Posted on Dec 16, 2024 at 1:39 pm by

By Joshua Anderson for the Peekskill Business Improvement District

A colorful display of clothing, artwork, jewelry, and other products, supplemented with a fine aroma of incense, brings a warm feeling to the heart of ‘The Fern Tree’ at 13 South Division Street in downtown Peekskill, right next to the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce.

A resident of Peekskill since 1989, LaFern Joseph, better known as Sister Fern, is the proprietor of the longstanding African gift shop.  The Fern Tree was established by Joseph in 1994 and has been a staple in the community ever since.

Open from Thursdays to Saturdays from 12pm-7pm, The Fern Tree specializes in goods from Africa, like colorful art, stunning masks and beautiful quilts. There is a variety of items such as men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, and imported scented oils. There are also USDA-approved organic lotions, African soaps, a large selection of incense and medicinal herbs.

“I could spend a lot of money in here,” said customer Vanessa LaPolla.

In addition to The Fern Tree, Joseph is heavily involved in the community. She promotes  Underground Railroad tours in Peekskill, linking her business to the local cultural history. She leads the Underground Railroad tours herself, further displaying her commitment to preserving African-American history which includes Peekskill. Joseph has led the Underground Railroad tours for over 25 years and credits her husband at the time for helping to start this initiative.

Look up! On the outside of her building is a large mural of Harriet Tubman. The mural, completed by street artist Carlos Jefferson, is part of the city’s efforts to breathe new life into the downtown through the state-funded Downtown Revitalization Initiative—a $10 million grant awarded to the city before the pandemic.

Customer Erika Nwogu says Sister Fern is “a well of information, easy to talk to–with time, or without time, she makes time. The Fern Tree describes exactly who she is. She has a branch of connection to everything in the community and that store, located right in the center of town, gives access to all.”

Joseph was instrumental in bringing both versions of the nationally-touring Harriet Tubman statues to Peekskill. Having previously served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Peekskill Business Improvement District, she knows the value in heritage and African American tourism. The statues were situated across from the store, and attracted visitors from all over. She also organizes and presents an annual Kwanzaa celebration.


Joseph was previously a substance abuse counselor, working with both adolescents and adults where Joseph dealt with those struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. “That job wasn’t no joke!” Joseph said, explaining her challenging job at Phoenix House.

While she said working with adolescents was the hardest job she’s ever done, by contrast, she said she loved working with women. “It was like helping yourself, you know, because you can understand, you can feel” what they are going through, Joseph said.

She has four kids: Asiya, Mustafa, Nyabingi, and Maquito. Asiya, her daughter, is a teacher, and two of her sons work locally, one of whom has been with CVS for 19 years.

Joseph is a person of many interests and talents. Her godmother, Carole Robinson, taught her how to quilt.  Quilting serves as a creative outlet for Joseph, where she weaves together beautiful designs and impactful stories. She takes great pride in the history of the quilts and how they were once used as hidden maps to point the way for slaves seeking freedom.


Joseph makes sure her loyal customers are taken care of. Even though the store is only open three days a week, if someone calls during off hours asking for an item from her store, and she’s around, “I’m going to help, because we all have to help one another,” Joseph said.

The most popular items in the store are “African soaps, lotions, and incense, and right behind that is women’s dresses,” Joseph said.

A lot of her items are handmade and created locally.  “We have specialty soaps made by people in the community. We also have natural soaps, you know, shea soaps. But the shea butter we get from Africa, we can’t make that,” Joseph said. There are four fitting rooms in the store with black fabric curtains; everything is well organized and well curated. Joseph keeps a cozy feeling to the store, including places to sit and talk. On any given day, Sister Fern can be found chatting with some one—she’s a resource and a comfort to many in the community, freely sharing her wisdom and advice.

“Listen, I’m living another dream. I don’t believe in deferring dreams,” Joseph said.

She also spends time in Virginia, where family has owned land since the 1960s. She has built houses and cultivates a farm there. Joseph grows organic vegetables and hemp. She’d been at her farm for most of this summer. She used to spend most of her time in Peekskill but now spends weeks at a time in Virginia, alternating between the two locations.

Sister Fern is highly regarded in the community and can be viewed as a beacon of accomplishment, sustainability and longevity. Her efforts towards preserving history will continue with every breath she breathes. “When it comes to getting things done, you cannot stand in Sister Fern’s way. She is a right-is-right, wrong-is-wrong individual, true to self and for the cause!” Nwogu said.

Joseph has gathered many perspectives over time from different religions, lifestyles and experiences with the goal to preserve, protect and prolong. Her attitude for life is inspiring and her energy, uplifting.

“What kind of unicorn is she? She not only is living and teaching in the ways of ole with the oral tradition, but through the demonstration of,  ‘I can show you better than I can tell you.’ What a woman!” Nwogu said.

 

(C) 2024 Peekskill Business Improvement District. Photos by Joshua Anderson. Edited by Bill Powers. 
If you are a downtown destination business, and would like to be considered for an upcoming profile article, please email us at peekskillbid1@gmail.com.