Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Ken Sparks of South Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Ken Sparks and have shared our conversation below.

Ken, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Something that is misunderstood about my business is that people assume that we are just in the fields all day planting and harvesting fruit and vegetables. There is so much more to the business than that. This is an operation, there is paperwork, communications, and much more. We also provide educational programs, offer consultations, have social media partnerships and speaking engagements.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
The Farmer Ken is a Southern California farm owned by Ken Sparks. We are a small scaled, Black owned farm operation. We grow following sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. On the farm, we produce fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers and chicken eggs. The farm also has a kitchen cottage license and processes and transports specialty items including dried herb blends, loose-leaf teas, herbal soaps, and bakery items to restaurants, food distribution centers and markets in the greater Los Angeles area. We also do education, consulting and offer hands on learning experiences.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a young man growing up in a small city called Twinsburg, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. I was surrounded by a loving family, a community and a deep culture. I was fortunate enough to also have relationships with my Grandparents and Great -Grandparents. In my youth, I was involved in many activities including band, cub scouts, science club, national honor’s society.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me how to navigate to challenges. Listen, stay connected, and remain spiritually grounded. I also learned that there is beauty within the suffering. The greatest gift is when you take those lessons , grow, and thrive. The challenges help fuel success, as they motivate me.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am committed to building out the sustainable farm, which is an ongoing process. It takes years of planning, adapting, and revising but the outcome is beautiful. We are 4 years into the process on the current land and it is amazing to see the transformation from 2021 until now. It is a long-term commitment.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am able to sit still and decompress. At times, I sit on the back hill of the farm, feel the wind, the earth, hear the sounds of wildlife and watch the sunset. That connection with nature is healing and is something that also helped keep my peace during the pandemic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thefarmerken.com
• Instagram: @farmerkenofficial

Image Credits
Sylver Lining Media, Ashamone