My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.
Desmond Tutu
Beloved Community,
We are grateful for all the ways this month has brought us together. 12 of our team members journeyed to Atlanta for the 10th Annual Black Farmers & Urban Gardeners Conference. It felt like a massive family reunion to gather with mentors, comrades, alumni and other Black land stewards, filling us up with renewed hope and interdependence.
We also came together on the land at Soul Fire Farm for our staff retreat and strategic planning to celebrate the triumphs of 2022 and cast our vision toward the next 5 years of seeding sovereignty in the food system.
Read on for October’s highlights, and November’s invitations.
With all our love,
Azuré, Briana, Brooke, Cheryl, Clara, Danielle, Hillary, Ife, Jonah, Kai, Leah, Naima, Ria, Shay, and Susuyu
Welcome Jax and Abé to the team! We adopted this 17-month old border collie and stray kitten as the latest members of the farm team. They are co-workers in the truest sense, each with their own responsibilities to keep the farm ecosystem healthy. Jax (aka Jaki) has the work of keeping the deer away from the crops and the coyotes away from the livestock.
Abé, short for Abedul which means “birch,” is one of our three kitties who keep the vole and mouse populations down, for the sake of our buildings and our crops. Dogs and cats are examples of biological pest control. Other examples of biological pest control at Soul Fire include growing sunflowers for the owls to perch on and hunt from; encouraging snake habitat with wood chip piles so they can hunt; and planting colorful flowers just about everywhere to attract beneficial insects that help manage harmful insects. We would love to know how you use biological thinking to manage a healthy farm ecosystem. Share your ideas with us!
Interested in Raising Laying Hens?
Soul Fire Farm has laying hens available. Hens are “red sex link,” between 1-2 years old, healthy, and laying well. They will continue to lay delicious brown eggs for the next couple of years.
We have 40 hens available sliding scale and they are “first come first serve.” Please bring your own crate to transport the animals.
Soul Fire’s campus is expanding! This month we broke ground on our Program Center that will house our teaching kitchen, dining hall, library, root cellar and so much more to meet the growing needs of our programming and community year round. The building also uses prefabricated straw bale panels as part of a whole system striving towards carbon neutral construction. As a commercial construction project, it will be our most substantial in 15 years of building here.
Up until this point, we have designed and built everything “in-house.” While we’ve had plenty of help and collaboration from friends, volunteers and contractors, and even many of you as immersion participants, the leadership and coordination of construction has always been in our hands. This project sees us sharing leadership with two partners, New Frameworks and Jack Miller Contractors.
Our kickoff meeting last Friday was the passing of the torch from the design team to the construction team. It was filled with everything from excitement to apprehension, and so many details to make this project smooth! It’s a big deal to share leadership of a building that is so important for our community. We are learning the important lessons of recognizing our capacity as a team, and asking for help when we need it. We can’t wait to show you pics as the building emerges, and even more excited to share the space when it’s finished and serves as the new hearth of our campus.
Uprooting Racism in the Food System Trainings (URFS)
“This work is life-saving work. Deep gratitude for making these tender sacred spaces for us.” ~ Uprooting Racism Participant
We all have a significant and intrinsic role to play in uprooting racism in the food system, and the good news is that there are many right answers to the questions, “What can I do to help?” We’ve been deep diving into this question and sharing solidarity strategies far and wide.
Our Uprooting Racism in the Food System trainings continue to be powerful! & WE HAVE THREE MORE SESSIONS COMING UP!
Register for one of our FINAL trainings until the Spring, on November 16, November 21, and November 30.
Each One, Teach One. Many Hands Make Light Work.
Huge shout out to everyone who joined us for our October Work & Learn Days! We put our collective effort into mulching, tarping, and prepping our beds for their winter rest. We also garbled medicinal herbs and packed them up for our online shop. And we had a blast – playing music, singing, sipping curry and celebrating some auspicious birthdays!
We also hosted a special Work & Learn Day for our annual large batch kimchi making. We harvested napa cabbage, peppers and scallions from the land to make 25 gallons of this healthy, delicious, live-fermented food provided to our Solidarity Share members and program participants.
