MEET FOUNDER TYREAN “HERU” LEWIS

Healthy Food for Food apartheid Communities

MEET FOUNDER TYREAN ‘HERU’ LEWIS

Healthy Food for Food apartheid Communities

Revolutionizing METRO SAINT LOUIS’ Access to Exceptional AND Nutritious Food

I’m Tyrean ‘Heru’ Lewis, the driving force behind Heru Urban Farming. Despite my background in management and education, I hail from a lineage of dedicated farmers spanning five generations. This rich heritage inspired me to embark on a mission: transforming my community’s access to top-notch, wholesome food.

Proudly, I consider myself a soul farmer, cultivating nature’s bounty using purely natural and organic methods. Each seed planted carries the positive energy I invest, as I foster a deep spiritual connection with the very land it grows in. My passion runs deep, fueled by the desire to counter the alarming wave of unhealthy lifestyles plaguing the urban areas of St. Louis due to limited access to nutritious options.

Heru Urban Farming started in 2017 with a humble beginning: three lots totaling 10,612 sq ft. – impacting over 700,000 people across the metro St. Louis region which includes low-income households with limited access to grocery stores or farmers markets within a half-mile of their neighborhoods.

VIEW OUR LIST OF VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

FALL CROPS

bok choy

broccoli

Brussel sprouts

Collards: ALL VARIATIONS

Japanese mustards

tatsoi

beets: ALL VARIATIONS

sweet potatoes

butternut squash

cabbage: purple and STONEHEAD

CAULIFLOWER

SPRING/SUMMER CROPS

KALE: Curly, dinosaur, and Russian

WATERMELON: CRIMSON STRawberry, moon and stars, sweet glo, blacktail, SILVER wyAmato, and mountain yellow desert king

cantaloupe

Carrots

beets

cucumbers

Okra

pickling cucumbers

tomatoes: heirloom and hybrid

purple huLL peas

Sweet peppers

Hot peppers ALL varieties

onions: yellow

herbs: lavender saGe rosemary

basil: lemon, cinnamon, holy, Thai mint

calendula

cilantro

flowers: zinnia and echinacea

Sowing seeds of wellness

Our ambition knows no bounds. We’re determined to bring the gift of accessible, nourishing food to every corner of the St. Louis region. These are the problems we are solving:



Most of the fruits and veggies of our region travel from over 12,000 miles away



Over 700,000 St. Louis residents lack nearby grocery stores or markets within half a mile



84% of Missouri cropland is corn and soy which is used for animal feed/processing



Less than 1% of St. Louis regional cropland is used to grow food for people



Missouri’s food insecurity rate of 14.2% exceeded the national average

what we do

Picture St. Louis where every generation embraces a vibrant, healthier lifestyle. In 2017, first year was a huge success. We provided healthy food choices for a community within the City of St. Louis with 33% of its population living below the poverty line. The community was ecstatic about learning and helping us with the urban farm.

This pilot farm had so much success that we were able to acquire four more lots in a different community that has 41% of its residents living below the poverty line. We have high hopes of making food accessible to more of the St. Louis region in the near future!

How do we achieve it?

By not just teaching, but also living the importance of growing and consuming organic, non-GMO foods. Our approach is not just eco-friendly; it’s rooted in traditional farming practices, ensuring sustainability at every step.