Clarenda “Farmer Cee” Stanley is the CEO of Green Heffa Farms, a flourishing medicinal plant and herb farm in Liberty, North Carolina. She’s also the country’s first Black-owned farm to earn Certified B Corp status. She started growing herbs to address her own anxiety and has developed a line of tasty blends that “help support adulting,” as she puts it cleverly. As she rakes in award after award, Clarenda also amplifies the voices of unsung farmers planting dreams the nation over. Meet our newest FACE of the South, Clarenda “Farmer Cee” Stanley.
What was your childhood like?
After my parents divorced, we moved [from Texas] back to my mother’s hometown in the Black Belt region of Alabama. It’s known as the Black Belt — one, for its very rich agricultural soil. And two, for the number of Black people who live there. I grew up in a county that still, today, has a segregated school system. I grew up on my maternal grandparents’ farm. They owned 100 acres, 20 of which I still own. I have a tree farm there in Alabama in addition to my herb farm here in North Carolina.
Did you always want an agricultural career, or did your education start elsewhere?
While I learned some aspects of agriculture from my extended family, I was not encouraged to be a farmer. I was encouraged to go off to college, get a degree, and land a high-paying job. But they taught me the importance of land ownership in building family wealth. I was taught that if you take care of the land, it will produce more for you. It’s investing in an asset. I grew up being the “I’m gonna save the world” kid.
Tell us how you started Green Heffa Farms.
I was good and grown! I started it in 2018 when I was 42. I wish I had some romanticized story, but the truth is, there was a man, and we were legally entangled. He was going through an … extended career transition … and I asked, “What do you want to do!?” He said he wanted to grow cannabis hemp which had recently become available to produce in North Carolina under a state pilot project.
One of the requirements to get a hemp license at the time was prior farm income. Well, remember that tree farm I mentioned earlier!? I had farm income. So I got the hemp license. You get to an age where you keep what appreciates. The land did; the man did not. I got legally untangled, and I had this beautiful piece of land. At that time, I was working for the world’s most resource-rich environmental organization as one of their senior global fundraisers. I was going around the world talking to people and companies about environmental concerns. It was challenging work, and I realized this could be a blank slate for me.
You bring a lot of joy and information to your online community. How do you juggle wearing all of those hats?
Our farm’s demand far outstrips our supply, but we don’t fret over that. We don’t want to scale quickly just so every customer who wants our products can get them right away. That’s stressful! We’re going to scale in a way that makes sense for us. We’re going to grow slow, so we don’t owe. We’re profitable, but we have no desire to be popular. I refuse to create a stressful environment for myself and my team. We’re herb farmers! For us to be out here stressed … what does that say about our product?!
What’s a typical workday like for you?
I have some blooms like primrose that moonlight (bloom at night), so I have to wake up early to get them before they close. Then our sunshine blooms come through like roses, etc. Then it’s a combination of virtual meetings, harvesting, and hanging out with my unemployed farm dogs. In the afternoon, I’ll work with my consulting clients, package and fulfill orders, and try to get outside for the evening harvest.
What’s something that people are often surprised to learn about you?
Many people who just know me as “Farmer Cee” are surprised I had a life before farming. Also that I’m goofy and not into things society tells us to be into. For me, a good time is to open a plant and insect identification app and walk around identifying things, collecting rocks, pieces of bark, and leaves. A vintage t-shirt at a thrift store for $2? High fashion! I had days when name brands meant success, but those have no comparison to planting a watermelon from scratch. Oh, and I love rhyming. I think I’m a rapper.
What’s a common misconception people have about farming?
There is such an under-appreciation of the intelligence and breadth of knowledge that farmers possess. What other profession, occupation, or area of expertise are you allowed ten years and are still categorized as “the beginning?”
Another one is the simplification of what is defined as a farm. There are so many diverse agricultural operations that are all considered farms or ranches by the USDA. But each operation — a fishery, a nursery, or a ranch — is its own thing. Understanding the different types of farming businesses that exist is essential.
Where can we find you on your days off?
I love going to the mountains of North Carolina to see some waterfalls. Or meeting the bestie in Vegas to see Usher live. I believe resting is a fundamental human right. I’m in an industry where many farmers cannot afford to rest because of economic stability. I understand that privilege, so we give back every month to other farms.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, and from whom?
One time I was venting to my dad about a fee I had to pay. I don’t like paying fees. But this was for a mistake I had made. He said, “Don’t look at it as a loss. Look at it as tuition you just paid to learn something.”
Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can’t live without.
Herbs and plant medicine, the color purple (I love the color purple), and purpose. I 100% feel and know I am meant to be doing exactly what I’m doing.
Lightning round:
A favorite hidden gem in the South: Gee’s Bend in Wilcox County, Alabama. It’s home to some of the most exquisite quilt-making.
Favorite place to go on vacation: Domestically: Topsail Beach, NC. Internationally: Kenya
What’s on your bedside table: chapstick, books I need to read, tons and tons of candles, and some herbal salve
Go-to birthday present (to give): a plant or personalized tea blend
Thank you for speaking with us, Clarenda! You can shop Green Heffa Farms products directly from the farm online, at Weaver Street Market locations, and through Thrive Market.
**********
For more stories of inspirational women, visit our FACES archives!
