Edible Activist Podcast
170 episodes - English - Latest episode: 23 days ago - ★★★★★ - 98 ratingsEdible Activist is a podcast that feeds you empowering narratives and perspectives from the voices of emerging black people and people of color in food and agriculture who are stewarding the land, healing communities, and advocating for food justice and economic power across the globe. Hosted by Melissa L. Jones, she interviews a diverse group of everyday growers, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists, and other extraordinary individuals, who exemplify activism in their own edible way!
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Episodes
#108: Food Insecurity and Eating Disorders
May 25, 2021 17:47 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBIn this episode, we chat with Patrilie Hernandez, founder of Embody Lib, to unpack how food insecurity and eating disorders are connected. Patrilie breaks down the definition of disordered eating, talks about dismantling beliefs around food that are tied to white supremacy and colonization, and we discuss the work that she does to apply a body liberation framework to various environments. Tap in!
#107: Pausing for Ma'Khia Bryant
May 12, 2021 00:58 - 10 minutes - 9.4 MBTaking a moment to pause for Ma'Khia Bryant. May our princess rest in peace.
#106: Transcendence: The Black Agricultural Experience
April 15, 2021 20:41 - 9 minutes - 8.89 MBIn this brief episode, Melissa L. Jones shares a personal piece on transcendence and the black agricultural experience, a reflection of the past, present and future. Tap in!
#105: Tam in the Garden
March 26, 2021 21:41 - 46 minutes - 42.4 MBIt all started with planting a few flowers before Tamara Elmore, of Richmond, VA, would find herself fully immersed in the garden! In this episode, we chat about the beginnings of Tam's gardening venture and attending farming school, she speaks on dealing with chronic pain and healing in the garden, and we discuss her two most recent projects: Bring on the Seeds and Tomatoes. We also couldn't conclude the show without Tam dishing on her must-have garden tools. Tap in! Sponsored by Hello Fres...
#104: Detroit Dirt with Pashon Murray
March 19, 2021 18:42 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MBHumanity and environmentalism go hand-in-hand. And for Detroit Dirt's founder, Pashon Murray, the two remain at the center of her mission! In this episode, Pashon paints her story of witnessing entrepreneurship at an early age with her dad who owned a landscaping business. This experience ultimately led her down a path of discovery, lobbying, and eventually birthing a compost company. We unpack Detroit Dirt's business model, talk climate + food, address food insecurity, and discuss showing u...
#103: Sankofa Farms with Kamal Bell
March 12, 2021 07:42 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBSankofa: go back and get it! Kamal Bell, CEO of Sankofa Farms did exactly that when he and his family acquired 12 acres of farmland in Cedar Grove, North Carolina. In this episode, Kamal walks us through the USDA process, one that brought forth discriminatory challenges along the way, but ultimately ended in victory! Kamal also shares his insight on opportunities beyond farming, being transparent about agriculture life, and how he's rooting for young black men (the Sankofites) to attain the ...
Episode #102: Benjamin: The Roots Farmer
March 04, 2021 09:35 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBWe welcome our very first international guest to the show, Benjamin aka The Roots Farmer, based in London. In this episode, Ben unfolds his journey, taking us from his long-life career in music to starting an off-the-grid farm right outside of London. Agrarian life had been whispering to Ben for some time, and when the pandemic hit, he found refuge and peace on the 2.5 acres that he currently farms with the help of his two sons. Learn how Ben was able to attain the acres through a unique opp...
#102: Benjamin: The Roots Farmer
March 04, 2021 09:35 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBWe welcome our very first international guest to the show, Benjamin aka The Roots Farmer, based in London. In this episode, Ben unfolds his journey, taking us from his long-life career in music to starting an off-the-grid farm right outside of London. Agrarian life had been whispering to Ben for some time, and when the pandemic hit, he found refuge and peace on the 2.5 acres that he currently farms with the help of his two sons. Learn how Ben was able to attain the acres through a unique opp...
