Room To Grow: The Inner Lives of United States Farm Workers in an Age of Turmoil

Room to Grow was produced by Nicholas Boyer and Carrie Kline with Michael Kline of Talking Across the Lines, based on Carrie’s interviews with farmworkers. We want to unveil the lives and personalities of the people who grow food in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. How much richer will the world be when curiosity drives us beyond barriers of language, shyness and hesitation to cross lines of difference to break bread and care for each other? Believe us, we’ve had so much fun sharing meals, nights, and laughing over our attempts at speaking each other’s languages and splashing through the deep farm mud together. You’ll hear from these people in order of their first words: “Orquédia” (pseudonym), Joanne Graves translating for Orquédia, Carrie Kline, Nicholas Boyer, Mireya Katerina Tsironis Genius, Angelique Bickford, “Amistad” (pseudonym) and Sandy Wang who translates for Amistad. The music we include from around the world, in order of hearing, is Cuando Allá Se Pasa Lista performed by Josue Cristobal Bonilla, Afou ‘eis Allon Stin Karda by Ross Daly, Pájaro de Libre Vuelo performed by Mario Diego Congo, Anigma by Ross Daly, El Hielo by Santa Cecelia, Vasilla de Barro written by Gonzalo Benitez, performed by Música Ecuatoriana Sin Masticar by Ile Cuatro Tablas performed by Argemiro Jaramillo Duerme Negrito performed by Mireya Katarina Tsironis Genius No Life is a Crime by Sam Gleaves Sueño Guajiro performed by Colmillo Norteño Gracias a la Vida by Violeta Para performed by Mercedes Sosa The Trumpet Vine by Kate Wolf performed by Michael and Carrie Kline with Bruce Betler Piensa en Mi by Ruben Roman Leyva and Christian Perez, performed by Los del Limite A Better Life to Find was written by Joe Herrmann © 2026 Yodelayhee, ASCAP, except chorus, from "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, performed by Critton Hollow and company, Cathy Fink producer, video by Jim Robeson Productions, LLC Photo "Wall Road" © Lisa Elmaleh If you see a background photo accompanying this production it’s from a legendary painting, “Study of Migration and the Golden People” by Judy Bacca. You can see and hear this and our other Talking Across the Lines productions on the Talking Across the Lines podcast and YouTube Channel, or at Soundcloud.com/ talkingacrossthelines. Enjoy and share this production. And if you see something, say something. If you think you see ICE (in Massachusetts specifically) call the LUCE hotline at 617-370-5023. You can contribute to their work at lucemass.org/donate At the time of this release, Angelique’s partner Maico was living back in Guatemala where he landed after pressure to self-deport his way out of a Texas detention center. But the family has been FaceTiming every day, so Camilla and her loving father could stay close and Angelique and Maico could stay connected. As we prepare to air Room to Grow, Angelique and their now one-year-old daughter are visiting Maico in Guatemala before being forced to live separately, at least for the time being, Angelique returning to work on the farm and Maico seeking employment somewhere in Latin America. Of course he came to the U.S. because there was no work at home. You can support this family by contributing to their Go Fund Me page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-ma... And get to know your neighbors. You never know what doors will open. For Talking Across the Lines I’m Nicholas Boyer and I’m Carrie Kline.