Gilliard Farms: Honoring the Past, Cultivating the Future
When I first set foot on Gilliard Farms, I was struck by an overwhelming sense of familiarity. The towering oaks that create a natural canopy overhead, the quiet secludedness of the land, and the air thick with history reminded me of my childhood growing up on Sapelo Island. I moved to Sapelo from Charlotte, North Carolina, at the age of 12, and my world changed in ways I couldn't have imagined. The rhythms of life were slower, more connected to the land and the tides. My stepfather, much like the Raifords today, stewarded land that had been in our family for generations. One year, he planted a sprawling garden that overflowed with squash, eggplants, and towering stalks of sugarcane.
Visiting Gilliard Farms, I realized just how deeply this connection to the land runs within Gullah Geechee culture, a culture that stretches along the coasts of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida—a direct link to our West African roots. Land is not just soil beneath our feet; it is survival, it is memory, it is legacy.
Meet the CheFarmers: Matthew and Tia Raiford
Matthew and Tia Raiford, CheFarmers of Gilliard Farms. Photo by Clay Williams.
At the heart of Gilliard Farms are Matthew and Tia Raiford, a husband-and-wife team who seamlessly blend their culinary expertise with their passion for sustainable agriculture. Together, they proudly embrace the title of "CheFarmers," a term they coined to reflect their dual roles as chefs and farmers
Matthew is a sixth-generation farmer and a proud descendant of Jupiter Gilliard, his great-great-great-grandfather, who purchased the land in 1874 for $9 in taxes in allegiance to the Union Army. The land has remained in the family ever since, a testament to resilience and self-sufficiency.
After graduating from high school in Brunswick, Matthew joined the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Europe and the Middle East. During his service, he explored different cuisines, trying foods from various cultures and experimenting with cooking styles. His fellow soldiers, longing for a home-cooked meal, loved that Matthew grew up in the South. He embraced the opportunity to introduce them to dishes from his Gullah Geechee heritage, turning military barracks into spaces of cultural exchange and camaraderie.
Following his military service, Matthew briefly attended Howard University, where his love for food continued to flourish. He often hosted dinner parties featuring dishes like collard greens and barbecue, sharing the comforting flavors of Coastal Georgia with his classmates. It was at Howard that he realized his passion for cooking could become a lifelong career. Eventually, this realization led him to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), where he first met Tia in 1997.
Tia, a self-proclaimed ‘First Generation Northerner,’ was born in Albany, New York, and raised in Connecticut, far from the heart of her family’s 120-acre watermelon farm in Alabama. Growing up as the daughter of a musician, she felt disconnected from her agricultural roots, but the traditions of food and community remained deeply embedded in her upbringing. Her family’s Southern heritage, rooted in Wetumpka, Eclectic, and Tuskegee, Alabama, carried north during the Great Migration and sparked her passion for food from a young age. Cooking alongside her mother and grandmother, Tia developed a love for food that transcended geographical distance, ultimately shaping her career.
Recently, Tia discovered that her roots are deeply tied to Glynn County, tracing her ancestry back to her twice-great-grandfather, who was born in the area in 1820 before relocating to Alabama. This newfound connection adds another layer of purpose and meaning to her work at Gilliard Farms.
Her culinary journey led her to prestigious kitchens, including New York City’s Oceana and Gramercy Tavern, before reaching a career milestone as Senior Executive Chef at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2006, she moved to Philadelphia to serve as Campus Executive Chef at the University of Pennsylvania, where she immersed herself in the community for over a decade.
The two reconnected in 2019 and married in 2021, merging their love for food, farming, and community to steward the family farm and create unique culinary experiences.
A Living Legacy: The History of Gilliard Farms
A commemorative plaque at Gilliard Farms honoring the Union School, which served as the only school for Black children within a 25-mile radius from 1907 to 1955—image by Courtney McGill.
Located in the Glynn County community of Brookman, just a 20-minute drive from downtown Brunswick, Gilliard Farms has long been a beacon of resilience and self-sufficiency. More than just a farm, the property was once home to the Union School, the only school for Black children within a 25-mile radius from 1907 to 1955. Students traveled across multiple bridges to attend, and because the farm was self-sustaining, it provided food for students, teachers, and visitors alike.
Today, Gilliard Farms upholds this tradition, cultivating various crops, including bananas, muscadine grapes, rosemary, blackberries, aloe vera, peppers, and mullein. Their commitment to sustainability is reflected in their Strong Roots 9 brand, which offers handcrafted spices, oils, and tinctures inspired by their Gullah Geechee heritage. These artisanal products are a reflection of their deep respect for the land and their ancestors’ traditions.
Their products are available at:
📍 Forward Brunswick Farmers Market, every 2nd & 4th Saturday at Mary Ross Park
📍 Brown Butter Shoppe, located at 1304 Gloucester St., Brunswick
Rooted Like the 300-Year-Old Oak
A majestic 300-year-old oak tree at Gilliard Farms, its sprawling branches and deep roots symbolizing strength, resilience, and the enduring legacy of the land—image by Courtney McGill.
During my visit, Tia pointed to a magnificent 300-year-old oak tree on the property and described how their journey has been like the branches of the tree—growing outward, reaching new people and opportunities. However, she explained, their next phase is about becoming more rooted, strengthening their foundation, and deepening their impact on the land and the community.
As part of this next chapter, they’re offering cooking classes and exclusive dining experiences that provide an intimate look into their lives on the farm and Gullah Geechee foodways.
Introducing Royal & Blu
The Royal & Blu Social Club logo, as found at strongroots9.com, represents the club’s focus on fine dining, wellness, and culture.
To bring people even closer to their work, Matthew and Tia are launching Royal & Blu, an exclusive membership program that fuses fine dining, wellness, and cultural experiences.
Royal & Blu Membership Perks Include:
Exclusive farm-to-table dinners and seasonal celebrations
Access to exclusive culinary content, recipes, and behind-the-scenes demos
Discounts on handcrafted spices, wellness products, and cookbooks
Priority booking for cooking classes and special events
A vibrant community of food, culture, and wellness enthusiasts
Membership Options:
Royal & Blu Individual Membership – A solo experience
Two Blu Membership – Share the journey with a friend or partner
Supporting Gilliard Farms
Even though I had known about Gilliard Farms for years, my visit left me deeply inspired. Their story is one of resilience, sustainability, and unwavering dedication to preserving their heritage and the land that sustains them. Supporting Gilliard Farms means embracing the spirit of the Gullah Geechee people, whose survival has always been tied to their deep relationship with the land.
Here are a few ways you can support:
Shop their products online at their website or locally at Forward Brunswick’s Farmers Market and Brown Butter Shoppe
Follow them on social media to stay updated on events and offerings
Subscribe to Black-Owned Brunswick in the box below this story to stay in the loop for more stories and exclusive content
Gilliard Farms is a living, breathing testament to our shared history, a beacon of sustainability, and a place where food, culture, and heritage intersect beautifully.
Website: strongroots9.com On Instagram: @strongroots9, @gilliardfarms, @chefarmermatthew, @cheftiaraiford
