Julialynne Walker, Columbus OH

Julialynne Walker is a 3rd generation, African American woman, and small-scale farmer in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2014, she has been managing the Bronzeville Growers Market, a 2–acre community garden. Growing up, Julialynne’s family was involved in farming, but as generations passed, her family lost their farming roots. She has returned to farming after being engaged in various professional endeavors and traveling abroad to African countries.

 

 

Julialynne is committed to championing solutions aimed at providing her community with locally grown food using regenerative practices such as composting, crop rotation, no-till, and companion planting, among others.  Julialynne says the lack of farming education, acceptance, labor support, and healthy food consumption are key issues in her community that need to be addressed. She is proud and in love with the process of providing healthy food to her community and feels honored stewarding the land. However, Julialynne wants more hands in the soil, and she is mentoring the next generation. In 2022, Julialynne received the Columbus City recognition as the Master Gardener of the Year.

 

  

“In 2024, for this community, I want anytime you go down the street, you see something growing and we encourage people to grow wherever it’s best to grow.”