#101: My Little Green Space with Marilyn Griffin
February 25, 2021 17:10 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBWhat do you do when dad purchases a plot of land and says this is your legacy? You transform it into a little green space for growing food! After taking a sabbatical from her teaching job in New York City, Marilyn Griffin returned to Detroit where she would end up diving all the way into her genealogy. In 2020, Marilyn started Griffin Gardens and coincidentally made the decision to remain in the 'D' when the pandemic hit. This episode reveals some fascinating findings about her family lineag...
Episode #101: My Little Green Space with Marilyn Griffin
February 25, 2021 17:10 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBWhat do you do when dad purchases a plot of land and says this is your legacy? You transform it into a little green space for growing food! After taking a sabbatical from her teaching job in New York City, Marilyn Griffin returned to Detroit where she would end up diving all the way into her genealogy. In 2020, Marilyn started Griffin Gardens and coincidentally made the decision to remain in the 'D' when the pandemic hit. This episode reveals some fascinating findings about her family lineag...
#100: Easy Living Gardens with Brandy Strickland
February 18, 2021 11:53 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBThe Edible Activist Podcast kicks off its new season and 100th episode with gardener extraordinaire, Brandy Strickland of Easy Living Gardens! At the helm of two grandmothers, Brandy pulled invaluable knowledge from her divine matriarchs who farmed the land. In this episode, she takes us back to her childhood farm experiences in North Carolina, talks growing in Green Cove Springs, Florida where she resides and has managed to build a beautiful garden mix of vegetables and flowers, and dishes ...
Episode #100: Easy Living Gardens with Brandy Strickland
February 18, 2021 11:53 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBThe Edible Activist Podcast kicks off its new season and 100th episode with gardener extraordinaire, Brandy Strickland of Easy Living Gardens! At the helm of two grandmothers, Brandy pulled invaluable knowledge from her divine matriarchs who farmed the land. In this episode, she takes us back to her childhood farm experiences in North Carolina, talks growing in Green Cove Springs, Florida where she resides and has managed to build a beautiful garden mix of vegetables and flowers, and dishes ...
Episode #099: Reflecting and Finding Joy
December 31, 2020 23:41 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MBWe wrap this edible season and year up with reflection and joy. This episode highlights some of our favorite conversations that nourished minds and souls during an emotionally-filled year. Peace and blessings. New season will launch in February 2021!
#099: Reflecting and Finding Joy
December 31, 2020 23:41 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MBWe wrap this edible season and year up with reflection and joy. This episode highlights some of our favorite conversations that nourished minds and souls during an emotionally-filled year. Peace and blessings. New season will launch in February 2021!
#098: Celebrating Black Women in Food and Agriculture
December 28, 2020 18:44 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBWe celebrate ten divine black women in food and agriculture who have been charting territories unapologetically. These women are farmers, business owners, and artists building from the ground up, getting their hands dirty, serving their communities, and preserving black food history, all while representing the beauty of our culture. Listen in as Melissa L. Jones highlights the women she admires in this space!
Episode #098: Celebrating Black Women in Food and Agriculture
December 28, 2020 18:44 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBWe celebrate ten divine black women in food and agriculture who have been charting territories unapologetically. These women are farmers, business owners, and artists building from the ground up, getting their hands dirty, serving their communities, and preserving black food history, all while representing the beauty of our culture. Listen in as Melissa L. Jones highlights the women she admires in this space!
#097: Help Three Part Harmony Farm Go Solar
December 18, 2020 17:54 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBThree Part Harmony is going solar at that their 2-acre, off-the-grid farm in Washington, DC! In this episode we chat with Gail Taylor, owner and operator, about 3PH's vision and how they have been sustaining the farm with the support of their staff, volunteers and community. We also discuss farming operations and the lift and economical support that is needed, especially for BIPOC farmers/growers, to run a farming business. Let's support this black-woman-owned farm and help 3PH go solar! Tune...
