Founder Spotlight

Sayed Mohamed-Nour is the co-founder and Executive Director of Nubia, a nonprofit farm incorporated in 2006. Over the past 16 years, Nubia has supplied the community with thousands of pounds of organically grown vegetables. Sayed is an experienced and accomplished farmer, educator, and chef who sets the vision for the organization. Today, Nubia runs four gardens across Boston, totaling nearly 70,000 square feet of plots, all tended by Sayed.

Sayed was born in Sudan, Africa, where his family relied on farming crops and raising livestock for their livelihood. From a very young age, he worked on a farm that provided food (vegetables, meats, grains, dairy) for his family and community. He was taught techniques and practices passed down through generations. Before coming to the United States in 1999, Sayed spent 16 years as a chef in Saudi Arabia.

Read more about Sayed!

Nubian Roots

Nubia, an ancient region along the Nile River in southern Egypt and northern Sudan, has long been known for its deep agricultural wisdom and community values.

The fertile silt deposited by the river during annual floods allowed Nubian farmers to grow crops like sorghum, millet, wheat, barley, beans, and vegetables. Livestock such as goats, sheep, and cattle were also raised, forming a mixed agricultural system deeply tied to seasonal rhythms and community labor.

In many Nubian villages, farming was a social and cultural practice passed down through generations. Traditional farming methods emphasized sustainability, resource-sharing, and respect for the land, values we continue to honor at Nubia farms today.