"I want to liberate people through food." That's the mission behind Tyrean "Heru" Lewis's work as a fifth-generation farmer in St. Louis. What started with growing vegetables in buckets and cleaning up a vacant lot across the street from his house eventually grew into a thriving urban farm serving restaurants, schools, food pantries, and even the Saint Louis Zoo. Could your passion become something that transforms your community, too?
In this presentation, Heru shares how his 102-year-old great-grandmother inspired his love for growing food and how noticing a lack of fresh produce in his neighborhood motivated him to take action. Starting with a 10,000-square-foot community garden, he has expanded to a farm utilizing more than a dozen acres while growing specialty crops like orange, white, and yellow watermelons, collard greens, okra, and bok choy. Along the way, he explains how farming combines science, business, technology, entrepreneurship, and community leadership.
Heru also reveals that modern agriculture is far more than planting seeds. From greenhouse technology and irrigation systems to social media, grant writing, marketing, logistics, policy advocacy, and youth workforce programs, he highlights dozens of careers connected to farming. His message is simple: start small, involve your community, and don't be afraid to grow something—whether it's in a backyard, a raised bed, or even a five-gallon bucket. You might just discover a career that feeds both people and purpose.