BEHIND THE NAME

Serre, meaning “greenhouse” in French, refers to a controlled environment in which seeds are protected and nurtured for growth. The name evokes historical practices during the period of African enslavement, when people hided rice and seeds into their cornrows as a covert method of transporting food. Cornrows can be understood metaphorically as a greenhouse, a concealed and protective structure in which seeds are safeguarded until conditions allow for growth and sustenance.