Today we’d like to introduce you to Janett Lewis.
Hi Janett, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My path to founding Rustic Roots Sanctuary has been anything but traditional, but every chapter has shaped the work I do today.
I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where I spent many weekends on my grandfather’s farm. That’s where I first learned to appreciate the connection between the land, healthy food, and community.
As an adult, I followed a variety of interests that all pointed me toward the same purpose. I spent two years teaching in a Waldorf kindergarten, where I saw how powerful nature-based education can be in nurturing curiosity, creativity, and well-being. I also studied holistic medicine, traveled extensively, and worked as a real estate broker. Looking back, each experience deepened my understanding that healthy communities are built by caring for people and the environment together.
When I moved to Spanish Lake, Missouri, I recognized both the beauty of the community and the challenges it faced after losing access to 1 of 2 full-service grocery stores. I felt called to do something that would create lasting change rather than a temporary solution.
In 2019, I founded Rustic Roots Sanctuary to reconnect people with the land while improving access to fresh food, wellness, and educational opportunities. What started as a small urban farm has grown into a nonprofit serving thousands of community members through nutrition programs, urban agriculture training, farmers markets, and holistic wellness initiatives.
Today, we’re also building long-term infrastructure—including the North County Harvest Hub and the Fresh Picked Farm Stop—to strengthen our local food system, support regional farmers, and make healthy food more accessible across North St. Louis County.
For me, this work has always been about more than growing food. It’s about cultivating healthier people, stronger communities, and a deeper connection to the earth. I’m grateful that all of the experiences along my journey have led me to this purpose.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. Like many nonprofit founders, I’ve worn every hat imaginable—farmer, fundraiser, grant writer, educator, event planner, bookkeeper, and executive director—often all in the same day. Building an organization from the ground up has required persistence, creativity, and a willingness to learn through trial and error.
One of our biggest challenges has been changing perceptions. As a Black-led organization in a historically underinvested community, we’ve often had to prove that our vision was not only possible, but worthy of investment. There were times when securing funding, navigating regulations, or developing infrastructure felt overwhelming. Building projects like the North County Harvest Hub and Fresh Picked Farm Stop has required years of planning, partnerships, and perseverance before seeing anything tangible take shape.
Another challenge has been balancing urgent community needs with long-term solutions. When families are struggling to access healthy food today, it’s easy to focus only on immediate relief. But lasting change requires building systems that create food security for generations. Staying committed to that long-term vision while responding to daily needs has been one of the most rewarding—and difficult—parts of this journey.
Through every challenge, I’ve been reminded that meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight. It grows through relationships, trust, and consistent showing up. Every obstacle has strengthened my commitment to creating a healthier, more resilient future for our community.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Rustic Roots Sanctuary, we believe food is more than nourishment—it’s a pathway to healing, connection, and self-determination. Our work focuses on building a healthier and more resilient community through sustainable agriculture, nutrition education, holistic wellness, and food sovereignty.
We operate an urban farm in Spanish Lake, provide fresh produce to seniors and young families, offer farmer training, host community events and farmers markets, and have taught everything from gardening and beekeeping to herbal medicine. We’re also developing the North County Harvest Hub and the Fresh Picked Farm Stop to strengthen the regional food system, support local farmers, and expand access to fresh, locally grown food.
What sets us apart is that we don’t just address hunger—we build systems that empower communities to feed themselves. Our approach combines agriculture, education, wellness, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity because we know these issues are deeply connected. We believe that growing food, caring for the land, and gathering in community are all forms of healing.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a single program or building—it’s the trust we’ve built. Seeing neighbors become volunteers, volunteers become leaders, and community members become growers and advocates is incredibly rewarding. Watching people reconnect with nature, improve their health, and realize they have the power to shape their own future reminds me why this work matters.
Our goal has never been to create another nonprofit. It’s to help cultivate a community where people have the knowledge, resources, and confidence to thrive for generations to come.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is building a strong, resilient local food system because I believe it’s one of the most powerful ways to heal both people and the planet.
When communities have access to healthy, locally grown food, the benefits reach far beyond nutrition. Local food systems improve health, strengthen local economies, create opportunities for farmers, restore the environment, and bring people together. They help us reconnect with the land and with one another.
I often think about the principle of considering the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations. I may not see the full results of this work in my lifetime, and that’s okay. My responsibility is to plant the seeds today—building the infrastructure, relationships, and systems that will allow future generations to thrive.
If, seven generations from now, children inherit healthier soil, cleaner water, stronger communities, and a food system rooted in equity and stewardship, then I will consider this life’s work a success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rusticrootssanctuary.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rusticrootssanctuary/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RusticRootsSanctuary/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rustic-roots-sanctuary
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rusticrootssanctuary
