Entrepreneur Spotlight: Mari Hunt Wassink, Black Earth Gardens

Mari Hunt Wassink is the founder of Black Earth Gardens,  a local farm that specializes in producing—using sustainable practices—premium quality vegetables, herbs, and fruits that are culturally important to Black communities in Eastern Iowa. They grow over 30 varieties, including okra, turnip greens, collards, mustard greens, and specialty hot peppers, among others. Her most recent accomplishment was winning first place at NewBoCo’s Pitch Competition presented by Hy-Vee. 

Mari’s journey to founding Black Earth Gardens started like so many innovations – observing a problem and seeing the true power of a simple solution. In 2020, Ms. Hunt Wassink stepped into volunteering at a vegetable farm/Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and began hands-on learning about produce farming. It was at this time that she discovered a love for food farming and wanted to pursue it full-time. Trowel & Error Farm, who focus on regenerative and organic practices, helped Mari further fuel her passions. She also voraciously read and was moved especially by books and materials that connected civil rights, healing, and empowerment for Black individuals and families to food and farming. 

“I found myself healing as I worked on the farm, in the fresh air and amongst the plants and animals,” Mari said. She saw noticeable positive physical and mental changes within herself. “It was so powerful bringing life from seed through harvest,” she continued. 

In 2023, she began Black Earth Gardens, LLC. Ever since then, she has been working tirelessly to increase access to culturally relevant  produce to BIPOC families and how to distribute produce equitably, no matter income level or neighborhood. Mari indicated that prize money would provide help in expanding her plot of farmland and building out infrastructure to support a larger operation. 

What does the future hold for Black Earth Gardens? Ms. Hunt Wassink indicated that she is excited to continue to scale her regenerative and organic practices as homage to the soil that is giving so much. She also would like to diversify her plants to include perennials and fruits, as she sees gaps in access in her eastern Iowa community. In the long term, Mari hopes that Black Earth Gardens can be a learning space for future growers and consumers.