"Friend-Raising", Not Fundraising: Dom Peebles of Brick Gardens

What happens when a childhood spent working on a family farm comes full circle in the heart of Cincinnati?

For Domonique Peebles, it started with tomatoes, neighbors, and a lesson from his dad: if you have food, make sure your neighbors do too. That instinct eventually became Brick Gardens, a Cincinnati social enterprise using urban agriculture to grow food, create jobs, and build community.

In this episode of On The Fly!, Dom talks about the unexpected path from a job at Fidelity Investments to farming, the grant application that launched Brick Gardens, and why he believes friend raising—not fundraising—is what really builds an organization.

He also shares what he's learned about food insecurity, why growing food is only part of the solution, how young people can become leaders—not just workers, and why Cincinnati's parks could play a much bigger role in food access.

At the heart of it all is a simple idea: sometimes you don't need to wait for the perfect resources. You just need to start doing the work—and bring your friends along.

On The Fly! is a podcast from Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, investors, and community leaders working to create meaningful social impact.

At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we pair experienced professionals with purpose-driven founders to make a real difference in our communities. Interested in coaching, mentoring, or starting your own social venture? Visit flywheelcincinnati.org to learn how you can get involved.

On The Fly! is produced by Joan Kaup and Joey Scarillo, with support from Gianna DiMona. Music by Ben Hammer. It is recorded at 1819 Innovation Hub, courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.