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Gullah Geechee farmer Alissia Matthews will discuss different species of hibiscus - including roselle, cotton, and okra – and their importance to Gullah Geechee culture. She will acquaint audience members with Kidogo Farms, her family farm in Georgetown County, SC, and its role in agritourism. Alissia will bring samples of plants grown on her farm for an interactive discussion about their production and harvest.
About the Speaker: Alissia Matthews
Alissia Matthews is a proud Gullah-Geechee woman with deep roots in the Gullah culture of Georgetown County, South Carolina. She spent her childhood summers on her family’s farm in Georgetown, unaware at the time that the traditions she was raised with were part of a rich cultural heritage. “Culture wasn’t something we talked about—it was simply how we lived,” she recalls.
In 2020, Alissia and her husband Monte purchased 26 acres in rural Georgetown County and established Kidogo Farms—named after the Swahili word for “tiny,” symbolizing both humble beginnings and lasting purpose.
Today, Kidogo Farm is an active member of the South Carolina Agritourism Association and the SC Black Farmers Coalition, providing education, training, and hands-on experiences that connect small farms with consumers and strengthen cultural and community ties across generations.