Colah B Tawkin is equal parts talent, creativity and vision.
Ayyyyeee! I'm Colah B Tawkin—and yes, it's a pseudonym, a play on "Colah Be Talkin'" because talking just might be my greatest talent. (By the way, don’t drop the ‘B’—think Cedric the Entertainer.) I'm your favorite ‘Soil Cousin’... a ‘plantrepreneur’, podcaster, and your guide to all things Black and botanical. For over five years, I've been exploring what happens when you look at Black life through the botanical lens, and trust me, there's a whole garden of stories waiting to be told.
The Podcast Black in the Garden is where it all happens. More than 150 episodes deep, I'm having conversations that matter since 2019—about farming heritage, food sovereignty, cooperative economics, land stewardship, and why your granddaddy tomatoes really do taste better. Black in the Garden has been distributed by the NPR podcast network in production at WABE Studios in Atlanta, GA. We’ve reached over 100 countries, serving a global audience with top ratings and multiple-year features on Apple Podcasts Black History Month Collection. This show is proof that Black folks and plants have always belonged together. We're just making sure everybody knows it.
The Partnerships Podcasting has opened doors to collaborations with some TOP tier institutions: the Smithsonian Gardens, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and Atlanta Botanical Garden. Cornell Botanic Gardens honored me as a ‘Cultivator of Celebration’ which surely made my Mama proud (RIP, Ma). The Atlanta History Center even commissioned me to curate The Botanical Black History podcast series—because yes, our history is literally rooted in the soil and I can’t say enough about that.
The Speaking She’s a horticultural communicator, honey! From TEDx stages to the NMAAHC or K-5 Career Day to the cookout, I bring the same energy everywhere I go with vigor and volume: thoughtful, witty, charismatic, and real. I make horticulture education relatable and culturally relevant because if we're going to talk about plants, we might as well have fun doing it.
The Person I'm a Millenial mother. I'm a former long haul trucker. I've got stories for DAYS and a perspective you won't find anywhere else. Period. My approach? Keep it witty, skip the pretenses, keep it honest and never forget that we're not just talking about plants—we're talking about US. Our stories. Our legacy. Our future.
Welcome to my digital garden, Soil Cousins! Let's grow.
For all press inquiries, workshops, speaking engagements, and/or wholesale orders please email hello@blkinthegarden.com
Let's Grow!
Let's Grow!
Colah’s available to speak about the Black experience in horticulture, agriculture, history and the future.
If you would like to book Colah for a speaking engagement or other event please email hello@blkinthegarden.com.