Meet Jamiah Hargins | Founder of Crop Swap LA

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamiah Hargins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamiah, how do you think about risk?
Tolerance for risk-taking is absolutely necessary! We build front yard microfarms, self-contained food growing operations that capture rainwater and grow food organically. In order to actually do this, it requires putting an installation out into the public, hoping it works well, and talking to everyone who passes by to see it. There’s a ton of risk involved in doing this because our business is based on relationships as much as it is based on nature. We not only need the food to grow, but also need all the people involved to remain engaged, focused, and determined to do what it takes to maintain the microfarm. It is a very public display! From the moment we first broke ground, until now, people love to stop by and encourage us along the way. We currently serve about 40 families every week, but millions have seen the location given the visible nature of it. The risk involved was highest at the earlier phase when we were still experimenting with design and methods of growing food. Over time, the risk has shifted to the people involved, ensuring that the homeowners and employees are communicated to fairly and compensated appropriately for the work and risk that they put into this.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I run a nonprofit that focuses on growing food in ways that create jobs, create nutrient-dense vegetables and fruit, and distribute that food hyperlocally. We have 25 teammates and operate two front yard microfarms that water recycle, use solar power to run itself, and have been featured in the LA Times and numerous other journals across the world.

Starting this endeavor has been difficult but it’s also been very fulfilling. Numerous community members, advisors, and friends have pitched in to help us get to the point where we are a functional and official 501c3 nonprofit with an annual budget of 1.5 million dollars.

The biggest challenge has been managing the heavy amount of interest from outside parties and having us grow food for their communities. There have been invitations from numerous institutions, neighborhood councils and community leaders, corporations, schools, and municipalities across the world! To balance this energy, our team focuses on simplicity and intentionality is our method of deciphering which endeavors we should take on and leave behind. Our goal is to create systems that support the community and can be patterned and scaled in ways that cater to that community.

It is also fun that there are landscaping and technological elements to this work, related to water conservation, and environmental improvement.

One lesson I’ve learned along the way is to remain patient, even if things move quickly. I’ve learned to stay focused, and to trust and delegate to my teammates.

I want the world to know that they are capable of solving big and messy problems by just being creative and diligent.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Los Angeles is an awesome City and I would begin showing my best friend a neighborhood called Africa town, where there is a hub of African and African American culture that feels like a big village. People know each other, they are friends, they work together, and they grow their businesses together. It is very encouraging to see our community thrive in these unique ways, even though we still have our challenges from the past.

We would also go to the numerous parks that I used to work out and clear my head. This includes parks in West Adams and Crenshaw as well as areas further away like Malibu and Long Beach.

I would make sure we eat at Hot and Cool Cafe as well as Olga’s Vegan Mexican restaurant.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be here without my dedicated director of creative and marketing, Samantha Marie. She has offered bountiful ideas and hard work toward every aspect of our business, and I consider her an advisor and friend.

Website: www.cropswapla.org

Instagram: Www.instagram.com/brownsuperdad @lacropswap

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jamiahhargins

Image Credits
Credit: Crop Swap LA