Episode #097: Help Three Part Harmony Farm Go Solar
December 18, 2020 17:54 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBThree Part Harmony is going solar at that their 2-acre, off-the-grid farm in Washington, DC! In this episode we chat with Gail Taylor, owner and operator, about 3PH's vision and how they have been sustaining the farm with the support of their staff, volunteers and community. We also discuss farming operations and the lift and economical support that is needed, especially for BIPOC farmers/growers, to run a farming business. Let's support this black-woman-owned farm and help 3PH go solar! Tune...
Episode #096: Transforming Our Food System: The COEP Blueprint
December 15, 2020 21:49 - 1 hour - 68.1 MBThis episode unveils a critical set of food system recommendations for the Chesapeake Region, a report and blueprint produced by the Chesapeake Foodshed Network's Community Ownership Empowerment and Prosperity (COEP) action team. Asha Carter and Dr. Sade Anderson-Brown, COEP members, breakdown the groundwork strategies in this report as they speak truth around our monopolized food system. This blueprint will challenge institutions and those with power to help transform systemic change in the ...
#096: Transforming Our Food System: The COEP Blueprint
December 15, 2020 21:49 - 1 hour - 68.1 MBThis episode unveils a critical set of food system recommendations for the Chesapeake Region, a report and blueprint produced by the Chesapeake Foodshed Network's Community Ownership Empowerment and Prosperity (COEP) action team. Asha Carter and Dr. Sade Anderson-Brown, COEP members, breakdown the groundwork strategies in this report as they speak truth around our monopolized food system. This blueprint will challenge institutions and those with power to help transform systemic change in the ...
#095: Exploring Roots in Mt. Olive, Mississippi
December 08, 2020 08:53 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBTag along with Melissa, her two aunts and Big Ma as they visit Mt. Olive, MS, a small town outside of Jackson, to explore the land where her greats called home and farmed on. In this brief episode you'll hear conversations from the car as Melissa's family treks through town, making a couple of stops along the way, while she questions family land ownership. Listen in on the start of this explorative journey to uncovering her agricultural roots in The Sip!
#094: Herbal Blessings
November 13, 2020 05:49 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBSurrounded by herbs, tea blends, and healing energy, Melissa chats with co-founder and attorney, Yasmin Collins, of Herbal Blessings about the vision behind her family's medicinal business. In this episode, we explore Yasmin's journey to decolonizing her diet, black history in the Farish Street Neighborhood Historic District (Jackson, MS), and we get to hear from the CEO: Eric T. Collins, Jr. aka EJ, their plant-based baby boy who loves sea moss! Tune in!
#093: Hey Tribe, I'm Back!
November 11, 2020 19:45 - 8 minutes - 8.1 MBMelissa returns to the show after taking an unexpected hiatus in September and October! Tune in as she catches listeners up about her travels to Mississippi and what brought her down south this time around!
#092: Edible Visit: Mama Jacky and Chae Butter in the Garden
September 23, 2020 21:16 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBIn this candid conversation, at the cozy home of Mama Jacky and Chae Butter in Clinton, MD, the mother-daughter duo talks about their decision to garden this year. In an effort to keep their minds off the world's sorrow, they took to the garden and grew squash, watermelon, flowers, and herbs. A colorful abundance that brightended their spirits. In this episode, Mama Jacky takes us down memory lane, recounting great grandma's massive garden, peeling back stories of apple drying and okra stews....
091: Edible Visit: Balcony Gardening with Sis
September 14, 2020 07:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBMeet Senteria: cyber security professional by day, full-time mom to a teenage boy 365, and the sibling of Melissa L. Jones. In this episode, Melissa chats with her (very animated) sister about her balcony gardening experience this year, the first time she's ever attempted to grow anything. She now has hot peppers springing forth, tomatoes trying to make their way, and some new plant-friends. Senteria claims she has "green hands, not thumbs" (haaaa), telling the story of how she flung (literal...
#090: Edible Visit: The Black Suburban Homesteaders
September 10, 2020 17:07 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBAfter an inspiring edible visit with The Black Suburban Homesteaders, we sit down with Francois and Shanna to have an honest conversation on how they are coping during the global crisis. In this episode, Shanna unpacks the concept of rage planting which they found themselves indulged in, making space for every seed-bearing plant (talk about tomatoes out the wazoo), as a way to channel their frustration in the midst of racial tension. Francois also transparently shares the realities of being t...
