Members of the Ashe Legacy Family Farm team (from left) Carlous Moore, Myles Gaines, Todd Alford, and Noah WhitePhotograph by Gregory White Even before Noah White planted the first official crop on his family’s land, the soil showed promise. Months earlier, watermelon seeds tossed onto the gravel driveway after a family snack had begun to sprout; the vines crept outward, an early hint of what was possible. With the emergence of this spring’s crop (watermelons, intentionally planted), Ashe Legacy Family Farm in Hampton is celebrating the first fruits of its labor. The venture began in 2022, when several generations of White’s family pooled resources to purchase the 11-acre property about 35 miles south of Atlanta. The farm’s name, Ashe, comes from a West African term meaning “so shall it be,” expressing the family’s hopes for the land. Today, Ashe Legacy is part of a larger effort to rebuild Black farming in the United States. Georgia was once home to thousands of Black farmers who owned and worked their own land. In the early 20th century, Black farmers across the United States held between 16 and 19 million acres of farmland; today, they own fewer than 3 million acres, according to the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. But in Georgia, a new generation of Black farmers—Noah White among them—is working to grow those numbers again. White, 30, who serves as Ashe Legacy’s farm manager, learned the trade working on farms in Georgia and Mississippi. “There are agricultural degrees,” he says, “but real farming requires learning in the field, from people, across seasons.” Meanwhile, his family was looking to collaborate on an investment that could be passed down to younger generations. White and his aunt, Carol Hunter, a horticultural therapist, led the way with the most farming experience, while White’s brother-in-law, investor Todd Alford, found the Hampton property; family friend Carlous Moore oversees planting and day-to-day operations. “Having everyone at the table for decisions helps us make sure this property stays in the family for generations,” White says. Early watermelons growing on the family’s landPhotograph by Gregory White To build his farming expertise, White participated in the Braiding Seeds Fellowship, an 18-month program with a mission to grow the numbers of Black, Indigenous, and other farmers of color across the east coast. Fellows receive technical guidance and mentorship as well as $50,000 in funding to start their own farm. “Noah and his family are a powerful example of the kind of connections we hope this fellowship can help foster,” says Braiding Seeds codirector Sarah Sohn. “When people move from learning agriculture to actually stewarding land with their families and communities, it creates a pathway for the next generation of farmers.” When Ashe Legacy Family Farm harvests its first crop of watermelons this summer, the family will sell some as produce and share the rest with neighbors and families in need. In future seasons, they plan to expand to vegetables and medicinal herbs such as stinging nettle, holy basil, and echinacea. White hopes the farm can ultimately be a self-sustaining gathering place for community events and agricultural education, creating more opportunities for Georgians to connect with farming. “It’s steady, often unglamorous work,” says White. “But seeing the land come to life makes every season of preparation worth it.” This article appears in our May 2026 issue. The post Ashe Legacy Family Farm is regrowing Georgia’s black farming legacy appeared first on Atlanta Magazine. ...read more read less