We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tina Marie Davis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tina Marie below.
Tina Marie, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My optimism comes from my strong faith. I think as adults, we have all experienced a place of “rock bottom”, at some point in our lives. When my rock bottom presented itself, I was faced with 2 options. I can let it defeat me, or I can let it strengthen me. When everything is stripped from you, and you feel like you have completely lost everything that matters to you, the only thing you have to rely on IS Faith. I made a promise to myself and God that I would make the necessary changes and do the necessary work, to be the person, that I was put here to be. From then on, I chose to only ever focus on being positive and optimistic. It takes a lot of work and dis, but it makes such a difference. You receive the energy you put out, and shifting my outlook on life completely changed the game for me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As an Entrepreneur, I own a couple of businesses, but my main focus is on Soulful Soil Farms, my Non Profit that was founded in August of 2023, alongside my Business Partner & Sister. Our overall objective is to build gardens, teach the youth and the people how to grow their own food, and how to live sustainably. We focus on the youth, because they are not just our future, they are our right now! In just over a year of our founding, we have helped to build over 15 gardens, we have received a proclamation from the Mayor of Corona, and we have successfully partnered with other Organizations to magnify the impact we have on our communities. We are currently working on building out a new Youth Felon program. This program is aimed to provide resources and assistance to male and female youth felons.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Perseverance: In any journey, especially one dedicated to community work, perseverance is key. There will always be obstacles—whether it’s limited resources, challenges in gaining support, or setbacks in your projects. My advice is to remember the phrase, “lay a brick every day.” This means focusing on consistent, small efforts. Just like building a structure, your success doesn’t come from a single action, but from continuous, daily work that adds up over time. Every conversation, every small win, and every lesson learned contributes to your greater goal. Don’t be discouraged if progress seems slow. If you keep laying bricks, eventually, you’ll build something meaningful.
Community Building: No one achieves success alone. Throughout my journey, learning to engage with and bring people together has been crucial. Whether it’s building relationships with partners, volunteers, or the community itself, strong, authentic connections are the foundation of any successful initiative. My advice here is to listen actively to your community and align your work with their needs. People support what they help create, so ensure that you’re not just working for them but with them.
Knowledge of Sustainability: As a leader in agriculture and gardening, having a deep understanding of sustainability practices has been essential. From soil health to composting techniques, or sustainable food systems, knowledge in this area empowers you to create solutions that last. For those early in their journey, I’d recommend continuous learning—stay curious, seek out mentors, and never stop educating yourself about the impact of your work on both the environment and the people you serve.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
In my experience, I believe it’s essential to do both—go all in on your strengths while also investing effort in areas where you aren’t as strong. As an entrepreneur, especially when you’re starting from the ground up, you must wear many hats and be adaptable.
When building something from scratch, like Soulful Soil Farms, you often don’t have a team to fall back on in the early stages. Sometimes, all you have is you. If something goes wrong, there’s no one else to blame, and it’s up to you to resolve the issue. In these situations, you’re forced to learn and grow in areas that may not be your natural strengths. While it can be overwhelming, this constant learning brings growth. Focusing on your strengths is vital because it allows you to shine in the areas where you’re most effective and passionate. These are the talents that come naturally and make the biggest impact. Leaning into these strengths is what propels you forward and sets you apart. However, ignoring your weaknesses entirely can limit you as a leader, especially in entrepreneurship.
When you’re building from the ground up, you may not have specialists for every task so you may have to figure them out on your own, and sometimes that means tackling things you’re not initially comfortable with. But through this discomfort, you gain valuable skills and confidence.
It’s important to remember that wearing many hats is not meant for everyone, but when it is your path, don’t dim your light just because things get hard. Embrace the challenge. Every struggle presents a lesson that can be turned into a tool for success. For me, this mindset of embracing the tough times and learning from them has been invaluable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soulfulsoilfarms.net
- Instagram: soulful_soil_farms
- Facebook: SoulfulSoilFarms
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-davis-58aaa2308/
- Youtube: @SoulfulSoilFarms
Image Credits
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