#089: Edible Finale: Show Up
July 10, 2020 17:13 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBIn this brief finale episode, hear thoughts from host, Melissa L. about black folks rising from the silos into non-black digital spaces, supporting black lives, and she shares some exciting announcements. This episode does conclude the season, but we'll be back after we recalibrate. In the meantime, check out our 80+ episodes on deck! Thanks for your support as always and remember: in the words of Baba Oduno, "there is no culture without agriculture." Period! Powered and distributed by Simpl...
#088: Shifting Green
June 28, 2020 19:04 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBAt the start of spring, The Green Scheme family would have been outdoors and in the gardens with the D.C. youth, but plans have shifted as the world takes precautions and practices social distancing. Co-founder, Ronnie Webb, and his amazing team run The Green Scheme, a dynamic organization that is "changing the scene" with a mission to bridge communities and empower youth to live healthy and sustainable lives. In this episode, Ronnie talks about making lemonade out of lemons and how they are...
#087: Local Food for Local Heroes with Jonathan Tate
June 26, 2020 15:43 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBWhile most non-essential workers have the luxury of working-from-home, first responders, along with other emergency personnel do not as they weather the pandemic. Food on the Stove's founder, Jonathan Tate, joins us for another episode to expound upon the mission work that has taken place in the midst of COVID-19, ensuring that firefighters across the city are nourished on a job that is ever-so demanding. Tune in to learn about the outpouring support from the D.C. community to support FOTS, ...
#086: The Fresh Food Factory with Amanda Stephenson
June 23, 2020 14:30 - 41 minutes - 38 MBFrom growing up on a farm in Virginia to operating The Fresh Food Factory in Southeast, D.C., Amanda Stephenson's connection to food, farming and health has led her on a journey to educate and offer options that support the wellbeing of her community. Surry, Virginia is where Amanda's farming adventures began, growing up in this small town with siblings as they worked the land while game, ducks, and other farm animals roamed the grounds. And as a creative who navigated to New York City, and ...
#085: Back to Food Basics with Kevin Alsop
June 17, 2020 19:39 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MB"Whoever controls your food source controls you" are words that Maryland-based gardener, Kevin Alsop, penetrated into our earbuds in episode #001, one that encouraged us to prepare and go back to food basics. Kevin graced our show again with his honest feelings on having to reignite his love for growing, because the business and politics of food has a way of stripping your passion. Additionally in this episode, we catch up on Kevin's latest growing project at a senior citizen center in Capit...
#084: Nature, Photography and Zen
June 13, 2020 17:57 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBThe scent of tobacco, along with memories of grandma and granddaddy Arthur tend to the land isn't distant at all for Tonya Peele. As a child, the North Carolina native, gardener, and avid photographer watched her beloved grandparents plant tobacco, corn and other crops from the back of their pickup truck on the Carolina fields. So her love for the land is a natural expression of reverence for the legacy of farmers and sharecroppers down her lineage. In this episode, we zoom in on Tonya's fam...
#083: Nutrition Justice with Tambra Raye Stevenson
June 10, 2020 19:47 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MB"If we don't have health, we can't get wealth," says Tambra Raye, the founder of both Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture (WANDA) and Nativsol. We caught up with the former Edible Activist guest to discuss what's continuing to unfold in communities of color hit disproportionately hard by the coronavirus pandemic, her upcoming Cooking with Soul Series at The U.S. Botanic Gardens to kickoff #Juneteenth, and she gives us a taste of her upcoming WANDA Academy. Tune in! *This epis...
#082 Church, Food and Liberation with Pastor Heber Brown
June 07, 2020 20:32 - 50 minutes - 46 MBAfter five years of growing food, The Black Church Food Security Network (BCFSN) found themselves launching a vital mission for the community during the Baltimore Uprising after the death of Freddie Gray. Founded by Pastor Heber Brown, BCFSN started with just a few seeds on the grounds of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church which then morphed into a model that would help black churches utilize their land to grow food, bringing markets and black farmers to the congregation. This episode dives into t...
