Elkanah Abobo

Elkanah Abobo grew up farming on his family's tea plantation in Kenya. "Most Kenyans, we are farmers, naturally," he said. "We have been brought up in hardship. There are things that you learn when you are young, and then you grow and grow a family, and you continue doing what you know." In 2020, Elkanah began farming again in Prior Lake, MN. When he found that the environment he was growing in was not suitable for his crops, his sister, Lina (Sharing Our Roots Community Connector, lovingly known as Mama Tshutshu) introduced him to Sharing Our Roots.

Elkanah was a part of the landshare cohort from 2021-2023 and grew tomatoes, beans, Kenyan corn, managu, and chinsaga. Some years, he shared all his harvest with family, friends, and his church community and other years, he brought his crops to the Minneapolis Farmers Market. He sees a large market in the region for the cultural Kenyan crops that he grows, most notably chinsaga and managu. "There are so many people who want to access the land and food, so breaking into the farming community and getting access to land is extremely important."

Elkanah was hired as a Community Connector in early 2024 and we are excited to him to join the team!

"My farm cannot shine without Sharing Our Roots. I want to uplift Sharing Our Roots. If I am shining, it is because of Sharing Our Roots."