Why He’s Interesting: One of Cleveland’s original urban farmers, Hooper uses his nearly 1-acre farm in Tremont to grow delicious crops and teach visitors the life skills they need to succeed. With his ardent passion for all things Cleveland, Hooper works to get everyone involved with their own food production one seed at a time.
Living History: A lifelong Clevelander, Hooper and his family have witnessed the city’s many ups and downs. “My grandmother’s beauty shop burned down during the Hough riots. We really have seen it all.”
Origin Story: Hooper first started growing food as a means to reduce his daughter’s tuition to St. Mark Catholic School. “Pretty soon the school came back to me and told me that if I could keep growing food and teaching more children these skills, she would be able to go there for free. So I kept going!”
Lessons Learned: He works with the youth, elderly, ex-convicts and others on the farm, but Hooper teaches more than how to grow the perfect vegetable. “We need painters, carpenters, engineers, plumbers, musicians and more to make a farm successful. You tell me what you want to learn, and I will make it happen.”
Early Ambitions: Hooper’s original career ambitions didn’t start out rooted in the soil. “I used to want to be the principal of Tremont Elementary School. When I went there, the principal was black, and I always wanted to be him.”
Instant Gratification: Hooper’s favorite part about working on the farm is seeing the lightbulb go on in a young person’s head with regard to the opportunities that urban farming can present. “Once they understand that there are so many alternate career paths that can result in a pocket full of money, it’s beautiful to see. Just take care of this seed, and it will take care of you.”
Vegetably Speaking: Hooper can see his own personality in some of the vegetables he grows, most notably the Brussels sprouts. “They take time to incubate, but once they do their thing, you can plant them back in the earth and they can withstand anything you throw at them. That’s me in a nutshell.”
Bunny Harmony: Although Mr. McGregor worked feverishly to trap Peter Rabbit in the children’s books, Hooper would have a much different approach should Peter appear in Tremont. “Peter and I would have to just learn to work together in nature. Over time, he would learn that his food is over there and mine is over here.”
Interesting Fact: Hooper has a collection of more than 400 buttons and pins. His oldest one reads “LBJ All The Way.”