#082: Church, Food and Liberation with Pastor Heber Brown
June 07, 2020 20:32 - 50 minutes - 46 MBAfter five years of growing food, The Black Church Food Security Network (BCFSN) found themselves launching a vital mission for the community during the Baltimore Uprising after the death of Freddie Gray. Founded by Pastor Heber Brown, BCFSN started with just a few seeds on the grounds of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church which then morphed into a model that would help black churches utilize their land to grow food, bringing markets and black farmers to the congregation. This episode dives into t...
#081: Plants Have a Vibe with Nazirah Muhammad
June 05, 2020 21:49 - 36 minutes - 33 MBNazriah (which stands for vanguard) Muhammad is a grower who operates at the center of her Muslim faith and with the energy she absorbs from the land. In this episode we explore Nazirah's cultural identity and her family's conversion to Islam, she touches on her journey as an herbalist, we talk about her artistry and hand-pianted journals that can be found at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and she reminds us that plants have a vibe. Tune in! *Please note that th...
#081 Plants Have a Vibe with Nazirah Muhammad
June 05, 2020 21:49 - 36 minutes - 33 MBNazriah (which stands for vanguard) Muhammad is a grower who operates at the center of her Muslim faith and with the energy she absorbs from the land. In this episode we explore Nazirah's cultural identity and her family's conversion to Islam, she touches on her journey as an herbalist, we talk about her artistry and hand-pianted journals that can be found at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and she reminds us that plants have a vibe. Tune in! *Please note that th...
Special Edible Activist Episode: No Justice, No Peace
June 04, 2020 01:01 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBBlack lives have been a target dating back to slavery. From exploitation, lynchings, medical experimentation, and to apartheid, our generation has experienced trauma and genocide for years. The question is no longer why. The question is when does it end? When can families stop having hard conversations with their black kids on how to maneuver in this world? When will police stop utilizing their power to take black lives? When will the system die and start afresh? This special episode unpacks ...
#80 My Grow Connect with Jennifer Lumpkin
May 28, 2020 17:18 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBA story that can only be told by acknowledging her Cleveland, Ohio and Georgian roots, Jennifer Lumpkin only knew food through her family. The community organizer and grower recalls memories of food swapping with family members, receiving mango shipments from auntie in Florida, and their front yard being a supermarket. They created their own food system, one that aimed to reflect her great-grandfather's legacy as a sharecropper. This episode unravels Jennifer's family food story, highlights ...
#079: The #Rona Edition with Chris Riddick
May 26, 2020 03:49 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBAFRO beets, Chris Riddick joins Edible Activist again to catch us up on his latest garden container projects, talks building a brand during #Rona, shares how to make "bacon" bits from potato skin, and gives us a few tips on how NOT to gain that COVID-19 weight! Listen in! Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Sponsored by Giant.
#078 Outdoor Adventures with Michelle Nelson
May 18, 2020 21:03 - 50 minutes - 45.8 MBCaterpillars, playing in the woods, and picking up insects was part of Michelle Nelson's childhood adventure, so taking up environmental studies at North Carolina A&T was a no-brainer because she always loved the sciences! This episode explores Michelle's tomboy adventures and how the outdoors became her classroom for learning, she also talks us through her role as Program Manager with Montgomery County Parks in which she oversees 11 garden sites (to include over 500 gardeners, whoa!), and h...
#77: Food As Healing: shane bernardo
May 11, 2020 17:38 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBA life-long Detroiter of the Filipinx diaspora, shane bernrado believes in the healing power of foods to address intergenerational trauma. After suffering the loss of his father, food was a medium to help him deal with grief by connecting back to his ancestral roots, and regaining a sense of identity. This episode explores shane's heritage and a dynamic Detroit Filipino Supper Club, imbibes his ancestral wisdom and creativity, breaks down the three pillars of his Food As Healing soc...