Join us for our FINAL Community Work and Learn Days of the year! Your hard work contributes to the mission of fighting for food sovereignty for all people. JOIN US!!!
- November 1, 2022, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM EST Registration Link
- November 15, 2022, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM EST Registration Link
We had a blast during our 3D Miso Fermentation with our incredible Kitchen Magician and Farm to Table Manager, Ria Ibrahim. She taught us the community miso recipe and traditions shared by her Japanese friends and we made enough miso for next year’s programs!
For our final 3D skill share of 2022, our Farm Manager, Leah, and Braiding Seeds Fellowship Co-Manager, Sarah Sohn offer a virtual workshop for aspiring and experienced farmers alike.
Are you dreaming up a values-driven farm or land project, or refining your goals for your existing farm? Join us virtually, November 10 from 3pm – 4:30pm ET for Farm Business Planning to help turn your dreams into actionable goals and strategies. This 90 minute virtual workshop is a BIPOC event. Donations are accepted to support BIPOC participation and donors will receive resources after the workshop.
Ask A Sista Farmer
In our last Ask A Sista Farmer we were joined by the inspiring Mama Amma from Herbaceutikals in Georgia who shared about mycology, holistic remedies, and organic gardening techniques. Listen to that insightful episode here.
Join us on Friday, November 4th, 4:00-4:40 EST for our next episode on instagram live @soulfirefarm with Ryan Beachem from Everbearing Lasagna permaculture practice and rabbitry in North Carolina. Ryan will be dropping knowledge on pasture rotation and livestock management, no-till farming, and composting. Tune in!
Check out past episodes here (IGTV) and here (FB). Full list of past episodes here.
Learn more or apply to present here
This is a bilingual message. For Spanish, keep reading. For English, please look below. // Este es un mensaje bilingüe. Para español, continúe. Para inglés, mire abajo.
Liberación en la tierra: Serie virtual de intercambios de conocimientos
Intercalando culturas: Sembrando cultivos mexicanos
para la ciudad de Nueva York
¡Nuestro primer video en español!
Con: Agustín Juárez, Agripina Delgado | Staten Island Family Farm
Intercalando culturas nos ofrece un vistazo al trabajo de Agustín Juárez y Agripina Delgado, les agricultores de Staten Island Family Farm. Agustín y Agripina cultivan una mezcla vibrante de cosechas para los mercados de la ciudad de Nueva York, usando prácticas mexicanas tradicionales. Les agricultores suelen cultivar plantas ancestrales, de semillas mexicanas adaptadas al clima del noreste a través de varios años, brindando familiaridad y alegría a la comunidad Mexicana de la ciudad de Nueva York.
Ver el video aquí ¡Hay subtítulos en inglés disponibles!
Liberation on Land Video Skill Share Series
Intercropping cultures: Growing Mexican Crops for New York City
Our first Spanish language video!
Featuring: Agustín Juárez, Agripina Delgado | Staten Island Family Farm
Intercropping Cultures offers a look into the work of Agustín Juárez and Agripina Delgado, the farmers of Staten Island Family Farm. Agustín and Agripina grow a vibrant mix of crops for New York City markets, using traditional growing practices from Mexico. The farmers often grow ancestral plants, adapted from Mexican seed to the northeast climate over several years, bringing familiarity and joy to the Mexican community in NYC.
Watch the video here. Closed captions and English subtitles available!
Our fellow, Angie Comeaux of Hvrvnrvcukwv Ueki-honecv Farm, and her family were guest speakers at the Land Trust Alliance Conference in Bvlbancha (so-called “New Orleans”). This is the largest conference in the country for conservation leaders. Close to 2000 people were in attendance at this gathering. Her group was able to engage with land trust leaders and officials and explain why being in right relationships with both the land and Indigenous peoples is imperative when it comes to any discussion about land. For more information about Angie and her work please check out her Instagram @hummingbirdsprings_farm
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
Budgets are so boring and who can be bothered, right? We think otherwise. As Azuré Keahi, Soul Fire Farm Business Manager explains, “Budgets are moral documents.” They demonstrate our priorities, values, and accountability structures. We have been refining our participatory budget making process at Soul Fire Farm over the years. Currently, everyone on the staff and on the board has a chance to give input at each stage. First, we look at how income and expenses played out in the current year and any areas where we experienced challenges. Then we refine our strategic goals for our programs, farm, buildings, and operations and estimate what resources will be needed to accomplish those goals.
