Introducing Soul Fire Farm

For every candidate Climate People places, we donate 1% of the placement fee to an environmental nonprofit of the candidate's choosing. We hand-selected five stellar nonprofit organizations that fully exemplify our diversity and inclusion initiatives — one of which is Soul Fire Farm.

We wanted to find an organization that fights for not only the livelihood of the planet but for the equality of all of those who inhabit it. We believe it's crucial to have a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce in order to meet the challenges faced by climate change. We strongly believe in the mission of Soul Fire Farm and are honored to help fund their initiatives.

Meet Soul Fire Farm

Soul Fire Farm is an Afro-Indigenous-centered community farm committed to uprooting racism and seeding sovereignty in the food system. They raise and distribute life-giving food as a means to end food apartheid. Their food program reaches over 10,000 people each year, including farmer training for Black and Brown growers, reparations and land return initiatives for northeast farmers, food justice workshops for urban youth, doorstep harvest delivery for food-insecure households, as well as system and policy education for public decision-making.

Keys Stats That Drive Soul Fire Farms Initiatives To Uproot Racism

• Black farmers currently operate around 1% of the nation's farms
• Black farmers have lost 12 million acres due to USDA discrimination, racist violence, and legal trickery
• 85% of US land workers are Latinx migrants, yet 2.5% of farms are owned & operated by Latinxs.
• People of color are disproportionately likely to live under food apartheid and suffer from diabetes, heart disease, and other diet-induced illnesses.
• Industrial agriculture is responsible for 24% of greenhouse gas emissions, 70% of water use, and 37% of land use.
• Environmental impacts of climate change (pesticide exposure/toxic pollutants/etc.) disproportionately impact communities of color
  

How Soul Fire Farm Does It

• They use Afro-indigenous agroforestry, silvopasture, wildcrafting, polyculture, and spiritual farming to regenerate 80 acres of mountainside land. (The majority of the farm's harvest is provided to people living under food apartheid and those targeted by state violence).
• They host Afro-Indigenous Farming immersion programs and workshops to equip hundreds of individuals with the skills needed to reclaim leadership as farmers. These programs work with the goal of using the land to heal from racial trauma and amplifying their voice in the food system. Their graduates receive ongoing mentorship in hopes of reversing the low percentage of people of color-owned farms.
• They work to mobilize the public to create a racially just food system. Soul Fire Farm collaborates with national food justice networks to inspire community members, attends conferences, facilitates workshops, and takes many more tangible community-building actions.

Soul Fire Farm's youtube channel has countless videos on the basics of Afro-indigenous farming techniques. They cover everything from proper composting to soil health.

They have also participated in countless media outreach initiatives with publications across the country. Learn more about Soul Fire Farm's roots, initiatives, and impact in a few of our favorite articles.

• A Matter of Degrees, Leah Penniman
• A harvest for the world: Washington Post
• Panel on Advaya
  

As always, Soul Fire Farm, can't do it alone. They need financial support to expand their sovereignty programs and make an ultimate impact. If you're in a position to, consider donating to help end racism in the U.S. food system.