Working the Soil, Healing the Soul: How Pott Farms’ Unique Approach to Hemp Cultivation Is Supporting At-Risk LGBTQ+ Youth
And how you can get involved
On a 20-acre farm in Willis, just a half-hour south of Ypsilanti, a unique partnership is helping queer youth find their footing through regenerative agriculture and hands-on experience with hemp cultivation.
Pott Farms, a low-profit limited liability company (L3C) cofounded by former lawyer and public policy researcher Robbin Pott, has developed a supportive job training program that partners with Ozone House to provide meaningful employment opportunities for young adults who have experienced poverty, trauma and housing insecurity.
As an L3C, Pott Farms operates with a dual mission: to cultivate USDA-certified organic hemp using regenerative farming practices while creating healing opportunities for vulnerable populations. The farm was created by people who believe in the healing powers of cannabis and the importance of righting the wrongs caused by cannabis prohibition, with special attention to communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.
"Our processes are grounded in our commitment to justice," explains Pott. "A major obstacle for young people to overcome poverty and trauma is a lack of supported economic opportunity, and Pott Farms is using restorative solutions to address this problem."
Brie Nikora, Pride Zone outreach coordinator with Ozone House, sees immense value in connecting young people with the farm. "Robbin's land and her work represents so much for young folks who are passionate about land and self-sustainability," they say. "Being able to connect our young people to a learning opportunity like that is incredible."
Nikora speaks highly of Pott's leadership and vision. "Robbin is a brilliant woman who does incredible work," they emphasize. "She's not only reconnecting queer young people to the land, but also Black and brown young people who have been historically separated from these practices. The work she's doing is truly transformative."
The farm offers eight-week paid internships where participants work 15-20 hours weekly, learning everything from hemp cultivation and beekeeping to composting and soil biology.
For Jeremy Muhammad, a 23-year-old transgender resident of Ozone House who has participated in multiple internship cycles at Pott Farms, the experience has been both educational and transformative.
"We've done so many interesting things at the farm," Muhammad explains. "Robbin taught me how compost soil looks compared to regular Michigan dirt. You can actually see the life in the soil versus regular dirt that just looks dead. My favorite activity was beekeeping, which I absolutely love because it helped me overcome my fear of bees."
Muhammad adds that the experience has benefited his mental health. "Working on the farm is a great way to feel grounded in your environment,” he says. “I don't feel anxious there. It's almost like all that stress gets lifted in a way that makes it easier to manage."
The program targets young adults overcoming poverty and trauma, including many young adults from the LGBTQ+ community, which faces disproportionate rates of homelessness nationwide. According to a 2020 study by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, LGBTQ+ youth have a 120% higher risk of experiencing homelessness compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers.
Nikora confirms that this statistic is reflected in Ozone House's demographics. "The main populations we serve are BIPOC youth and Two-Spirit LGBTQIA+ folks," they say.
More than just job training
What makes Pott Farms' program unique isn't just the agricultural skills participants gain, but the holistic approach to wellness and healing that underpins everything they do.
The program goes beyond typical job training. Interns work with living soil practices, learning regenerative techniques while also receiving life skills training, including nutrition education. The group even cooks meals together using food harvested from the farm.
"The lunch break involves deciding what we want to cook and preparing it together," says Pott. "The cooking and eating together is actually on the clock. There's also a lot of ongoing emotional support that happens naturally as we're doing the work."
For Muhammad, who studies global studies at Washtenaw Community College, working with Pott has been inspiring.
"Robbin has gone through so much in her life, and it gives me hope," Muhammad says. "She was a lawyer making good money, but decided to pursue farming instead because it's her passion. Seeing someone follow their passion without fearing the unknown is really inspiring, especially for someone like me who grew up facing certain challenges."
Until recently, the program was partially subsidized through federal job training programs, but that funding is at risk of being cut by the Trump administration, given Ozone House’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, creating challenges for the farm's mission.
"We're not structured as a typical nonprofit," explains Pott. "We don't go to foundations asking for grants. We fund our social mission through the services and products we provide."
To ensure the program's sustainability, Pott has developed multiple revenue streams, including the farm's USDA-certified organic hemp flower, CBD topicals and living soil consulting services.
Now, she's launching a "Grow Your Own Cannabis" workshop series that begins in late April. The six-session course, offered on a sliding scale basis, will teach participants how to grow cannabis outdoors in living soil without special equipment or chemicals.
"The multifaceted nature of this program extends beyond career skills," Nikora reflects. "These young people are learning to care for the earth while engaging in a reciprocal relationship of caring for themselves. There's something incredibly healing about reconnecting with the land, especially for queer young people and young people of color who have been historically separated from these practices."
The workshop starts April 29 and runs monthly through September, with a registration deadline of April 28.
For young people like Muhammad, the impact of these initiatives goes far beyond employment.
"Working with Robbin feels grounding," he says. "When you're at the farm and talking with her, she gives you this gentle reminder that you can literally do anything you want, regardless of what people tell you to do. It's peaceful working there, and I don't feel anxious about anything."
It's precisely this blend of practical skills, healing opportunities and supportive community that makes Pott Farms' approach so valuable for vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth seeking not just housing stability, but a path forward.
This content is made possible through our partnership with Pott Farms. For more information about Pott Farms or to register for the upcoming "Grow Your Own Cannabis" workshop, visit pottfarms.com.
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