Michael Jaenicke
Features Editor, The Robesonian Newspaper

LUMBERTON — Afeni Shakur-Davis would like to paint cities and towns across the nation green.

Shakur-Davis, the mother of slain rap singer Tupac, is thinking globally and acting locally. She and her husband Gus D. Davis Jr. are owners of Sunset Ranch Organics, an organic farm that attempts to improve or maintain the soil to produce chemical- and pesticide-free crops.

Sunset Ranch, which has about 17 acres of organic crops, became a certified organic farm in 2005. Visitors were given a sneak peek at how the farm works on Saturday during an open house. Sunset is one of about 100 certified organic farms in North Carolina and the only one in Robeson County.

Shakur-Davis, a 61-year-old Robeson County native who didn't live in the county most of her life, decided to start the farm because she was concerned about future generations.

"I lived most of my life is some sort of city or another and discovered I didn't know what I was doing there," said Shakur-Davis, who moved back to Lumberton eight years ago. "Turns out I'm a country girl through and through.

"I discovered my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were born here, and this just felt right to do — for my grandchildren and all those who follow. I want to scatter organic seeds up and down I-95.' Yes, we're the only organic farm in the county, but I welcome and pray more will follow."

Carol and Kevin Hunt run the day-to-day operations at Sunset Ranch. They took visitors on a tour of the facility.
Kevin showcased the farm's tools and machinery. Carol's tour included stops where zucchini, watermelon and potatoes are grown.

Other crops include broccoli, cabbage, leeks, kale and arugula, a green that is often described as between a collard and lettuce.

Drip irrigation quenches the. crops'. thirst. Weed and insect control is a constant challenge.

"The first three to'`` four years are prime soil-building years," said Amy Griner Stafford, an inspector for the North Carolina Crop Improvement Association who spoke at the open house. "It's a time when you get a handle on pest and weed control, which leads to more effective yields."

Carol Hunt said the staff at Sunset Ranch is still learning about organic farming, but understand such concepts as buffer zones that keep "good bugs" around and grasses that shade crops.

"Our best resources are other farmers who have grown organic products," Hunt said. "Organic is a lot - harder than conventional farming. We could spray something in 30 minutes but 'instead the process takes us two days. Nothing is done the easy way."

Her Esband agrees.

"You have to love this," Kevin said. "It's long hours and hard work. When the day starts you don't know how long it's going to be. You just try to get done as much as possible."

It takes plenty of work to be certified as an - organic farm. Maintaining the land is just as hard. Any section that is contaminated, for any reason, can't be recertified for three years.

Sunset Ranch Organics began selling its products gEriocus through the Eastern, Carolina Organics co-op two years ago. Sandi Kronick, who acts as a broker between farmers and distributing houses, has connections with about 19 farms in North Carolina.

"We're a marketing and distributing agency and have seen a 15 percent growth each year since 2004," Kronick said. "Sweet potatoes is the No. 1 crop, with people calling for them as far as London. The second most popular would be greens — kale, collars and broccoli."

Belie Rooks, a member of the California Green Team movement, said organic is growing in popularity.

"It was a $27 billion industry last year and predictions have it going as high as $700 or $800 billion within the next few years," Rook said.

Rooks and Shakur-Davis have a special bond and respect for each another.

"She talks about the solution rather than the problem, and takes action," Rooks said. "She's
a visionary.”

Rooks helped Shakur-Davis when she was homeless.

"I was living on the streets of San Francisco when Belie rescued me," Shakur-Davis said. "I had a newborn baby sleeping on my coat, and she took me in to a real family with real food. She's one of the smartest women I know, and was one of the first people involved in the global movement."

Most of the products from Sunset Farms are not distributed in Robeson County. But visitors who tasted the farm-grown watermelon at the open house were impressed.

"One bite and I was reminded of how we used to make them a long time ago on the farm," said Lumberton Police Chief Mike McNeill, who grew up on a farm. "It's so sweet. I initially used a fork but found it so good I picked up the rind. Being here really opened my eyes to how tough it is to refurbish the land. Growing organically and eating healthy is the trend of the future."

Everett Davis, director at the Robeson County Extension Service, said'the grow-andeat-healthy trend has been slow to Robeson County.

"Our folks tend to be more fat back and collards eaters and are not among the upscale consumers in Charlotte, Greensboro and Triangle area that look for organic products," Davis said. "It's a limited market and up until now we've not had any vegetable producer go through certification to meet that limited local demand."

Sunset Ranch Organics hopes its products can soon be found in local grocery stores.

"There not there yet," Shakur-Davis said. "I have the vision for it and the people to get it done."