Remember this in the darkest moments, when the work doesn’t seem worth it, and change seems just out of reach: out of our willingness to push through comes a tremendous power… Use it”
Stacey Abrams
Beloved Community,
2020 taught us patience and resilience. It reminded us that we are stronger together when we embrace one another’s uniqueness and humanity. We’re starting this year off strong, looking toward our North Star of racial equity in the food system, and hitting the ground running.
We made it! We’ve arrived at a new year, and a new presidency. So much has changed, and so much needs changing!
This time is calling us to put our food and land sovereignty dreams into deeper practice. We need unprecedented collaboration and collective endurance to overcome the multiple pandemics of COVID, an atrocious wealth gap, immense food scarcity, rampant state violence, pervasive white supremacy, and irreversible climate calamity.
We send you the shimmering galactic starlight that glows above the farm in the crisp winter atmosphere, visible only in darkness, to guide our beating hearts. We recognize we are all hurting in different ways, experiencing loss in different ways, and doing our best not to give up on our visions of a brighter, more balanced future rooted in love, belonging, equity, safety, stewardship and collective responsibility.
May we emerge from the immense challenges of this time with our communities strengthened, and with renewed commitment to collaborating with the land to heal our past, reimagine our present, and protect our future.
Upcoming Events
January 22nd, 2021 12:00pm EST
Virtual Community Series: Braided Legacies, Sovereign Futures
Welcome in the New Year with a grief-transformation ceremony led by Stephanie Morningstar, Co-Director of NEFOC (Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust) and Leah Penniman, Co-Director of SFF (Soul Fire Farm). Register Here
January 23rd, 2021 10:30AM – 11:00AM EST
Inauguration of Hope
Join World Hope Forum Americas for a day full of inspirational talks from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST. Join Soul Fire Farm from 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM EST. Register Here
January 24th, 2021 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM EST
Creating a Life on Land: The Soul Fire Farm Story
Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm is joined by her children, Neshima (age 17) and Emet (age 15) for an honest and reflective conversation about what it took to build our lives on land as a Black-Jewish family. We will ask ourselves the hard questions, share our personal story, and open ourselves to your queries. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and wonder alongside us as we recount our 15 year journey on this mountainside. Learn More
January 26th, 2021 9:00am -10:30 am EST
Healthy Soils, Healthy Farms: Reshaping Kentucky with Organics
Farm Manager and Soul Farm Co-founder Leah Penniman will be the keynote speaker at the 10th anniversary of the Organic Association of Kentucky conference. This conference is for all food producers, whether you be a home gardener or an agriculture professional. Learn More
January 26th, 2021 1:00PM-1:30PM EST
Virtual Plant-O-Rama
This symposium is for all horticulture professionals! Leah Penniman speaks alongside Adrian Benepe, Signe Nielsen, Jennifer Jewell, Midori Shintani, and Margaret Roach all about plant love and cultivation. Buy Tickets
January 27th, 2021 1:00PM-3:00PM EST
Seeding Liberation Land
Join Leah Penniman, Vandana Shiva, Chris Smaje, and Abby rose as they weigh in on their thoughts around the grave inequities in the food systems across the globe, and discuss ways to improve awareness and knowledge so that we can work together to push the food justice movement forward. Learn More
January 29th, 2021 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST
Good Food Buffalo Coalition Farmers & Legislators Forum
NYS farmers are invited to a virtual forum to connect with opportunities to support access to institutional markets. Naima Penniman, Soul Fire Farm’s Program Director, will be presenting about Uprooting Racism in the Food System training opportunities. Pre-registration is required. Register
January 31st, 2021 3:00PM – 5:00 PM EST
Real Organic Symposium Session 5:
What Can We Do?
Farmers and eaters throughout the United States and beyond are pushing to create transparency within a disjointed food system. But what are the most important steps for us to take moving forward? Where do you contribute? How do we hold each other accountable? Learn More
Farewell Lytisha!
