{"id":23715,"date":"2024-11-12T15:30:32","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T20:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/phd-in-design\/2024\/11\/12\/cultivating-design-solutions-with-green-heffa-farms\/"},"modified":"2025-03-28T13:32:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T17:32:50","slug":"cultivating-design-solutions-with-green-heffa-farms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/phd-in-design\/2024\/11\/12\/cultivating-design-solutions-with-green-heffa-farms\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultivating Design Solutions with Green Heffa Farms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Most students in Erin White<\/a>‘s design thinking course, better known as D101, aren’t design majors. They come from all across campus with aspirations in marketing, computer science, horticulture, psychology, crop science and other disciplines. They’ve all made it from across NC State’s campus for one purpose – to solve wicked problems through design.<\/p>\n\n\n

“Design thinking is a way to see problems in the world and generate and test new solutions that other disciplines often don’t have the tools for,” says White, who is a PhD student and instructor at the College of Design. “It’s an open-ended way of problem-solving that allows for imagination, creativity and innovation.”<\/p>\n\n\n

In the spring of 2024, White and his students collaborated with Clarenda \u201cFarmer Cee\u201d Stanley of Green Heffa Farms<\/a> in Chatham County. White first met Stanley in 2019 through a project at Shaw University that ultimately did not come to fruition. Since then, Stanley transitioned from her role as VP of development, advancing to a senior position in global environmental fundraising. She later pivoted to build Green Heffa Farms, a mission-driven farming brand focused on sustainable herbal products. Meanwhile, White began his PhD studies at the College of Design, reconnecting with Stanley to pursue their shared vision.<\/p>\n\n\n

 \u201cI was beginning to plan for the next semester and thought about Cee\u2019s entrepreneurial activities as a way to anchor the semester and at the same time make space for voices we don’t often hear from in design. She\u2019s this accomplished, creative person who’s seen the world through many different lenses,\u201d reflected White. \u201cShe\u2019s been in higher education, she\u2019s been in development, and she has built the first Black-owned farm in the U.S. to become a Certified B Corporation<\/a>.” <\/p>\n\n\n

White hoped that through Stanley’s diverse professional experiences and her intersectional lived experiences as a Black woman, she could help the class ask richer, more important questions about design and purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted some fresh new ideas, innovation, and to help more young people think differently about agriculture, especially separating it from entrepreneurship,\u201d says Stanley on the collaboration with the College of Design. \u201cI wanted to help more young people think differently about agriculture. Educating them on the distinctions between being a farmer and being a farm owner, and all the responsibilities that come with land stewardship and brand building.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

Design Thinking Across All Disciplines<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Farmer Cee picking peppermint at Green Heffa Farms. Peppermint is a staple crop for her business. Photo courtesy Cee Stanley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Design thinking is often associated with product design or architecture, but at NC State, the College of Design is proving that this methodology transcends traditional boundaries. The D101 course teaches students to approach problems holistically, encouraging them to consider human needs, environmental impacts and long-term sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n

White explains the value of this interdisciplinary approach: \u201cWhat I find fascinating about this course is the diversity of students. They come from all over the university, from engineering to business to the humanities. It\u2019s not just design students.\u201d By learning to collaborate with individuals from different fields, students are prepared to adapt and excel in various industries after graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n

Stanley and White felt that Green Heffa Farms would make a perfect example of how design thinking can be applied to industries outside the traditional design realm. <\/p>\n\n\n

Stanley, an award-winning marketing and fundraising executive, turned to herb farming as a path to reclaim her peace and purpose after facing racial animus in her professional life. Embracing herb farming as a means to heal, Stanley has since built Green Heffa Farms\u2014a sustainable, Black-woman-owned farm and consumer brand that embodies her values of environmental stewardship, equity and wellness. Through organic practices and a deep respect for the land, she has cultivated a thriving herb business that supports the health of her community while setting a powerful example of resilience and ethical entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n\n\n

When she partnered with NC State students, they were tasked with helping her address key challenges, such as storage issues, workflow efficiency and social media strategy. This collaboration demonstrated to the students that design thinking isn\u2019t just about creating products\u2014it\u2019s about finding innovative solutions for real-world problems in any context.<\/p>\n\n\n

Community Engagement as a Learning Tool<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

One of the standout features of NC State\u2019s College of Design is its commitment to incorporating community input into the curriculum. This is more than just a learning exercise\u2014it\u2019s an opportunity for students to collaborate with local entrepreneurs, nonprofits and small businesses to generate real impact. For the students in the D101 course, working with Cee Stanley provided a unique opportunity to apply their skills in a meaningful way, while also learning from someone with firsthand experience in their field of study.<\/p>\n\n\n