Episode 15 | From Driving Policy to Gettin’ the Coins: Ivy Walls on the True Cost of Feeding the Block as Co-Founder of a Thriving Farmer-Owned Grocery Store in Houston

What does it look like to build a thriving, profitable, and unapologetically Black owned grocery store from scratch—rooted in the soil, powered by the people, and driven by deep love for community? In this episode, Dominique Drakeford links up with the fearless Ivy Walls: a married queer Black woman, a visionary farmer, and co-founder of Fresh Houwse Grocery—Houston’s only Black farmer-owned, community-operated grocery store that’s redefining what nourishment and neighborhood really means.

Ivy breaks down the raw truth about the cost of doing this work—from shady urban ag tax laws that punish growers, to the dangerous normalization of doing labor for free in the name of community. She boldly reframes sustainability as financial responsibility and shows us how creating beauty and abundance in Black spaces is of course positive vibes —but more importantly it’s about economic strategy, ownership, and refusing to be exploited. 

But the magic doesn’t stop at the produce aisle. Ivy and her co-founder Jeremy—a married Black man leading with intention and care—showcase a powerful model of gender-balanced, queer-affirming leadership that uplifts two strong families, side by side, united by purpose. They’re breaking the mold of what Black agricultural business looks like, and doing it with joy, mobility (food trucks + prep kitchens!), equitably POURING into the community and a whole lotta love. 

In this episode, we unpack:

• Fresh Houwse Grocery as a radical model of community sovereignty
• Ivy’s fight for urban ag policy reform at the city, county, and state levels
• Why shade poverty is an overlooked environmental justice issue
• Her non-negotiable stance on financial security: “Profitability is sustainability”
• Challenging the idea that Black women should give everything for free
• The power of collaborative, cross-family Black leadership rooted in queer joy, respect, and shared vision
• How Ivy and Jeremy are cultivating a space where people don’t just shop—they feel seen, heard, and loved

This episode is a masterclass in vision, strategy, and sacred resistance. Whether you're on the land, in the city, or building your own lane—this one will light a fire under you.

https://www.ivyleaffarms.com/
https://www.blackfarmerbox.com/

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