Our most cherished sustainable farming practices, from organic agriculture to the farm cooperative, have roots in African wisdom, but discrimination and violence against African-American farmers

Our most cherished sustainable farming practices, from organic agriculture to the farm cooperative, have roots in African wisdom, but discrimination and violence against African-American farmers have led to their decline from 14% of all growers in 1920 to less than 2% today. Furthermore, Black communities suffer disproportionately from food apartheid. Renowned longtime farmer, educator, author, and food sovereignty activist, Leah Penniman, explains the deep roots of this land loss and food injustice and shares the work she at Soul Fire Farm and others around the country in Black and Brown farming communities are doing to reclaim ancestral rights, renew ties to the land, achieve genuine agency in the food system, and advance food sovereignty. (Leah is also the sister of frequent Bioneers presenter Naima Penniman, half of the brilliant musical/spoken-word duo, Climbing PoeTree.)

Leah Penniman delivered this talk at the Bioneers 2020 Conference, introduced by Nina Simons. Watch more keynote videos at https://bioneers.org/2020talks/

Leah Penniman is a Black Kreyol farmer, mother, Vodun Manye (Queen Mother), and award-winning food justice activist who has been tending the soil and organizing for an anti-racist food system for over 20 years. She currently serves as founding Co-Executive Director of Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York, a people-of-color led project that works toward food and land justice, which she co-founded in 2010. She is the author of: "Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land."

To learn more about Leah's work, visit Soul Fire Farm at https://www.soulfirefarm.org/

In this multimedia video produced by the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, Nina Leopold Bradley recounts how she learned as a child to record first flower blooms and the

In this multimedia video produced by the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, Nina Leopold Bradley recounts how she learned as a child to record first flower blooms and the arrival of birds on her family's land along the Wisconsin River. She introduces the practice of phenology, or the study of the timing of life cycles of plants and animals, and explores evidence of climate change from records her family has kept since 1935.

More info and educational resources available at here.Uploaded on Dec 22, 2010

Aug 22, 2018 posted, This speech was given at the 2009 National Bioneers Conference.

The Hidden Promise of Our Dark Age: Discovering Our Wisdom, Strength and Beauty in the

Aug 22, 2018 posted, This speech was given at the 2009 National Bioneers Conference.

The Hidden Promise of Our Dark Age: Discovering Our Wisdom, Strength and Beauty in the Midst of Crisis

One of the great activists and spiritual teachers of our era, Joanna Macy (1929-2025), brings a hopeful message: If we can free ourselves from the delusions and dependencies bred by the “industrial growth society,” something wonderful can happen. If we manage to steer clear of panic, we may well find, at last, the wild power of our creativity and solidarity.

Introduction by Nina Simons, Co-Founder of Bioneers.

Since 1990, Bioneers has acted as a fertile hub of social and scientific innovators with practical and visionary solutions for the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges. 

 Support Bioneers today: www.bioneers.org/donate

Aug 22, 2018 posted, This speech was given at the 2009 National Bioneers Conference.

The Hidden Promise of Our Dark Age: Discovering Our Wisdom, Strength and Beauty in the Midst of

Aug 22, 2018 posted, This speech was given at the 2009 National Bioneers Conference.

The Hidden Promise of Our Dark Age: Discovering Our Wisdom, Strength and Beauty in the Midst of Crisis

One of the great activists and spiritual teachers of our era, Joanna Macy (1929-2025), brings a hopeful message: If we can free ourselves from the delusions and dependencies bred by the “industrial growth society,” something wonderful can happen. If we manage to steer clear of panic, we may well find, at last, the wild power of our creativity and solidarity.

Introduction by Nina Simons, Co-Founder of Bioneers.

Since 1990, Bioneers has acted as a fertile hub of social and scientific innovators with practical and visionary solutions for the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges. 

Support Bioneers today: www.bioneers.org/donate