Edible Activist Podcast

Xavier's Top Recommended Reads for Black Food Organizers and Advocates:

1. Black Rice by Judith A. Carney
   
2. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
   
3. In the Shadow of Slavery: Africa's Botanical Legacy in the Atlantic World by Judith A. Carney & Richard Nicholas Rosomoff
   
4. Healing Wisdom of Africa by Malinda Patrice Some
   
5. Of Water and the Spirit: Ritual, Magic and the Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman by Malinda Patrice Some
   
6. Ella Baker & the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision by Barbara Ransby
   
7. Land Justice: Re-imaging Land, Food, and the Commons in the United States
   
8. Land & Power: Sustainable Agriculture and African Americans, by Various Authors & Editors
   
9. Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice
   
10. Freedom Farmers: Agriculture Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement by Dr. Monica M. White
    
11. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
    
12. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by bell hooks
    
13. As in the Heart, So in the Earth : Reversing the Desertification of the Soul and the Soil by Pierre Rabhi

In this episode, Tennessee native, Jarren Hill-Lockridge, also known as the "Woman from the Well '' shares her story and commitment to the Great Ward 8 in Southeast Washington, DC to prioritize health and wellness for the residents. As an advocate for her community, Jarren serves on the Ward 8 Health Council and also helped to build a green space project in Southeast centered around homegrown, local food and wellness. Tap in and listen to Jarren's journey that led her from the south to Chocolate City and the work that she has done to make wellness accessible and equitable.

Sweet July, featuring Brittney Bell Surrat: https://sweetjuly.com/editorial/to-save-her-familys-land-this-communications-professional-became-a-farmer/

We are celebrating Women's History month with another episode of Cuzzin' Talk featuring a special guest and the original cousin - Chrissy Sheffey of Charismatic Creations. In this episode we celebrate the accomplishments of one another as creative-preneurs and growing together to make an impact on people and communities. Tune in to hear the inspiration behind Chrissy's Earth Day Weekend events, the importance of connections, our shout outs to other amazing women in food and agriculture and all the laughs and jokes that the cuzzins share in this living room conversation!

Remember Jay-Z's line "nobody wins when the family feuds" in the acclaimed 4:44 album? Well, when family fights over land it can get downright ugly! The cuzzin's Melissa L. Jones and Falani Spivey of Byrd's Nest Box dive right on in and open up about their personal challenges in attempting to acquire land within the family. Falani points out that when we often discuss land loss, many refer to the discriminatory USDA practices, imminent domain, and other racist acts that have swindled black families out of their land, but we forget about the internal family feuds that result in land loss as well. Tune in for this lively Cuzzin' Talk episode!

Melissa L. Jones of the Edible Activist Podcast and Founder, Falani Spivey of Byrd's Nest Box kick off a series of new episodes called Cuzzin' Talk. Both having come from large families who hail from the South, the two always call each other cuzzin' jokingly and swap family stories. Listeners can expect for us to talk about our family traditions, kitchen recipes that grandma and auntie handed down, our family lineage, travels to the South where we unearth so much rich history, and all the things that cuzzin's do best...we share a lot information with each other. This new episode introduces the series and we also get to learn about a huge dinner that Falani curated for her family and ancestors down in North Carolina. Tune in! *This recording was taped at The Line Hotel DC. New episodes will begin in January 2023*

Alexes Haggins, the Owner of Flowers by Alexes, spent a significant part of her childhood working at her dad's floral business on Upshur Street in Northwest, Washington, DC. The Washingtonian remembers being planted at the shop, surrounded by an abundance of flowers, wishing she was playing outside with her friends instead in their Uptown neighborhood. However, this is where Alexes would learn how to clean flowers and witness her dad wear his entrepreneurs hat. Alexes' story is one filled with humble beginnings and reclamation - an inspiring journey that has positioned her to continue her father's legacy by reestablishing the business on the very same street, almost two decades later. Tune into this remarkable episode! This episode was recorded live at The Line Hotel DC.

Melissa sits down in an exclusive interview with Chris Riddick of Afro Beets - the first time Melissa is ever interviewed by a media platform (and a black one at that)! In this episode Chris taps into her origin story, unearths her Mississippi roots and childhood, talks challenges of being a creator, and all-things Edible Activist (her podcast) and health justice. Tune in! This episode was recorded live at The Line Hotel DC.

In this episode we talk with Shanice Fleming, founder of Queenz Cut Flower Farm based in Troy, NY to discuss her floral business. She details her ten-year experience working as a chef, talks about resources needed to scale her business, and educates us on the flower business. To watch the live episode, subscribe to Food Talks N Color on YouTube! Like, comment and share:)

In this episode we catch up with Ronnie Webb, Founder of The Green Scheme (@thegreenscheme), on his team's latest project: Corner Water! They are on a mission to provide premium natural alkaline water to communities who don’t have equitable access and help youth learn the core pillars to social entrepreneurship. To watch the live episode, subscribe to Food Talks N Color on YouTube! Like, comment and share:)