We are saying congratulations to Lytisha Wyatt, one of our cherished team members. Lytisha was a farmer here from 2018-2019, and our OG chicken charmer/livestock manager. In 2020, she was responsible for crafting stunning Love Notes and Social Media content. Now, she heads off to work as the Communications Associate at Young Farmer’s Coalition. We will miss her, but we are so excited for her future endeavors.
Lytisha, we are forever grateful for your brilliance, your honesty, your hunger for learning, and for the times we have fallen on the floor laughing uncontrollably
Announcements
Soul Fire Speakers Collective
Applications Due 02/10/2021
Use your storytelling skills to inspire people to action.
Alumni of Soul Fire Farming Immersions (BLFI, BIPOC FIRE) are invited to join Soul Fire Speakers Collective (SFSC), and get matched with opportunities for public speaking, facilitation, and media appearances that come through Soul Fire Farm. The purpose of SFSC is to make food justice leadership opportunities available to our alumni, support the transfer of financial resources to our alumni, and decentralize who gets to do the messaging for the movement. We will host a virtual orientation and training for members on January 26th! Learn More and Apply Here
New Staff Members!
This year we welcome new staff members and invite existing staff members into new roles! All previous consultants, Azuré Keahi has joined the staff as a Business Manager, Brooke Bridges as our Food Justice Coordinator, and Dayo Marsh as Network Coordinator. Cheryl Whilby, former Administrative Program Manager, is now our Communications Director! We are so happy they have deepened their work with Soul Fire!
NABJ Salute to Excellence Award Winner
Two articles by Leah Penniman in YES! Media have won the 2020 Salute to Excellence Award! You can read them here:
Job Openings
SFF Hiring Soil Carbon Field Researcher
Soul Fire Farm is collaborating with Rocky Acres Community Farm, Global Village Farm, Rise & Root Farm, et al to advance our knowledge of soil carbon capture. We seek a field researcher to coordinate project implementation. This project is funded by NE SARE.
Learn More and Apply
BUGS Hiring Visioning Consultant
Black Urban Growers (BUGS), an organization committed to building networks and community support for Black growers in both urban and rural settings is hiring a short-term consultant for a 6-month contract. Learn More
Race Brook Lodge Farm Manager
Race Brooke Lodge is a rural retreat destination at the foot of the Taconic Hills in Berkshire County, MA. They are looking for an experienced and inspired farmer to manage the small farm on the property. Learn More and Apply
Recent Publications
The FarmLink Project:
In 2020, we started a working relationship with the FarmLink Project in which we sold them surplus produce at a wholesale price. Read More
GrowthFest Digital Magazine:
This issue shares the successes of businesses and organizations in the Capital Region. Soul Fire Farm is featured. Read More
Culture as Catalyst:
“Culture as Catalyst is a compilation of their provocations—a compendium of diverse ways to make new connections, craft pathways to understanding, and spark change.” Leah Penniman’s essay is featured in this book. Learn More
How to Save a Planet Podcast: Episode – Soil: The Dirty Climate Solution:
On this week’s episode, we meet two farmers who explore how making simple changes in the way we farm can harness the incredible power of soil to help save the planet. Listen
Taste Cooking: When Disaster Strikes Local Farms Step Up:
TASTE Editor Anna Hezel spoke with Leah Penniman about the pandemic and how it affected the work at Soul Fire Farm. Read More
Programs
Uprooting Racism in the Food System (URFS)
The Uprooting Racism training is a theory and action workshop for environmental and food justice leaders to uproot systemic racism in our organizations and society. New dates added! Learn More
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Ask a Sista Farmer,” is a free online show to support people who want to grow their own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience.
FIRST Fridays, 4:00-4:40 Eastern Friday, experienced Black womxn farmers answer audience call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation. Learn More
3D Virtual Skill Share
The 2021 3D season kicks off with a workshop on Crop Planning guided by SFF Co-Director Larisa Jacobson and Rock Steady Farmer Amara Ullari. This interactive virtual skill share is designed for BIPOC and features Spanish interpretation. Stay tuned to Love Notes and SFF socials for date and registration!
