Darrelynne Strother Owner of Châteaux Cocoa

By Marissa Yelenik

Darrelynne Strother, the owner of Châteaux Cocoa, is a first-year GAPcertified farmer in the DMV area with a focus on urban farming, gardening, beekeeping, and wellness.

Strother is also a volunteer for the Master Gardener Program at the University of Maryland Garden Extension and began gardening in elementary school. The Virginia native moved to Maryland three years ago, where she has since earned certifications, including a Biointensive Agriculture Certification from the University of the District of Columbia and a Natural Organic Gardening Certification through a SMART Majority online course.

Just at the beginning of her career, Strother plans to expand her farm into a wellness center where community members can do yoga and art, shop at a cafe, learn about farming, and so much more.

Did you grow up gardening?

No. In fact, I started growing seeds by disobeying my mom and throwing them over the balcony of our porch.

What is Châteaux Cocoa? Where did the name come from?

Châteaux Cocoa is the name of my house and farm. It translates to “cocoa castles.” The trim in the 1927 home is dark Jacobean and chocolate in color. I wanted a name to represent the house and farm in a classy way that aligned with the character of the home.

What do you grow at your farm and what products do you create from what you grow?

Currently, my focus is to sell seedlings only. I am looking to expand to selling vegetables later this summer, specifically, sunflowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, watermelon, rice, and corn. Eventually, I would like to sell the food that I grow and dried herbs as well.

Do you have a “day job” and how does that conflict with or complement your urban farming projects?

Yes, and my day job pays for the house and bills associated with the house. I also have a second job that pays for current expenses of the farm as well as any renovations that happen in the house. This job consists of teaching children ages 3 to 13 about art and wellness during afterschool programs in the DC area.

My day job has been very supportive of my farming and gardening. In fact, I started a community garden at my day job to help alleviate stress within the workplace and I initiated having honey bees join us at the garden as well.

What kind of reactions and responses have you received when interacting with the local growing community? People have been really supportive of my endeavor to farm and support the local community.

Who are your heroes and inspirations?

My mom is an inspiration. I use the drive and determination I received from her to keep going and achieve my dreams. This

What advice would you give to any aspiring urban farmers?

I would recommend doing research first, then making a plan and following through. Also, don’t be ashamed to ask for help from volunteers to assist with your goals.

You’ve also branched out into art, yoga, and beekeeping. What about these topics interests you, and how do they fit into your role as a farmer? This is sort of a funny story, but I actually had a dream. At the time, I was not interested in becoming a yoga instructor, but I practiced daily and worked out approximately 10 times a week. In the dream, I was the owner of a run-down home and a small plot of land that hosted several garden boxes and an inground growing space. However, I was able to renovate the home into a café/ restaurant, serve people in the lush garden space I created, and provide space for art and yoga classes.

In the dream, I was also subbing for a yoga class. There was a center that mixed art and yoga as a practice taught in a modern bamboo structure straight from Thailand but located in the DMV area. The land was populated by lush plants and an edible landscape. That was the dream.

From there, I went to get my 200hour yoga certification on a scholarship and later my 500-hour certification along with a Trauma Informed certificate.

Next, I signed up for the Master Gardener program. It took the third application in Prince George’s County to stick due to scheduling conflicts of the program in Virginia and in DC. I’m happy to be a part of the University of Maryland’s Master Gardener Extension program.

I discovered the bee program on an app called Clubhouse where people were talking about “Beekeeping

While Black” and the lack of African American beekeepers in their area. The Clubhouse speaker said there are classes available in most states for a nominal fee. I was able to join a class virtually in the Bowie Upper Marlboro Beekeeping Association (BUMBA) and I participate with this association when I can.

I’m grateful to my beekeeping men- tor, Monica Bussolati, who has assisted me with keeping my bees alive for the past two years.

My background is in art. I studied photography in high school and in college, I studied architecture and urban planning, and I have a minor in studio art.

What plans do you have for the future? When do you intend to implement them?

[I plan] to create a kid’s garden on the side of the house with at least five to eight garden beds, host additional children’s classes in growing food during the summer, install a hoop house for year-round growing, add a separate art space in the backyard for gallery viewings, and add a café complete with items made from the farm at the Châteaux Cocoa.

I’d like to own a more expansive farm and create a floating garden on the Patuxent or Potomac but, baby steps.

[I’d like to implement them] within six or seven years. I’m planning on paying my home off and finishing plans for the farm at Châteaux Cocoa.

How can readers contact you to find out more?

I am working on creating a website for Châteaux Cocoa. Once launched, the official website will be ChateauxCocoa. com, which will include information about not only the farm and garden but our other offerings as well, which are coming soon! I am also on Instagram as @ChâteauxCocoa. My email address is chateauxcocoa@gmail.com. o

Marissa Yelenik is a rising junior journalism and psychology major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an intern this summer with Washington Gardener. She is a Savage, Maryland, native and amateur gardener