Lots of fun formulas and math come next to draft a budget. We have two more rounds of review in hopes that we end up with an elegant financial document that meets the needs of the whole team, and the community to whom we are accountable. This participatory budgeting process is part of actualizing our values around transparency and collaborative decision-making. How does your organization or community think about budgets together?
The Praxis series reflects on how our community can best put our values into action, sharing resources, ideas, and practice toward collective liberation. These will be shared each month in Love Notes and also on social media.
Martina (she/they) is a community centered herbalist, educator, food activist and creator of Boogie Down Botanicals. Herbal healing was first introduced to her as a child by her elders and Ancestors. Her life’s purpose includes honoring her Ancestral Legacy which is grounded in African Diasporic traditions and healing. She is also committed to the revival and strengthening of agricultural and healing legacies as our communities continue to innovate and create. For more information, she can be found on IG @Boogie_Down_Botanicals.
Asia (she/they) is passionate about the psychological, biological, and spiritual synergy that plants and people share. She is an avid gardener, ancestral medicine maker, and a community-centered herbalist. As a child, her skin condition was healed by focusing on nutrition and herbs. This inspired Asia to help her community use simple, real-life herbal applications that assist in maintaining personal wellness. She can be found on IG @AsiaAmanzi.
Together Asia and Martina co-facilitate the Herbalist Lounge (@HerbalistLounge). They share this online space with their spice sister Lanita (@blacklandranch). Every second Monday of the month, they host community discussions on herbal wellness, food justice, growing plants, and more. Their purpose is to share knowledge, revive legacies, bridge generational gaps, and cultivate mycelium energy!
They most recently launched the Kitchen Medicine Making course, which aims to empower people to utilize everyday spices as remedies and to maintain health for themselves, family, and their community. The course can be found by clicking this link.
You can find them on all social media handles @HerbalistLounge
What a beautiful weekend we shared at the Black Urban Growers Conference in Atlanta! We delighted in connecting with, learning alongside of, and sharing experiences with Black farmers from around the country. The conference began Friday with tours of farms in and around the city. Seeing what these urban and rural farmers were growing, learning about their approaches, and being in conversation with others on the tour was enriching and informative. Saturday morning activities were kicked off by Dr. Jessica Harris and Dr. Gail Meyers, where we were reminded about the importance of Black self determination and that our history is replete with examples of working together to feed, house and otherwise care for one another. The night ended with a moonlight extravaganza full of dancing, vendors, and crafting opportunities within the glorious rows of collards and other gorgeous vegetables at Truly Living Well.
Black Farmer Fund’s Rapid Response Fund is now accepting applications. The Rapid Response Fund was established because Black Farmer Fund’s current process for distributing funds is not able to be responsive to more urgent, time-sensitive needs that come up for Black farmers/food business owners outside of our current cohort. Black farmers/food business owners in the Northeast in emergency situations are eligible to receive support of up to $10,000; decisions are led by a community-led committee.
Tummy Ease Tea supports digestive health and soothes the tummy. It contains lemon balm, peppermint & spearmint.*
The herbs are grown at Soul Fire Farm following Certified Naturally Grown standards and Afro-Indigenous heritage practices.
SHOP NOW
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) CISA is a nonprofit organization that strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy.
- Program Coordinator: The Program Coordinator reports to the Local Hero Program Manager and is a member of the Farm and Business Support Team.
Kite’s Nest is a center for liberatory education in Hudson, NY.
- Development Manager: We are seeking a team member to join our staff at a time of strategic growth. This position will be a core member of the Kite’s Nest team, working closely with our Executive Director to coordinate our development strategy and build donor engagement.
GrowNYC is hiring for open positions in our Food Access & Agriculture program and our Wholesale Department.