Soul Fire in the City
(SFitC)
Application Deadline
January 25th, 2021
In 2020, our Soul Fire in the City initiative helped 44 families in our community establish home gardens, and we will keep growing in 2021! Our goal this year is to build 25 new gardens in Albany, Schenectady, and Troy. This year we are offering in-depth gardening trainings and monthly gatherings to support folks in growing their own food.Learn More
Apply to receive a garden or volunteer to support one here!
Help Us Name Our Sheep!
We’d love to hear your ideas for names for our beloved Katahdin sheep!
Send your ideas to brooke@soulfirefarm.org
Livestock
Before the year was up, we donated 55 dozen eggs to families in need. With our partners at the West Hill Refugee Center in Albany and the Free Food Fridge in Albany, we were able to get these eggs directly into the hands of our community members.
The Farm
Although the farm has been laid to rest, the voles have not laid down for their winter rest and have taken to burrowing tunnels to get to the apple trees despite their protective hardware cloth cages. So, we are doubling up on protection for the fragile cambium in hopes that the rising sap of February brings new life to these precious trees.
It is also seed ordering time! We are so excited to be continuing our Solidarity Share program in 2021 and additionally feeding the program participants of the Farming Immersion, so we have heritage crops on the way and will be starting seedlings in the greenhouse before we know it.
As you probably gathered, we are obsessed with fruit, and have been talking to orchard nerds across the country to get ideas for our expanded perennial plantings. Over 100 heirloom apple, peach, and cherry trees are waiting for the ground to thaw so they can become a 3-acre polyculture along with elderberry and brambles. We also sourced 1-acre worth of low-bush blueberries and can’t wait to beautify the commercial wastewater mound with a carpet of reddish leaves and tart, generous fruits.
Solidarity Shares Applications & Donations
Soul Fire Farm provides no cost doorstep delivery of vegetables, fruits, medicine, eggs, and value-add products to people living under food apartheid in the Albany-Troy area. If you’re interested in becoming a Solidarity Share recipients, please apply!
We are also in search of donations! We accept donations of non-perishable, natural food items to include in the Shares, such as soup mixes, preserves, honey, sauces, salad dressing, grains, dry beans, teas, dried fruit, and herbal products. Please contact us at love@soulfirefarm.org regarding your offering. All donations must be approved by the Farm Manager before being mailed or dropped off.
Infrastructure
Our campus expansion is coming along and we couldn’t have done it without the thousands of generous donors all over the world. Thanks to your support, we completed the new bathhouse, equipment shed, employee duplex cabins, wastewater and drinking water systems, and underground networked utilities.
The classroom, featuring a beautiful timber-framed reciprocal roof is nearly complete. We also upgraded the barn for fire safety, improved drainage and parking, and the design for the new Program Center is well underway!
Alumni Updates
Seed of Osun:
Afro Indigenous Medicine and Wellness
Arirá Adééké is an alum of our farming immersion from back in 2015. In 2012, Arirá founded Seed of Osun in Roxbury Massachusetts; a mobile and stationary apothecary that utilizes traditional medicine of the African Diaspora.
Arirá says: “We embrace the ase of Sankofa. We return back to our tribal roots using ancestor reverence and Afro-indigenous folk medicine & rootwork as the center of the healing process. We offer community-spiritual intervention that contains a healing component that allows the full spectrum of the human condition including mental, emotional, physical and spiritual imbalances that manifest as a result of oppression, colonialism, and generational trauma.”
Congrats to one of our immersion graduates for creating such a meaningful organization focused on ancestral ways of healing.
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Reparations Map
Oppression underwrites our food system, and a tangible action to address food sovereignty in our communities is taking reparations into our own hands through the creation of the Reparations Map for Black-Indigenous Farmers. We recognize that the food system was built on the stolen land and stolen labor of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and other people of color. We also know that we cannot wait for the government to acknowledge that stolen wealth and land must be returned. Some farmers have already received funding through this project, and we want to provide that opportunity to other Black and Brown farmers. If you have resources you want to share contact a farmer directly to share them, or if you have a project you want to include on the map contact Northeast Farmers of Color!