Fighting Food Apartheid and Building Food Sovereignty | Cheryl Whilby | Soul Fire Farm

Cheryl Whilby is the Administrative Program Manager at Soul Fire Farm and Market Manager at the Schenectady Farmers Market. She’s part of a movement to end food apartheid and reclaim food sovereignty through Afro-Indigenous farming practices, community education, and land justice. At Soul Fire Farm, Cheryl helps lead programs that create direct access to fresh, healthy food for marginalized communities, from free CSA shares through their solidarity model to building 40 backyard gardens during the pandemic. She shares how farming connects to racial and economic justice, why food sovereignty is critical for public health, and the steps we can all take to make our local food systems more equitable. Her story is a reminder that food is more than nourishment. It’s culture, freedom, and a pathway to resilience. Chapters 00:00 Meet Cheryl Whilby 03:15 How Soul Fire Farm Began 07:40 Understanding Food Apartheid vs. Food Deserts 11:20 Building 40 Backyard Gardens During the Pandemic 15:00 The Solidarity CSA Model 19:15 Afro-Indigenous Farming Practices 23:30 Training the Next Generation of Farmers 27:50 Food Justice and Public Health 32:10 The Role of Community in Food Sovereignty 36:45 How to Support Equitable Food Systems 41:00 Cheryl’s Vision for the Future of Food Access The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices