Sweet Grown Alabama Blogs

We started Mayim Farm in 2011 on a piece of land in Crenshaw County with no background in agriculture. What we did have was a belief that plants could offer more than many people realized and the determination to learn through experience.

Our farm is located just outside Opp in south Alabama's coastal plain, where red sandy soil and pine forests stretch for miles. We chose this property because it was a place we could call our own. Over time, we've learned that the plants best suited to this landscape are the ones most worth growing and preserving.

From the beginning, we've farmed without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Instead, we work with natural systems, allowing the soil and ecosystem to develop over time. That approach requires patience, and we've experienced our share of challenges, but we believe the results are worth the effort.

Growing Moringa

We began growing moringa in 2015, long before it became widely recognized in Alabama. Native to South Asia, Moringa oleifera adapts well to our climate, thriving through Alabama's hot summers.

Each spring, we pollard the trees by cutting them back to encourage fresh, tender growth. We harvest the new leaves by hand, dry them slowly at low temperatures and process them into either dried leaves or leaf powder. Every step takes place on our farm.

Today, moringa has become our signature crop. Customers enjoy using the leaf powder in smoothies, oatmeal and applesauce, while the dried leaves are commonly brewed as tea. It has a mild, earthy flavor and is valued for its nutrient content.

Harvesting Sweet Gum

The sweet gum trees on our property have been here much longer than we have. While many people know them for the spiny seed balls that cover the ground each fall, we've come to appreciate them for another reason.

Sweet gum seed pods naturally contain shikimic acid, a compound that has been studied by researchers and has a history of use in traditional herbal practices. We gather the seed pods from our property and neighboring land with permission, then slowly prepare them as an herbal extract.

For us, working with sweet gum reflects the value of paying attention to the plants that have always been part of Alabama's landscape.

Working With Mullein

Mullein grows wild throughout our property, especially along fence lines and other undisturbed areas. During its first year, it forms large, soft, silver-green leaves before producing tall flowering stalks the following season.

We harvest the leaves by hand and dry them on screens using the same careful process we use for moringa. We offer mullein as dried leaves, herbal extracts and tea blends. It also serves as the base for our tobacco-free herbal smoking blend.

Harvesting native and naturalized plants that already thrive on our land allows us to continue traditions that have been passed down through generations of Southern herbal practices.

A Family Farm

Mayim Farm is truly a family operation.

Carole oversees blending, filling and packaging. She is a Master Gardener through the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and brings that attention to detail to every product we prepare. I manage the field work, harvesting and our online operations. I'm both an Alabama Master Naturalist and a Master Gardener.

Together, we oversee every step of the process, from growing and harvesting to packaging and shipping.

We sell directly through our website, and when customers reach out with questions, one of us answers personally. Building those relationships is an important part of how we do business.

Beyond the farm, we've worked with Bread for the World in Washington, D.C., advocating for policies that would make it easier for small farms to accept SNAP benefits directly. We believe more families should have access to nutritious foods and locally produced products.

We're intentionally a small farm. Our goal has never been to become the biggest operation. Instead, we focus on growing quality plants, processing them with care and sharing them with people who appreciate what we do. That's been our mission since 2011, and it's the one we continue to pursue every day.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Sweet Grown Alabama.