Azeem Zakir Kareem didn’t start out as a farmer. Originally a hip-hop artist and breakdancer from Hartford, Connecticut, his journey into agriculture took off thanks to his wife, Sarah Rose Kareem. She worked on a 26-acre organic farm, and when Azeem took a job there, everything changed.
“I had the craziest culture shock,” Azeem recalls. “I realized how different food sources are. Peppers grow on plants, not just in stores.”
This experience sparked the creation of the Samad Gardens Initiative, an herb farm aimed at educating the community. The Kareems wanted to inspire more farmers of color and connect urban communities with their food sources.
Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Azeem received frantic calls from friends struggling to find food in their neighborhoods. Growing up in hunger himself, this moment struck a chord for him.
“I had to steal food to eat at times,” he admits. “I realized I couldn’t tackle this alone. We needed collective action.”
This led him to form the Liberated Land Cooperative, launching Connecticut’s first statewide Community Supported Agriculture program. This initiative links Black and Brown farmers to provide fresh produce to their communities.
Azeem also co-founded the Sovereign Land Trust and the Venture Farming Institute, which focuses on training underrepresented farmers in Connecticut and Rhode Island. His activism shines a light on the inequities in our food systems.
“The food system isn’t broken; it operates as designed, harming marginalized communities the most,” Azeem argues. “What will happen when a crisis hits again?”
His work goes beyond farming. Azeem blends his love of agriculture with hip-hop, using his platform to reach audiences who may not connect with conventional farming narratives. “When people see me, they recognize it’s real,” he says, bridging the gap between culture and agriculture.
His philosophy emphasizes respect for the Earth. For Azeem, regeneration is vital, not just for the soil but for the relationships people have with their food. “We should treat the Earth as we treat our mothers,” he reflects.
Recent studies show that urban agriculture can reduce food deserts and strengthen community ties. According to the USDA, urban agriculture is growing rapidly, with an annual increase in urban farms across the U.S. This aligns with Azeem’s mission to empower communities through accessible food systems.
As Azeem continues his work, the aim is clear: create sustainable, equitable food systems that uplift everyone, especially those historically left behind.
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Azeem Zakir Kareem,Black farmers,community supported agriculture,Connecticut farming,food justice,Regenerative Agriculture,Samad Gardens Initiative
