By Nick Werner—
DELAWARE COUNTY—In the heart of Indiana, a transformation is taking place—one that is rooted in grief but has blossomed into a profound mission that is educating communities and challenging the status quo. Negasi Farms, founded by Megan Benion in Delaware County, is more than just an agricultural enterprise; it is a living tribute to family legacy and a direct response to a public health crisis that hits home for many families in America.
The Origin Story: From Loss to Legacy
The seeds of Negasi Farms were sown during a period of profound personal loss.
Megan Benion’s journey into professional farming began after the passing of both her mother and her grandmother, both of whom succumbed to complications from diabetes and heart failure. These losses were a shock to Megan, who had always viewed her family as a “healthy bunch of people.”
The tragedy brought into sharp focus a conversation Megan had with her mother’s doctor, who matter-of-factly stated that “food is medicine.”
“He said it as if I should have known that—and that’s how that’s really how it registered to me,” Megan recalled.
For Megan, this wasn’t just a clinical observation; it was a revelation that exposed the systemic barriers to health in many black communities across the United States. Her
mother, originally from the Carribean, often lamented the lack of fresh produce in the United States, saying, “Back at home there was food everywhere. Here there’s just never any food.”
Living in Dayton, Ohio, at the time, Megan realized they were in a literal food desert.
“It took a 20-minute drive to buy fresh food,” she said. “So it’s ultimately very expensive to just eat healthy.”
The name of the farm reflects this journey of recovery. Originally, Megan considered the name “Legacy,” but finding it too common, she chose the Ethiopian word “Negasi,” which means “healing” and has a pleasant sound that also evokes legacy.
A Mission Rooted in Access and Education
Megan’s move to rural Muncie, Indiana, in 2020 to be nearer to her husband’s family, solidified her resolve to shift from a casual gardener to a business owner.
A vivid memory of the COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst.
“I stopped at the South Side Walmart and remember vividly that there was no produce on the shelves,” she said. “That just kind of hit differently. If the trucks can’t bring the food, then there’s just no food here.”
Negasi Farms grows primarily vegetables, including peppers, tomatoes, greens, potatoes, squash, cucumbers and even meyer lemons, while also raising chickens and goats. It operates as a nonprofit, a structure Megan chose to ensure she could remain financially sustainable while focusing on community good.
Her approach has evolved from community gardens to a more strategic, larger-scale agricultural model because, as she notes, “the community garden is not the fix” on its own.
Negasi Farms is now launching a mobile market—a customized trailer with refrigeration—to tackle the transportation barriers that often prevent people from accessing fresh food. To ensure true accessibility, the market is designed to accept SNAP and WIC, meeting people exactly where they are, especially in underserved urban communities.
“Transportation is another major issue when we’re talking about food deserts that nobody talks about,” she said.
Redefining the Image of the American Farmer
One of the most significant and unique challenges Megan faced in her agriculture journey was navigating cultural identity and disparity within the Black community.
When she began farming, she was met with skepticism from within the Black community. She recalls being asked, “What are you doing? We don’t do that,” as if agriculture were not a part of their cultural identity.
When she was younger, Megan remembers viewing farming through a narrow lens. She associated much of agriculture with whiteness—not because anyone taught her that directly, but because of what she observed around her. She didn’t see Black people growing food or owning land, so she assumed agriculture largely belonged to others.
It wasn’t until she began to dig into the history of agriculture that her perspective shifted. She learned how deeply rooted Black history is within agriculture and how foundational Black people have been to the development of food systems. In many ways, Black labor
and knowledge have been the backbone of agriculture, even if that truth is often erased or overlooked.
Megan is working to break the stigma and stereotypes associated with farming in Indiana.
She believes both representation and education are essential ways of addressing the cultural disparity around agriculture within the Black community. For Megan, this work connects directly back to the original reason she went fully into farming: the physical health of the Black community. Her commitment is personal. After losing her mother to health-related issues, she became even more determined to be part of changing the relationship her community has with food, access, and wellness.
Currently, only about 1% to 1.4% of U.S. farmers identify as Black, a number that has been declining over the years. Megan views her role as being “authentically true” to herself—a Black woman, a mother of seven, and a professional farmer.
“I didn’t start farming because of my identity, but I don’t separate who I am from what I do,” she said. “Being a farmer and being Black are both central to who I am, and I carry both with pride.”
The Science of Freshness and Sustainability
Education is a cornerstone of Negasi Farms, particularly regarding the nutrient density of food. Megan emphasizes that grocery store produce often lacks the chemical profile of food grown locally.
“What they’re getting in the grocery store does not give them the nutrient density, because it’s not even mature,” she explained. “When a tomato hasn’t sat in the sun long
enough, it lacks the chemical profile and nutrient density that local, vine-ripened produce provides.”
Her farming practices are strictly natural and chemical-free. Interestingly, Megan has a unique approach to weed control.
“I hate weeds,” she said. “I do not weed my garden. I kid you not.”
Instead of back-breaking manual labor, she uses heavy-grade, breathable ground cover to protect the soil and retain moisture. This allows her to scale up while maintaining soil health.
By growing her crops in the countryside on black loam soil and transporting the harvest to urban areas, she bypasses the soil issues often found in city environments. This approach ensures that urban residents receive the highest quality nutrition possible.
A Circle of Community and Future Growth
For Megan, farming is more than a job; it’s a lifestyle she shares with her husband and her seven children, who range in age from 16 down to 2.
“As a population, we’re losing the life skills of even being able to sustain ourselves,” she warned.
By involving her children in managing goats, chickens, and crops, she is teaching them autonomy.
The farm continues to innovate and expand. After winning a contest supported by the Black Chamber of Commerce and the Ball Brothers Foundation, Negasi Farms is investing in indoor grow towers. This expansion will allow for an “indoor micro-farm,” providing fresh greens year-round, even during Indiana’s seven months of cold weather.
Megan’s work comes full circle through her partnerships with local organizations, such as donating fresh produce to the Soup Kitchen of Muncie. These donations provide the dignity of high-quality nutrition to those who recognize its value but rarely have access to it.
Negasi Farms stands as a testament to the idea that one person’s journey toward healing can become a catalyst for an entire community’s health. Through innovation, education, and a deep-seated commitment to her roots, Megan Benion is not just growing vegetables—she is cultivating a healthier, more self-reliant future for everyone.
The post Cultivating Healing: The Story and Mission of Negasi Farms appeared first on Muncie Journal.
