Prioritizing Rest and Collectivism with Ashanti Williams of Blackyard Farm Cooperative

Ashanti Williams is a Black female farmer, raised and nurtured by activists and land stewards of the Carolinas and the Bronx. She is passionate about working and learning alongside animals in an effort to create sustainable farm systems that are accessible to Black people. The access to safe learning environments around raising animals as a person of color has not been readily available to her which propelled her to work towards creating them with the Blackyard Farm Cooperative. The Blackyard Farm Cooperative was created by five young Black and Latinx farmers/entrepreneurs in the Bronx working together to build a supportive community for Black farmers and creatives. In their words: It's no coincidence that the people in this country who are most affected by food insecurity have the least access and control of the production of our food. This needs to change. It is crucial that we have autonomy over our food system. The Blackyard Farm Cooperative is dedicated to disrupting the racist and exclusionary spaces that prevent Black farmers from connecting to the land and healing. In this episode we discuss: Why Farm internships and apprenticeships can be challenging places for young farmers of color The power of rest and recovery Recognizing and honoring ancestors The creation of the Blackyard Farm What Blackyard Farm hopes to accomplish Individualism vs collectivism What allies and advocates can do to support BIPOC farmers Ashanti's favorite livestock to work with Donate to the Blackyard Farm Collective