Cumberland Acres Farms survived reconstruction (1865-1977), as the nation abandoned its Black citizen and the South descended into the age of Jim crow. By1910, Black people claimed ownership of sixteen million acres in America. This parcel of land was acquired during the Reconstruction and has remained in the family even after Jim Crow. White Oak Grove Missionary Baptist community cemetery, one of the oldest black cemeteries in North Carolina, records Ernest Willliam Poteat (1871-1927) spouse of Zella Francis Hester (1882-1925), had nineteen children in their union. The eldest, John Lejeune Poteat (1901-1976) owned Cumberland Acres Farms, which now I steward. Known in the past for raising livestock, timber, tobacco, as well as fruits and vegetables was started to provide food to the community of Millcreek. Cumberland Acres Farms has reestablished itself as a progressive working farm of Black indigenous women who provide seasonal fruits and vegetables baskets to seniors who suffer from food insecurities and live in a food desert. The pre-ordered baskets are sold and delivered to customers within a 25–45-mile radius. We employ the 80/20 rule with food with food distribution. With the approval of a high tunnel and the need for a drip irrigation system, the infrastructure grant would allow us to dig a well to get water to the high tunnel for year-round farming. To protect the ecosystem, an energy efficient pump with a purification system and pressure tank ideally would be installed for our ongoing efforts regarding Agri-tourism as we plan.
Within the 18-month period, the major goal is to have the multi-purpose installation project completed on Cumberland Acres Farms and functional to house fruits and vegetables prior to delivey. The goal is to design a multi-functional building taking all aspects of farming into account. Communication is key to the success of the project. The steps necessary toward a planned completion of the project is to; do a feasibility study before the project begins, develop a management plan that can be reviewed and followed to stay on task. A weekly progression update with the project manager to identify the flow of work. Install accountability measures used to evaluate project. Monitor the site daily to discuss the progress and help the crew to understand the goals are time sensitive for the project. Identify the number of stages involved in the project and follow-up with each team leaders associated with the stages of construction and create a work break down structure to capture all of project deliverables and sub deliverables.