E3: Fine dining to the fields, a journey from Chez Panisse to farming | Stephen Carter of Scribe Winery in Sonoma, CA |

I’m excited to invite you to an insightful conversation with Stephen Carter. Stephen is a farmer at Scribe Winery, and grows the delicious farm-to-table fare for Scribe’s tasting room in the Sonoma Valley. Stephen became interested in growing while employed at the famed restaurant Chez Panisse. Working in the farm-to-table fine-dining world, Stephen discovered how high-quality ingredients transformed even the simplest meals. He relocated from San Francisco to California’s wine country to learn natural process agriculture at Green String Farm. I first met Stephen back in November of 2019. I toured his tasting room farm operation. We discussed the obstacles young farmers face, especially those without land access or start-up capital from family. These generational wealth barriers make it nearly impossible to get a farm up and running. As one of a handful of Black farmers in California’s wine country, he isn’t one to sugar coat the deep systemic issues that prevent people of color from considering a career in agriculture. Stephen wants to dispel stigmas and stereotypes and help even the playing field so that more people of color have a pathway into farming. One day, he plans to build a farm of his own, where he can continue to share his love of great food and sustainable agriculture.urbanexodus.cominstagram.com/theurbanexodusfacebook.com/theurbanexodusFive Organizations to Support in Agriculture:Black Farmer Fundblackfarmerfund.orgA community investment fund for growers of color in New York stateSoul Fire Farmwww.soulfirefarm.org/Training and resources for black and indigenous farmersNative Food Alliancenativefoodalliance.orgA non profit that brings urban, rural, and tribal communities together to help enhance native foods systems, food sovereignty, and keep traditional food knowledge and power in the hands of indigenous communitiesBlack Urban Growers blackurbangrowers.orgCommunity building for urban and rural black farmers - hosts events and national networking conferences to build spaces for connection, support, and help for black farmers.Native American Agricultural Fundhttps://nativeamericanagriculturefund.orgThe largest US philanthropic effort for native farmers and ranchersSupport the showSign up for  Apple Podcasts premium or our Patreon Membership for ad-free listening, rapid-fire guest interviews & our new mini-pod Ditch the City. urbanexodus.com | @theurbanexodus | buy the book