Know Your Worth® Grant - 2017

Meet Nadia Ruffin, urban farmer

Nadia Ruffin is passionate about hydroponics (growing plants without soil), food, gardening, beekeeping and mushroom production…and sharing these passions with others.

The Royal Neighbors Foundation has awarded Nadia of Cincinnati, Ohio, the 2017 Know Your Worth^® grant worth $10,000 to help grow her business, Quiwi Produce.

Nadia founded the company to combat food deserts in the Cincinnati area. Residents’ interest in growing their own food and the lack of easy access to grocery stores in many neighborhoods was the impetus for starting her own business. In addition to growing food for the community using hydroponics, she offers classes and workshops on organic urban farming and gardening.

Nadia is an Ohio State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. She earned a master’s of science degree in entomology from the University of Nebraska.

She also was named the 2017 Farmer of the Year by the National Black Farmers Association and received a 2015 Cincinnati Herald Nefertiti Award which honors extraordinary women.

“This grant will definitely help me expand my business and outreach,” said Nadia. “Many people don’t know how to grow their own food, but with hydroponics, you can grow foods like tomatoes, lettuce and peppers right in your own home. Depending on the space you have, the sky’s the limit.”