Jodi Spencer is an African American woman and a small-scale regenerative farmer. She manages the Dorothy England Legacy Farm in Columbus, Ohio. Jodi’s interest in farming began at the age of 7 when her grandmother taught her how to plant a tomato. Jodi went on to earn a horticulture degree and at the time, there was no one like her in her degree program. Ever since, Jodi has collaborated with people and institutions to address local food needs and has gained useful knowledge in the process. She currently farms on raised beds in the backyard of an abandoned building and has received some grants to expand her operations.
While composting and crop rotation are her primary regenerative practices, much of the food she grows is given to the local food pantry. Jodi enjoys support from her parents, who are also influential in convincing her young adult children to support her passion. She feels fulfilled and happy stewarding the land. Jodi hopes that continuous scholarship support will become more available to allow resource-poor small-scale farmers to attend agricultural training and conferences.
“It is our responsibility to be a good steward of the earth because we have a relationship with everything that’s here and so I feel like I have no choice but to be kind to the environment because what I do to the environment, I do to myself.”
