Edible Activist Podcast

Join us for an in-depth conversation with returning guest LaMonika Jones of DC Hunger Solutions, as we celebrate the victories in DC's battle against hunger with initiatives like Hear the Crunch and Give Snap a Raise. Explore the challenges facing the DC food and health system in the FY25 budget, and discover practical steps for residents and advocates to effect change. We'll then conclude with LaMonika shining a spotlight on influential black women in the field. Don't miss this enlightening discussion about cultivating a healthier, more equitable DC community.

During this exclusive episode of The Edible Activist Live Podcast event, we opened our studio doors to welcome guests into a vibrant, in-person dialogue celebrating HOMEGROWN – paying tribute to the black women growers, farmers, and food activists who shape our communities. We had the privilege of interviewing none other than Falani Spivey of Byrd's Nest Box, delving into her journey rooted in homegrown traditions and the pioneering women who have influenced her farming practices. From candid discussions on the essence of homegrown in DC and North Carolina to heartfelt tributes to the matriarchal cooks in her family, this conversation is one that resonates deeply. Tune in to join the celebration and honor the incredible contributions of black women agrarians.

Beauty Blooms Farm https://www.beautyblooms.org/

Join us for an enlightening discussion with Ashley Drakeford, the visionary behind Capital Market in Capital Heights, MD. With roots spanning six generations in Prince George's County, Ashley's profound commitment to community and social impact shines through her work. Discover how her family history shapes the mission of Capital Market, situated near the site where her ancestors were enslaved, and explore its sustainable approach to addressing food inequality. Ashley shares her daily responsibilities as market organizer and co-owner, along with her plans to expand access to fresh, healthy foods in Prince George's County and beyond. Don't miss this dynamic conversation on community resilience, social justice, and grassroots initiatives with Ashley Drakeford.

Edible Activist launches its exciting 2024 season with a dope episode featuring Maryland native, Sean's Veggie Garden! Sean, a passionate grower and pepper master, is renowned as the ultimate watermelon connoisseur. Join us as hosts Melissa and Falani explore Sean's journey into the world of food cultivation, his deep affection for crabbing, and the sprinkling of nostalgic home-cooked memories. Tune in for a heartwarming and engaging conversation! Be sure to follow us on Instragam: @foodtalksncolor Sean's Veggie Garden: @seans_veggie_garden

Y Cooking Class information here.

Join us for this episode as we welcome LaMonika Jones as the new director at DC Hunger Solutions. LaMonika shares her journey combating hunger in Washington, D.C., stressing the importance of avoiding silos in food and advocating for a comprehensive system approach. Our conversation explores the intersection of agriculture in her ambitious agenda, shedding light on the essence of ending hunger. LaMonika passionately emphasizes collaboration, highlighting the significance of working with local officials, advocates, organizational partners, and the community. Join us as we connect the dots between activism, agriculture, and the relentless pursuit of ending hunger in the dynamic landscape of our nation's capital. Let's dive into this insightful dialogue without further ado!

Step into the world of "The People's Market" with us in this episode! Meet the visionary founder, Brandon Starkes, who is reshaping the game with a subscription-based food delivery service sourcing from local black farms and artisans in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Join us for a lively conversation that takes you to Brandon's roots in Prince George's County, where a deep love for agriculture was nurtured by the wisdom of his great grandmother. But we're not stopping there! We'll also dive into the challenges of accessing premium groceries in suburban neighborhoods, explore the variety of products you can find in their subscription box, and unveil the fascinating process of producing over 100 produce boxes every single week. Tune in now and get ready to be inspired by this incredible journey! ----- To ensure you never miss an episode, subscribe to Edible Activist on iTunes and Spotify, and follow us on Instagram: @foodtalksncolor.com for episode drops. For an in-depth look at The People's Market, visit: https://www.thepeoplesmarketdmv.com/

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

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:)

Foraging while black, wild energy and agroforestry? You will hear it all here as Prince George's County native and naturalist-at-heart, Ruth Tyson, details her foraging experience in this episode and how she began the journey. Ruth also educates listeners on agroforestry and the various types, in addition to sharing some of the research she has been conducting with farmers of color in hopes to expand more opportunities in this space. To watch the live episode, subscribe to Food Talks N Color on YouTube! Like, comment and share:)

Rey Vanderpool is a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Insight Nutrition where they use an Integrative and Functional Nutrition (IFN) approach to nutrition counseling and therapy. In this episode, Rey kicks off the show sharing their health story that led to a field of study in nutrition. We also talk about ancestral foods, healing through farming, and Rey drops a few edible acts for our listeners. Subscribe and tune in! To watch the live episode, subscribe to Food Talks N Color on YouTube! Like, comment and share:)