BUSINESS OF FARMING
Mahalah Farms “Using What You Have to Make What You Need”
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), the primary outreach organization for the land-grant mission of Alabama A&M University and Auburn University, delivers research-based educational programs that enable people to improve their quality of life and economic well-being. Because of the ACES mission, Yawah Awolowo’s success story is an inspirational highlight for farmers of today and tomorrow. If you ever find yourself traveling through Cuba, Alabama, you may notice signs that lead you to Mahalah Farms. Anyone who has had the privilege to have conversations with farm owners know that they can share many stories of survival, resiliency and triumph. One of those farmers is Yawah Awolowo. “Let your food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food.” This is the belief of Yawah Awolowo, a native of Cuba, Alabama, who has been a vegan/vegetarian chef for over 30 years. Today, she is the owner of Mahala Farm, named after her late aunt who raised her until she was 12. In 1965, Yawah moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, but every summer 12
Cooperative Farming News
she would return to her beloved family farm. Eventually Yawah started a catering service, Harambee, with a European friend. Harambee is Swahili meaning working and pulling together. Her vegan/ vegetarian catering service led to backstage catering events for several celebrities including India Arie, Bonnie Raitt, BB King, Kenny G and The Neville Brothers. In 2003, her catering service gained her the opportunity to travel to Brazil to participate in a World Social Forum expo/workshop. At this workshop, she learned about the benefits of growing foods organically. After traveling abroad, she was inspired to begin farming. She believed that the Mahalah Farm would be the best place to start. Therefore, she decided to grow and produce her own crops, remembering as a child that her aunt would grow cotton, corn and peanuts on this same soil. Yawah’s first attempt at farming took place one spring before leaving to work with the Children Defense Fund as a vegan consultant and chef. Before leaving, she planted different seeds on several acres of the farm. When Yawah returned, she
