At Mama Kuku’s Homestead, the pilot site of patent-pending BioCycle Hub and EscarGrow; we’re connecting the dots between compost, culture, and the kind of design work that actually gives a damn.
I’m Ozi Manning: artist, systems thinker, and the inventor of escargot composting harvesters.
This is my journey. . .
Storytime
🧚🏾Here I was thinking we’re the first snail farm in Texas
Every shift is an act of listening, responding to community needs, and refining the mission in real time. Transparent iteration isn’t just my process; it’s what designers do.
🎨 Between the brushstrokes: painting through the noise
In the thick of designing sustainable food systems and snail-powered compost tech, I return to painting as ritual, release, and rhythm.
🏡When the snails came indoors — for science
From a napkin sketch over miso soup to a smart, sealed, snail farm that’s… well, kind of cuote. Voice-controlled. Compact. And ready to harvest. . .
Curious how carrot peels turn into escargot and compost, no acreage required?
👀Peek inside the patent-pending EscarGrow design process:
🤷🏾♀️Why are Africans in the U.S. afraid to farm snails?
I’m Ozi Manning— a Nigerian woman who invented the first patent-pending snail-harvesting/composting system in the U.S. Let’s get into it!
(Pictured: screengrab of @Princess Xena “MUKBANG| Peppered SNAILS & Asung. I did Love Prank on My Husband😅”)
👵🏾The story of Mama Kuku’s Homestead
Imagine this: In Amuzi, Nigeria, my paternal village, a gentle mist hangs in the air as I awaken. I’m nine years old, nestled in the warmth of my bed, slowly becoming aware of the world around me. The soft patter of rain mingles with the distant crowing of roosters.