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Jamiah Hargins is on a mission to revolutionize how cities think about food, land, and sustainability. Since 2018, and as the founder of Crop Swap LA, Hargins has built a movement that addresses agricultural inequity, urban land use, and community resilience—all while fostering a decentralized leadership and micro farming model.
At the core of Hargins’ vision is the idea that urban spaces can and should be repurposed to grow fresh, organic food for local communities. Crop Swap LA transforms underutilized spaces—backyards, front yards, and even parks—into thriving micro farms. Each plot’s design produces nutrient-rich crops while fostering a stronger sense of community ownership.
Hargins acknowledges the historical inequities that have shaped the agricultural landscape in the United States, saying, “So much of the land in this country has been taken away from Indigenous people—those who knew how to do anything with it—and handed to new immigrants who didn’t have the inherent skills or ancestral knowledge. And for Black people, our ancestral connection to the land was severed, too. Even during slavery, we were farming because the slave owners couldn’t do it themselves.”
This understanding of history drives Hargins’ commitment to reshaping the future. Crop Swap LA’s homepage thanks the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and Southern Channel Islands) and pay respects to the Honuukvetam (ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.
“My work is more than just micro farming—it’s about creating a more equitable, sustainable world.” – Jamiah Hargins
From Corporate to Crop
In his earlier life, Hargins studied political science. “I went to school for public policy. I thought I’d be a diplomat, but learned too much about this country. I was like, ‘I don’t want to represent it.’”
Hargins expressed that gaining insight into human behavior and institutional workings prompted a reevaluation of his life perspectives. “I went to two top 10 schools and took a lot of debt to be impressive or build credibility. But in reality, the best credibility I could create was just being myself and connecting with people, finding solutions to their problems.”
While working as a stockbroker in Chicago, Hargins had a small garden used as refuge from work and to ensure his daughters ate healthily. “Since my daughters were born—the oldest is seven now—I’ve been focused on providing fresh food and paying attention to their environment,” Hargins says. “Ensuring they get the best food, water, air, housing and education. All these factors are problematic and worsening. I worry about those who aren’t aware.”
Noticing the stark contrast between the friendly demeanor of gardeners and the cutthroat nature of stockbrokers, Hargins started crop-swapping seeds and plants while building connections with the locals. Eventually, Hargins and his family moved to Los Angeles, where his crop-swapping idea turned into a career path.
“I used what I learned to grow too much chard lettuce and started swapping crops with other gardeners and farmers,” Hargins says. “Then we began collecting fruit from trees, like the grapefruit trees next to me in LA. There’s a lot of citrus right now. We included that in our free swapping.”
Hargins notes that the type of crop swapping from the past differs from what is currently done. “Any part of the plant could be used—the root, the stalk, the stem, cuttings, clippings, seeds, we swapped. A lot of times, the exchanges weren’t direct. It was more like, ‘Hey, I brought all this chard,’ you’d look around to see what others brought. Nobody ever took too much; it was always fair.”
He continues, “As the host, I’d end up with more than I started. It was funny because I was trying to get rid of the excess, but walking back into the house with a whole new variety of things we’d never seen or tried, all from other people’s yards was always exciting. I miss those days. We don’t do crop swapping anymore—now everything is for sale, everything’s business, and you’ve got to have revenue.”
As the Hargins crop swap community grew, so did suggestions for starting a farmer’s market, but they didn’t succeed due to inconsistent visitors and COVID-19. I realized the grocery store model didn’t work either,” Hargins says. “Instead, we decided to grow the food and sell it to people via doorstep memberships. Now, we have three micro farms and eight nanofarms, serving about 80 families with food every week.
The Challenges of Urban Micro farming
Operating in Los Angeles has unique challenges, such as lead contamination in the soil. This makes growing food directly in the ground impossible. Crop Swap LA uses terraponics (plants are transferred to a hydroponic system without removing the soil from their roots) and overhead irrigation systems.
“We don’t have any permaculture gardens,” Hargins says. “They take time but require less work, and the food tastes better. Unfortunately, we need to grow food fast to sell it fast.”
Despite these challenges, Hargins remains committed to using sustainable micro farming practices. Crop Swap LA’s produce is organic and non-GMO and is grown using organic pesticides. The organization also uses the abundant sunlight to avoid the high electricity costs associated with indoor hydroponic systems.
Advocating For Institutional Change
Hargins and Crop Swap LA are also pushing for systemic change. Recently, he’s been in talks with the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department about transforming underused land into farming spaces.
“There’s one park I love,” he shares. “There’s this area in the back that nobody goes to—it’s quiet, peaceful, and gets good sunlight. I want to farm it. I’m challenging the parks district leaders to step up and lead with me.”
This bold approach extends to his interactions with institutions like the Los Angeles Unified School District, with whom Crop Swap LA has partnered to integrate teaching and learning services.
A Global and Long-Term Vision
For Hargins, success is about more than just planting crops. “In five years, I want Crop Swap LA to be financially independent,” he explains. With a current annual operating budget of $1.6 million, the organization relies heavily on grants and donations. However, Hargins envisions a future where revenue from micro farming installations, food sales, and other services sustains the organization entirely.
Hargins’ ambitions don’t stop at the city limits. In 15 years, he hopes to see Crop Swap LA’s model replicated in cities across the U.S. and beyond. “It doesn’t have to be very expensive,” he says. “It just needs to be coordinated and rooted in local partnerships.”
He envisions a decentralized system where individuals use their residential properties for food production, creating resilience against centralized control. “By 2039, I’d love to see crop swaps thriving in at least 15 cities, each adapting the model to their unique context,” he says.
Hargins also sees potential for international collaborations. “I’ve seen initiatives pop up in Auckland and Germany. With the right coordination, we could scale this globally.”
RELATED: Toronto’s Black Food Sovereignty Vision to Unify Black Food Systems
Planting Seeds For the Next Generation
Beyond his work with Crop Swap LA, Hargins inspires the next generation through storytelling. His children’s book, “Captain Plant It,” introduces young readers to the joys and importance of growing food through micro farming.
“It’s a small way to spark curiosity and plant the seeds for a more sustainable future,” he says. “My work is more than just micro farming—it’s about creating a more equitable, sustainable world. The opportunities coming my way are catered to me and this work. I pray often and trust that what lies ahead will continue to align with my purpose.”
To learn more about Crop Swap LA and how to support, visit them online and follow Instagram and Youtube.
