Shakita Holloway
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I'm Shakita Holloway, a horticulturist and emerging environmental educator at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. I hold a B.A. and M.A. in Anthropology with a focus on Archaeology, which sparked my deep interest in land, culture, and sustainability. My work centers on land stewardship, soil health, and culturally rooted education.
I’ve managed farms and learning gardens, interned with the Soil Health Institute, and currently support conservation and public education projects at NCBG. I’m pursuing a Certificate in Soil Science from NC State and plan to continue toward an M.S. and Ph.D. in Soil Microbiology.
I’m passionate about making environmental education accessible to historically excluded communities, including through supporting my neurodivergent nephew’s homeschooling. My goal is to create inclusive, educational spaces that center native and agricultural plants, composting, and stormwater awareness—especially within Black and marginalized communities. I hope to eventually build a nursery and seed-saving project that honors cultural heritage, restores soil, and teaches land stewardship.
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I’m Shakita Holloway, a passionate and emerging leader in land stewardship, community-based horticulture, and soil science. I currently work as a Horticultural Technician at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, where I support the Director of Horticulture and three Curators across a range of conservation and public garden projects. My work is grounded in sustainable land care, environmental justice, and culturally relevant education.
My professional background includes serving as Assistant Farm Manager at Honey Bee Hills Farm and as a gardener at the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Geer Street Learning Garden in Durham. These experiences, paired with my academic background in Anthropology (B.A. and M.A. with a focus on Archaeology), have shaped my interest in the relationships between people, land, and culture. That journey ultimately led me to soil science, where I’m currently pursuing a Certificate at NC State, with plans to continue toward an M.S. and Ph.D. in Soil Microbiology.
As an intern with the Soil Health Institute, I worked with Dr. Cristine Morgan and Dr. Jenny Bower to study soil aggregation and its link to soil health practices used by farmers. I also serve on committees focused on African American land and labor acknowledgment and engage in national conversations around conservation and cultural heritage. Mentorship is important to me—I regularly support students, interns, and volunteers, especially those from historically excluded communities.
Environmental education is personal for me. I’m committed to becoming a strong educator not only for broader communities but also for my neurodivergent nephew, who will be homeschooled due to the public school system not meeting his needs. I want to create nurturing, inclusive learning environments where he—and others like him—can thrive.
I believe composting is a powerful tool for food sovereignty, climate resilience, and community empowerment. My goal is to design landscapes that integrate native and agricultural plants, compost education, and community-centered programs that uplift Black and historically underserved communities. I envision building a nursery and seed-saving space that honors cultural heritage, regenerates soil, and supports local food systems through education, storytelling, and care.
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