Edible Activist

What does it mean to be black with plants? D'Real Graham, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, has been exploring his relationship with the plant kingdom since 2018. In this episode we learn about the birth of D'Real's @blackwithplants platform, one in which he uses to not only showcase his botanical journey, but to address issues of racism, cultural identity, and to send a message of decolonizing social practices. He also speaks on the importance of knowing your USDA hardiness zone, understanding what plants were grown in your neighborhood before, in his words, "we disurbed the land," and leaves us with a major action step towards edible activism: "listen to black women." Tune in! Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Need a jolt of energy or some good vibes? In need of healing? Calabash, the award-winning plant-based tea shop, is the ultimate immune booster of the city. Founded at the hem of her activist parents and elders, Calabash's founder and operator, Sunyatta Amen, has cultivated a beautiful hub for healing in Washington, D,C. In this episode, Sunyatta takes us back to her parents Harlem-based herbal shop in the 70s, she discusses the divide from our agrarian history, shares her perspective on the food service industry, and educates us on five herbs that everyone should have in their home! Tune in! Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

New Orleans native and District resident, Dominique Charles, found her love for growing back in 2013 when a friend gifted her with a gardening set for her house. But Dominique is no stranger to agraian life; she spent her childhood driving tractors and watching her "maw maw" and "paw paw" grow food in the country. It was just the way of life. As the creator of Plots and Pans, she documents her green thumb journey, along with her cooking skills that will have you salivating. And as a positive message to everyone during these extreme times, Dominique reminds us to "cultivate joy." Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Aleya Fraser has been farming for the past seven years in and around Baltimore (and beyond). Navigating nature's grid with intention, Aleya has a deep appreciation for agriculture and the resources she uses to steward the land. In this episode, she walks us through her origins in Baltimore, the decision to study neuroscience and biology, farming on the ancestral lands of Harriet Tubman, and we also explore her Trinidad roots and love for cacao. Tune in! Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

In this series we continue to feed listeners Black History 365, and those making it. We are joined by senior planner and special assistant with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning, Molline Jackson, who brings a unique perspective to our history conversation. Tune in! Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

From music, art, and reading, these are just a few ways in which we honor our Black History beyond the confines of February. In this episode we continue conversations from Part I with herbalist and acupuncturist, Geoff Edwards, who believes that our genealogy is the only history we need to focus on. Tune in! Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Black History is American History, just plain facts! And for decades we have only gotten one month to honor our stories. In this episode we share how we celebrate our black history, heritage, culture, and servant leaders. We also crush on some of our elders, ancestors, food heroes who are planting the seeds of our future. Tune in! Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The word "holistic" may seem unfamiliar to some, and even sound a bit foreign, but this is a practice that has been around for centuries, curing the most debilitating diseases, ailments, and even cancer. Meet Dr. Ruby Lathon, the founder of Roadmap to Holistic Health, a certified holistic nutritionist and plant-based chef who supports clients in their pursuit to living an abundant and healthy life. If anyone knows how to beat the odds, it's Dr. Ruby who cured herself of thyroid cancer, but she had to first take control of her mind. Tune in! Tune in! Powered and distributed by SImplecast.

Big Ma, the daughter of a sharecropper and homemaker, hails from Mt. Olive, Mississippi. Soft spoken (like her mama Louvenia), but full of character, she relished her childhood in Mt. Olive on the farm where they lived. In this episode, Big Ma talks about her role as the water girl, runs down a list of crops her dad grew that included sugar cane, and reminds us of this: "I didn’t pick no cotton." Powered and distributed by Simplecast.