#077: Food As Healing: shane bernardo
May 11, 2020 17:38 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBA life-long Detroiter of the Filipinx diaspora, shane bernrado believes in the healing power of foods to address intergenerational trauma. After suffering the loss of his father, food was a medium to help him deal with grief by connecting back to his ancestral roots, and regaining a sense of identity. This episode explores shane's heritage and a dynamic Detroit Filipino Supper Club, imbibes his ancestral wisdom and creativity, breaks down the three pillars of his Food As Healing social pract...
#076: Life on Earth: Myra Jackson
May 06, 2020 18:22 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MBEarth is filled with life as we know it: humans, biodiversity, and species. But how in tune are we to life around us, how connected are we? Meet Myra Jackson, a former electrical engineer, Earth Advocate and Expert of the UN's Harmony with Nature Programme who decided at a tender age that she would be at service to the Earth. Myra gained a fascination for planetary systems and was becoming, what she calls, a "young astronomer," spending time at tide pools, fossil hunting, and walking with gr...
#075: Acts of Justice with Duron Chavis
May 04, 2020 22:08 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MBFor the last decade, Duron Chavis has committed himself to food justice work in his Richmond, VA community where inequities exist, directly impacting communities of color. In this episode, Duron paints Richmond's food landscape, detailing the history of redlining, Jim Crow and urban renewal, he also highlights his amazing Resiliency Garden project where he has led the charge to build garden beds for residents, then shares his perspective on what the "new normal" is given the current coronavi...
#074: Garden to Cocktail with Charismatic Creations
April 28, 2020 18:52 - 48 minutes - 43.9 MBA love for gardening, spirits and connecting with people led Charismatic Creations owner, Chrissy Sheffey, to launch her mobile bartending business. After working at various restaurants in and around the city, Chrissy made a decree to own her income and entered the world of entrepreneurship in 2017. In this episode, Chrissy discusses fusing her passions to launch Charismatic Creations, shares her viewpoint on the disconnect between agriculture and the food and beverage industry, she recounts...
#073: Big City Gardener
April 17, 2020 15:11 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBBig City Gardener's creator, Timothy Hammond, stands by his motto: Just Grow It! As a kid, Tim was surrounded by gardens, but as early as elementary school, he knew he wanted to become a marine biologist, exploring dolphins and whales. Crafting his expertise at his Texas-based home garden, which became his little known secret, organically led to the creation of his platform. In this episode Tim provides advice on getting into the rhythm and flow of growing food, we explore his work with food ...
#072: Black w/ Plants: D'Real Graham
April 09, 2020 15:14 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBWhat does it mean to be black with plants? D'Real Graham, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, has been exploring his relationship with the plant kingdom since 2018. In this episode we learn about the birth of D'Real's @blackwithplants platform, one in which he uses to not only showcase his botanical journey, but to address issues of racism, cultural identity, and to send a message of decolonizing social practices. He also speaks on the importance of knowing your USDA hardiness zone, understanding what pl...
#071: Calabash: Sunyatta Amen
March 31, 2020 21:34 - 52 minutes - 47.7 MBNeed a jolt of energy or some good vibes? In need of healing? Calabash, the award-winning plant-based tea shop, is the ultimate immune booster of the city. Founded at the hem of her activist parents and elders, Calabash's founder and operator, Sunyatta Amen, has cultivated a beautiful hub for healing in Washington, D,C. In this episode, Sunyatta takes us back to her parents Harlem-based herbal shop in the 70s, she discusses the divide from our agrarian history, shares her perspective on the f...
#070: Plots and Pans
March 26, 2020 18:05 - 38 minutes - 35 MBNew Orleans native and District resident, Dominique Charles, found her love for growing back in 2013 when a friend gifted her with a gardening set for her house. But Dominique is no stranger to agraian life; she spent her childhood driving tractors and watching her "maw maw" and "paw paw" grow food in the country. It was just the way of life. As the creator of Plots and Pans, she documents her green thumb journey, along with her cooking skills that will have you salivating. And as a positive ...