Feature
V Lynn
Victoria “V” Lynn is an herbalist, farmer, and coordinator in Richmond, Virginia. From a young age, V has been interested in food and chemistry. She holds dear the belief that the earth’s natural elements can help and heal us. V splits her time between building an earth workers collective based in natural care, developing her line of personal care products, and playing an integral role in an organization that not only feeds people, but holds city officials and do-gooders accountable to sustain the needs of specific communities.
V is passionate about improving food access, and making space for Black humans to connect with earth and with one another around natural ways of healing. Drawn to her entrepreneurial spirit and her deep commitment to keep people feeling good, V inspires us to be the best ma’ams we can be.
“I personally view everything as working together for the benefit of the whole”
In hopes to give each of her projects space we thought we would introduce each organization, share her involvement, and how you can show support if you feel inspired to!
V does all the things:
Richmond Food Justice Alliance
About the organization:
The Richmond Food Justice Alliance is an organization within the Food Justice Corridor that helps manage farm sites around the Richmond Area in an ongoing effort to address health and historical inequities in the city.
After feeling disappointed with the inaction of Richmond’s top-down approach to policy making, a group of organizations and community members developed a campaign to engage those of us that food access policies affect most. Through community engagement, the group collected information to inform how they operate and created a framework to guide the city and other stakeholders.
“Policy and decision makers, as well as individuals and organizations who influence change, must deeply familiarize themselves with the populations they are affecting before attempting to address community needs.” —F.E.E.D the Culture Report by Richmond Food Justice Alliance & Richmond City Health District
V’s involvement:
The Richmond Food Justice Alliance specifically manages the farm sites around the city’s Food Justice Corridor. V works as their project manager and program coordinator. Alongside her team, V manages the land, organizes volunteers, and distributes their harvest to neighbors and community members. She loves the work and being able to connect with the neighbors in the areas she is serving. And she also gets to spend time where she’s happiest — outside.
Although providing fresh food is the group’s main goal, V’s real gratification comes from providing consistency. Showing up week after week has provided a comfortable space and has led to more engagement from the people living in the neighborhoods she is serving.
How you can support:
Become a sustaining donor to the Richmond Food Justice Alliance!
This helps with farm site expansion, programming, labor & materials.
Sign up to be a Cultivator! (aka “volunteer”)
Show up ready to share your skills, abilities, and/or connections, and most importantly, come ready to learn!
About the organization:
Earth Workers Eclectic is a group of caregivers creating intentional spaces for connection with nature. They are Black humans and healers returning to and teaching plant practices for sustainable environmental justice. The collective is made up of herbalists, yoga instructors, farmers, reiki healers, and maternal care givers.
V’s involvement:
V is the founder of Earth Workers Eclectic and a practicing herbalist. Like so many women we speak with, V’s main motivation to start E.W.E. came from the simple fact that she didn’t see herself or her peers represented in the world of herbalism. She wasn’t comfortable in that space and neither were her loved ones. Now she and 12 other humans and healers are working to serve and promote the normalcy of herbalism as a profession and sustainable source of income for those in the work.
How you can support:
Hire a practitioner in E.W.E.!
Donate to cover Care Costs
This fund helps her practitioners get paid while also opening their services to everyone. Donate one time or become a sustaining member.
About the organization:
All U Need Naturals is a line of personal care goods within E.W.E., offering everything from elderberry elixirs and kombucha, to body butters and hair oils. The first product in the line was the Opulence Oil, which V developed for her mother who was experiencing itchy scalp and hair loss. Since then, each product in the line has come as a result of an ailment — be it direct or indirect — that needed an alternative outcome. For everyday occurrences from sore muscles to dry skin, V is doing the research to solve it.
V’s involvement:
Founder and maker of all the All U Need Products! Everything you see is made with care by V herself.
How you can support:
Check out her line and see if there is something you need!
