systems.

In 2016, Mo expanded their training at the renowned Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) at UC Santa Cruz, completing two growing seasons. There, they immersed themselves in agroecological practices while co-facilitating and participating in the Farmers of the Global Majority (formerly the POC Network) and the Queer Farmer Collective, deepening their commitment to equity, identity, and healing in agriculture.

Now rooted in the Bay Area, Mo co-manages the Berkeley Basket CSA, an urban farming project operating on three backyard gardens in West Berkeley, on Ohlone Land. Formed in 2009 out of Berkeley’s landmark “Edible Gardens” legislation, the CSA has grown into a vibrant community resource that provides hyper-local, organically grown produce to 21 families each season. Members range from small households to entire housing co-ops, all within five miles of the gardens. Together with apprentices, volunteers, and community members, Mo tends more than 45 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers using regenerative, organic practices.

At its core, Berkeley Basket CSA is more than a farm- it is a community hub that centers accessibility, equity, and belonging. Twenty-five percent of CSA shares are offered at a low-cost sliding scale for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, elderly, and job-insecure neighbors, with the long-term dream of making food completely free for those most in need. Beyond food, the CSA also serves as a space where beginning farmers of marginalized identities can reconnect with the land, learn, and feel supported.

Through all of their work, Mo honors the legacy of their grandfather, whose love of the outdoors planted the earliest seeds of their farming journey. You can read more about Mo’s farm journey in We Are Each Other’s Harvest by Natalie Baszile.