Heritage, Stories, and Stewardship
At Byrd’s Nest Box, our mission is rooted in land, family, and culture. Every seed we plant and every story we share carries the legacy of generations who cultivated this land with resilience, creativity, and care. This page celebrates the people, the soil, and the traditions that make our farm a living heritage space.
Our Family’s Roots
In the early 1900s, Great-Grandfather Charlie Spivey and Great-Grandmother Ellen Spivey purchased this land, a bold act of courage and hope at a time when Black land ownership was rare. Together, they worked the farm, raised ten children, and built a legacy of resilience, knowledge, and connection to the land.
For Falani Spivey, founder of Byrd’s Nest Box, returning to this land was answering a lifelong call. Walking the paths where her great-grandparents once worked, she is cultivating both crops and community, honoring the past while nurturing new growth for the future.
Preserving Black Land
Black land ownership in America has declined dramatically over the past century. At its peak in 1910, Black farmers owned 16–19 million acres nationwide; today that number is less than 4 million. In North Carolina specifically, Black-owned farmland dropped from over 2 million acres to roughly 150,000 acres.
By supporting Byrd’s Nest Box, you are helping preserve sustainable Black-owned agricultural land and reversing a historical trend of dispossession. Your contributions support land stewardship, intergenerational knowledge-sharing, and community resilience.
Family, Folklore, and Community
The heart of our farm beats strongest when families gather to share stories, celebrate the seasons, and learn together. Our programs bring the past to life while cultivating skills and connection for the future:
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Sunset Tales – Evening storytelling sessions where elders share agricultural wisdom and folktales.
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Harvest Celebrations – Intergenerational events honoring ancestral farming practices.
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Family Farm Days – Hands-on experiences where grandparents, parents, and children work and learn side by side.
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Cultural Heritage Workshops – Workshops preserving family recipes, farming techniques, and oral histories.
These experiences ensure that knowledge flows freely between generations, keeping our agricultural and cultural heritage alive.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
By honoring our ancestors, preserving our land, and sharing our stories, we are creating a living legacy for future generations. Every seed planted, every workshop held, and every story shared strengthens the bonds between families, the community, and the soil that sustains us all.