- Strategic Marketing Specialist (Farmer Assistance)
- Senior Manager, Strategic Program Development and Operations (Food Access Intiatives)
- Procurement Specialist (Wholesale Department)
- Feature in Opening Plenary for United Nations SDG Action Zone with Naima Penniman
- Feature on Bow Seat, Leah Penniman – 2023 Climate Heroes in Action
- Article in Grist’s Fix Solutions Lab with Azuré Keahi
- Article in Atmos with Danielle Peláez and Azuré Keahi
- Interview in Foodtopia: Communities in Pursuit of Peace, Love & Homegrown Food with Leah Penniman
- NYBG Plants as Liberation Interview with Leah Penniman
- Blog post by Ife Kilimanjaro on The Chicago Council On Global Affairs
- Chapter in Nature Swagger by Leah Penniman
- Recipe in Groundbakers by Leah Penniman
November 1, 2022 | 10 AM – 3:30 PM
In Person
Community Work & Learn Day
Each One, Teach One. Many Hands Make Light Work.
Volunteer at Soul Fire Farm to learn about some of our farming practices while supporting our work and getting your hands on the land. Please only register if you are able to stay for the entire day as spots are limited. Plan to arrive on time since orientation is an essential part of the event.
November 4, 2022 | 4 PM – 4:40 PM EST
Virtual
Ask a Sista Farmer
Ryan Beachem from Everbearing Lasagna permaculture practice and rabbitry in North Carolina. Ryan will be dropping knowledge on pasture rotation and livestock management, no-till farming, and composting. Tune in!
November 10, 2022 | 3:00 – 4:30 PM
In Person
Farm Business Planning 3D
Are you dreaming up a values-driven farm or land project, or refining your goals for your existing farm? Join us for Farm Business Planning to help turn your dreams into actionable goals and strategies. During this information-rich, heart-centered session, Sarah Sohn and Leah Penniman will guide the group to learn the purpose and components of a farm business plan and more.
November 11th, 2022 | 5 – 9 PM EST
In-Person
WNY Peace Center’s 55th Annual Dinner
Hayes Hall at UB South (Main St. campus) | 250 Hayes Rd, Buffalo 14214
WNYPC’s 55th Annual Dinner “Planting Seeds of Justice, Harvesting Peace” in collaboration with UB Food Systems Planning & Health Communities Lab. Featuring Keynote Speaker, Leah Penniman, Author, Founding Co-Director and Farm Manager of Soul Fire Farm.
November 14, 2022 | 10:30 AM EST
In Person
TEDx Boston – Planetary Stewardship
New England Aquarium | 1 Central Wharf, Boston MA
Join us in-person for our inaugural Planetary Stewardship Event that will elevate transformative ideas on climate and establish Boston as a hub for driving powerful ideas toward global climate and sustainability solutions. Timed to align with the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference, this 2-day event is designed to spotlight actionable ideas for human activity to achieve a sustainable relationship with the planet’s natural systems.
November 15, 2022 | 10 AM – 3:30 PM
In Person
Community Work & Learn Day
Each One, Teach One. Many Hands Make Light Work.
Volunteer at Soul Fire Farm to learn about some of our farming practices while supporting our work and getting your hands on the land. Please only register if you are able to stay for the entire day as spots are limited. Plan to arrive on time since orientation is an essential part of the event.
November 17, 2022 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Virtual by Invite Only
Alumni Reunion
Join us this fall as we gather our beautiful community of Black-Indigenous-Latinx-Asian-POC farmers, builders, and food and land sovereignty activists in the virtual dimensions!
Oppression underwrites our food system, and a tangible action to address food sovereignty in our communities is taking reparations into our own hands through the creation of the Reparations Map for Black-Indigenous Farmers. We recognize that the food system was built on the stolen land and stolen labor of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and other people of color. We also know that we cannot wait for the government to acknowledge that stolen wealth and land must be returned. Some farmers have already received funding through this project, and we want to provide that opportunity to other Black and Brown farmers. If you have resources you want to share contact a farmer directly to share them, or if you have a project you want to include on the map contact Northeast Farmers of Color!