We had the good fortune of connecting with Dexter Ashford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dexter, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, my thought process was survival. I looked at where I was and I didn’t like where I was going. I had to do something different to get something different. And working for myself seemed to pay more than working for someone else. So I began working for myself.

And I could give myself more agreeable hours for me.

What should our readers know about your business?

Dexter Ashford lives in Columbia, SC with his wife, Connie, and their daughter, Carrie. Dexter earned both his BS and his MS degrees in Agribusiness from South Carolina State University. He is the owner of Ashford Family Farms, LLC and the founder of The Urban Farming Project, a movement to teach people how to grow big food in small spaces. He hosted the Urban Farming Project Conference in June of 2018 to share with his audience several concepts of urban growing and various uses of land plots both big and small. Mr. Ashford has also started a hydroponic grow house that can be used to produce fresh food year round. Additionally, he has hosted planting days for community organizations and has spoken to incarcerated youth about the importance of healthy food production in their communities. Mr. Ashford founded the Urban Farming Project Farmers Market, which ran from April to August and served primarily local food desert areas. He now teaches basic gardening skills in schools and community centers in his local area.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I don’t hang out.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ed Brogdon for always walking me through my gardening and garden customer problems.

Alex Jones for always being a sounding board and a good brother when I need one.

Kara Boyd for showing me the benefits of being a Farmer over a gardener

And a whole slew of people that I can’t quite recall at the moment but they are none the less important to me when I need them.

Website: www.dexterashford.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashfordfamilyfarms?igsh=MTA3bjN0c3FueGw3NA==

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dexter-ashford-046b2527?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063762604528&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ashfordfamilyfarmsllc5796?si=ZDOec7BIIiLujyQO

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