Thanks to the ever-revealing year of 2020, I was reminded of the many things I forgot that I had forgotten. The most stirring of them : “One of the most vital ways we sustain ourselves is by building communities of resistance, places where we know we are not alone.” offered by ancestor, Bell Hooks. Like a lot of the world, I watched all that was happening around us with fear and outrage…but, I couldn’t just watch. I felt a deep conviction to DO SOMETHING.

There was so much suffering that I resolved quickly that I couldn’t end it all. Though, at the most very basic level of suffering was a need for nourishment. In response to this need, I founded Free99Fridge – a network of community fridges offering free food for anyone in-need anytime. Take what you need and leave what you can. This project was an invitation for collective action to rise to the challenge. The momentum and success of the movement was the responsibility of everyone in the community. For nearly three years, I fought tirelessly to eliminate food waste and food insecurity. While I had decided that my time as a mutual aid founder was done, I knew that my fight for food justice wasn’t. I still had some fight left in me and my work was far from done.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Millions of Americans are affected by food insecurity and diet-related diseases — including heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes — which are some of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. The toll of hunger and these diseases is not distributed equally, disproportionately impacting underserved communities, including communities of color, people living in rural areas, people with disabilities, older adults, LGBTQI+ people, military families, and military veterans.” Through my work with Free99Fridge, I gained a deeper experience with food insecurity and the government policies that allow this issue to remain prevalent in our communities. I know food insecurity to be a complex and overlapping issue that has only been exacerbated by the global pandemic.

The perspective I gained over the past few years, was the catalyst for my commitment to grow food for my community. It’s bigger than my limiting beliefs of land access, my abilities to grow, or my capacity to manage it all. At the core of my identity as a farmer is my credence that eating healthy, whole foods shouldn’t be a privilege. We have a right to consume food that we know to be safe and nourishing for our bodies – regardless of race, class, or any other inconsequential label. The best way to guarantee that you and your family receive the sustenance you deserve is to GROW SOMETHING.

As we prepare to enter a new season, I encourage you to strongly consider planting a seed. Growing is a gift. It is an opportunity to tap in and tune in to nature. It is an act of resistance. Do something by growing something!

Here are some relatively easy plants to grow this season:

I’ll plant a few extra seeds for those of you needing a little help this fall 😉