Monthly Readings & Resources from Goosefoot’s Anti-Racism Task Force: Black Farming

Goosefoot’s Anti-Racism Task Force (ARTF) was formed in December 2020 to deepen our understanding of systemic racial injustice, our participation in it—both individually and collectively—and what steps we can take to contribute to a more just and equitable society. This commitment is core to our mission to create and sustain a thriving local community.

Since that time, ARTF has been meeting monthly to discuss ways Goosefoot can work to become a more anti-racist organization on every level. As part of this commitment, ARTF also suggests topics and provides references to both historic and current topics for discussion during the last segment of Goosefoot’s monthly Board meetings.

We would like to share with you some of the topics and materials that have had the most impact on us and/or are related to our programmatic activities. Because these discussions are ongoing, this column will be as well.

This month many of us are anticipating the bounty of delicious produce that will be available from our local farms this summer—a good time to share our readings on

Black Farming in America. This of course is in no way an exhaustive list, so if you have materials on the topic that you have found particularly meaningful and useful, please share them with us. We won’t necessarily be able to post additional references, but we will keep a running internal inventory on the various topics we focus on.

Thank you for your interest in and dedication to helping our community become one in which everyone feels welcome, seen and supported.

The CSA’s Roots in Black History

Melony Edwards: “Land is the basis of freedom, justice, and equality”

(FYI, Melony is no longer located on Whidbey Island, but is very active in food systems equity work).

Seattle’s Black Farmer Collective

7 Contributions of Black Farmers to Agriculture – Poughkeepsie Farm Project

How a Methodist Preachers Became a Champion for Black-Led Sustainable Agriculture