Living Through the Land

In preparation for a live show (we'll get back to those eventually, I hope), the entire TTBOOK staff visited one of our guests on location, Venice Williams at Alice's Garden in Milwaukee. We walked together, and saw her rain barrels and flowers, historical markers and playful decorations. And we heard about how growing things brings her community closer. 

Williams, an ordained minister, calls it her "outdoor parish." So it was great to hear her voice again in a new show this week, "Growing Justice." This week, we talk about civil rights and racial equality in relationship to farming and food. Anne talked with Savi Horne, executive director of the Land Loss Institute in Durham, N.C. Steve reached farmer Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm in New York state and author of "Farming While Black," and I had a conversation with Marcia Chatelain, Georgetown professor and historian and author of "Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America."

In some ways, food, and land, are our most basic needs in life. But they are also fraught with some terrible history and deep sadness, especially when it comes to race. I hope this show gives you joy in hearing about how a new generation of Black farmers are taking back their land, sharing their bounty and creating a spiritual, and grounded, success. Let me know what you think, or any stories you have about food and farming, at listen@ttbook.org.

–Shannon