Revitalizing Local Economies Through Sustainable Agricultural Practices

The word Odù is sacred in Afa, Ifá, and Fa—West African spiritual systems that carry the wisdom, destiny, and stories of our people. We chose this name to ground our work in ancestral intelligence. Just as an Odu contains multitudes of meaning, our project seeks to address the multitude of ways we can reclaim our land, culture, and self-determination. This is not just farming; it is a spiritual and political practice rooted in deep tradition.

Our vision is a future where Black and oppressed communities are liberated and self-determined, with food systems, culture, and governance rooted in ancestral wisdom and ecological justice. We believe, as Thomas Sankara did, that we must "dare to invent the future," and that future is one where, in the words of Emiliano Zapata, "the land belongs to those who work it."

We operate on three interconnected fronts:
· Urban Farming & Food Sovereignty: We grow ancestral crops (okra, hibiscus, amaranth, etc.) using regenerative practices on urban plots across North Carolina. This is direct action for food autonomy.
· Community Organizing: Our Garden Clubs are bases for political education and building people's assemblies. We don't just grow food; we grow collective power.
· Political Education: We host workshops and youth programs that connect agroecology to African diasporic traditions and anti-colonial thinkers like Frantz Fanon, bell hooks, and Paulo Freire.

We are currently on the ground in Durham, Orange County, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. We are actively building solidarity and planning for expansion into Southeast North Carolina, the Atlanta area, and the Gullah Geechee corridor.

For us, food sovereignty is the political right of a community to control its own food systems. It is a direct rejection of the colonial, capitalist food model that disconnects us from the land and makes nourishment a market privilege. It is about reclaiming the power to define what we eat, how we grow it, and who benefits from it.

If you are in or near one of our current locations, you can join by clicking the "Join a Garden Club" button on our website and filling out the form. We welcome all who are ready to work the land and build community with us. No prior farming experience is necessary, only a commitment to collective work and liberation.

There are many ways to contribute your energy! You can:
· Volunteer for seasonal harvests, community outreach, or skill-sharing (e.g., carpentry, graphic design, childcare during events).
· Donate to fund seeds, soil, tools, and our educational programs.
· Invite Us to teach or collaborate with your organization, school, or community group.
· Spread the Word by following and sharing our work on Instagram (@oduproject).

Yes. We offer workshops, assemblies, and community teachings rooted in food sovereignty and political ecology. Please contact us at info@theoduproject.com with "Speaking Request" in the subject line to discuss possibilities.

For centuries, our ancestors were forced to work the land for the enrichment of others. To now work the land for our own nourishment, our own economies, and our own cultural survival is a revolutionary act. As Fannie Lou Hamer demonstrated, food autonomy is a foundation of political independence. We are literally growing our freedom.

Our struggle for land and food sovereignty is not isolated. We stand in solidarity with African agroecological networks, Maroon and Caribbean land traditions, Indigenous land stewards, and all Global South movements resisting the same extractive colonial systems. We learn from and connect our local work to these global freedom movements.

Our work is deeply informed by a tapestry of revolutionary voices, including:
· Amílcar Cabral on culture and liberation.
· Thomas Sankara on self-sufficiency and daring to invent the future.
· Paulo Freire & bell hooks on critical pedagogy and education as the practice of freedom.
· Frantz Fanon on decolonization.
· The Zapatistas on autonomy and the principle that "land is life."
· The long legacy of Southern Black cooperative economics and organizing.

We are sustained by the people. Our primary support comes from individual donations, community grants, and the collective labor of our members. We are committed to remaining accountable to our community, not to corporate or philanthropic interests that would dilute our political vision.

We are open to collaborations with aligned organizations who share our commitment to land liberation, food sovereignty, and building collective power. Please reach out to us at contact@theoduproject.com to explore potential partnerships.