We are now live on Facebook!

Speaker bios:

https://quiviracoalition.org/jovan-sage/

https://quiviracoalition.org/matthew-raiford/

“Chefarmer”!

Yay love seeing the seeds!

http://www.thecarolinagoldricefoundation.org/

“The resilience comes into saving the seed… taking the knowledge that we have now and giving just due to the people that actually brought that knowledge” - MR

I think putting them in the chat to everyone is ok!

“We’re talking about the Deep South… when we sheltered in place we had all these inequalities and drew on community resilience to get through” - JS

“Having to go through that fear, that uncertainty… did I secure my animals well enough? Did we harvest enough?… with a hurricane there is nothing but wind, you can’t see anything, and you literally have to figure out how am I mentally going to make it through the night and be ready for what comes after. We’ve had to tap into that resilience on the farm, in our food business, and in our lives in very real ways.” - JS

I live in the Caribbean and completely understand

The Virgin Islands Farmers go through this often

Yes!

“Have you centered yourself for the day?” JS

“As we’re having conversations around sustainability and regenerative ag… farmers, seed keepers, stewards, etc still need to center themselves in their plans. Are you finding ways to be regenerative in your own life? Way to acknowledge the trauma… ways to work forward and heal from that.”

-JS

If you don’t center your health, wellness, joy, are you really being a successful farmer? - JS

“For us to be resilient we have to take care of ourselves… if we can’t take care of ourselves there’s no way our food can do what it needs to do.” - MR

“The legacy is in the soil… you have to dive in and pay attention to everything you’re doing.” - MR

“Not the Lone Ranger small farmer framework… it’s not possible, not sustainable… there are some beautiful models for collective work, ways to work in community like buying clubs, food hubs. I think it’s going to take community really coming together… how can we all play different roles within the food system to support one another and work towards a vision?” - JS

“Do you know the farmer up to road from you?.. Do you have a network of people so if you lose your chicken operation they can help you find chicks quickly?… the idea of the lone farmer feeding the world is false and never existed… especially never in the US where our agriculture was built on the back of enslaved Africans… need to start thinking differently about the way we are working the land, regional food systems… taking into account culture, equity, and being responsive to what is happening in the world.” -JS

“Community based work that supports farmers is key to moving forward.” - JS

“At this market, these farmers that are more like family… every creed, race, color, we were all there… it was the highest grossing market… “ because of selling different items and coordinating - MR

Please put your questions here in the chat box!

How do you both take care of yourselves? What’s your self-care like?

It takes a village to raise a farmer if a farmer is going to be able to support that community—paraphrasing JS and MR, a mash-up of the messages

how do you measure the regeneration on your farm? like soil health for example. Do you think it is important for farmers to take this step to get land health certifications?

<3 Mmmmmm yes so inspiring thank you!!

It starts with the soil. If we give back to nature what nature gives to us, we will be able to regenerate the soil on a constant basis. — MR

Do you have any advice for building community for those of us who might be new to remote and rural areas and are queer, BIPOC, etc.?

Work with the land, not against it—all soil is local—JS and MR

Have you seen any connections between your soil health and your water use? Do these regenerative practice help you conserve water in any way?

How do you think about advice of your grandmothers in relationship to the unpredictability of climate change?

I loved hearing about your experience with networks of sharing/co-op organizing - what are major obstacles to building out (or re-building!) more infrastructure to share farming equipment, etc?

When you have human connection with your customers, they know what you have. You are the lucky ones that you got cut out of chemicals and new seeds.

since you hve been essentially "organic" and you don't have the certification for organic do you think there is validity in a regenerative ag certification system? do you think there is any validity for that certification system or do you think it is just a marketing campaign like the organic certification and not worth attaining?

More info about Heir’s Property — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7w8932dTw4&list=PLFHRwsJneIf6NjXoEc6_oa06qQzqlsJq9&index=11

That’s amazing. Thank you. :) It can be hard to feel a sense of belonging!

Closed mouths don't get fed. MR

Found this question on FB live: how have working with other groups impact your work? Is this an essential part of what you do?

What methods do you use to listen to and understand the needs of your own community and how does that influence what you grow and produce on your farm?

“Be okay with being wrong!” MR

be ok with being wrong..you can’t know what you don’t know…..Golden Words of Wisdom Gratitude to you!

“Listen to your community and balance that with what you want to do…” - JS

Eat what you grow, have pride in what you do… JS and MR

“Make sure your family is fed… if you’re not feeding yourself… how are you going to feed your region, your community… the world?"

-JS

“Farmers should be the most healthy people in the world” - MR

name of person Jovan just referenced? Dr Lenny ??

Dr. Leni Sorenson, Indigo House History

amazing presentation and sharing—thank you!

thanks!

The joy these folks have is infectious! Pass it on.

Thank Matthew and Jovan,

https://www.indigohouse.us/about-me-getting-to-now/

Unplug from the feed and plug into nature. - JS

Show the same care for yourself as a farmer that you show for the soil—JS

good advice for others such as teachers too. Take care of yourself as you do your students, and so on …

If you aren’t taking care of yourself, you aren’t going to be able to regenerate yourself, your land, your community.

—MR

Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. MR

Absolutely LOVING this conversation. I feel like I’ve just popped into an inspirational chat that my spirit needed. Also, shout out to my Kansas City colleagues! :)

AGGGGREEEED!!! So so so so nourished in this conversation. <3

same! in so many ways thank you thank you

This is amazing, reminding me of Lauren Olamina in Parable of the Sower - she’s always ready

do you give classes in herbalism?

Thank you much for your wisdom and sharing it with all of us

For those looking for a bidet—https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjE6N-B2oztAhUpFjQIHT25B3gQFjAPegQICxAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fbidet%2Fs%3Fk%3Dbidet&usg=AOvVaw1TqatCvAjvJIqMNgWXEO6A

:)

“The goal should be to thrive” - JS

Farmers, earthworkers, seed keepers have it within us to survive—JS

What sparks your joy? - MR

:) haha

Pay attention to what sparks your joy and have that handy, in your bag, ready when you need joy—MR

I’ve got those packed.:)

“I want to taste the rainbow” - MR

“Our network is much greater than we think if we just make sure we stay connected.” - MR

I just subscribed to your page! I'll be looking out for those classes!

I agree

cast iron skillet and instapot!

Do I see a Matthew and Jovan cookbook coming out?

<3 <3 hahaha yes please

I agree with cast iron - that's almost all I use

I counted my cast iron skillets earlier this year, and needed all my fingers and toes plus…. and that didn’t count the stew pots. Great stuff to cook in. Some of them are as old or older than am I……

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1682686043/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_zJwTFbTFYPS5A

https://www.sageslarder.com

Nice! I know what I want for Christmas!

Thank you both so much for the conversation and all the joy!

So so grateful for your insight and wisdom!

What a magical and inspiring conversation! I’m going to get my backpack ready...

thank you this was wonderful!

Absolutely Fantastic conversation! Thank you!!

Thank you all for the inspirations and conversations and wisdom

Thank you

Thank You!!

Thank you

thanks all!