Agriculture and Food Justice

Agriculture and Food Justice

by Alex Millard

Alex Millard is the Communications & Events Coordinator at PACDC

Growing our own food is nothing new. For centuries, the land now known as Philadelphia was home to and cared for by the Lenni-Lenape People of Lenapehoking and the Poutaxat. They proved that the land was fruitful and could feed entire nations of people. As the price of store-bought food rises, and with food deserts affecting our most vulnerable populations, growing your own food can be a rebellious act, agriculture can be a form of justice. Urban agriculture can mitigate and adapt to climate change, supports community empowerment, and can support communities connecting to land and one another.

In Puerto Rico, most food in supermarkets is imported, making it very expensive and over 1 in 3 people experience food insecurity and hunger. As a result there has been renewed interest in farming and growing food from young people in recent years. Can Philadelphia be doing more? 1 in 4 children in Philadelphia are experiencing food insecurity. With free lunch programs, we are helping kids who are in school. But what about dinner? What about people who are not in school? What about the weekend? Might there be some freedom found in farming? Autonomy from starting a small garden of food-bearing plants?

Programs like Farm Philly and The Food Trust help Philadelphia communities grow their own food, manage composting programs, and preserve land and maintain resources.

“Beyond the food itself, urban agriculture in Philadelphia, and in our local food system, can mean community food sovereignty: the ability to choose what nourishes you and your Community.” - Farm Philly

We must care for the soil, and set up generations beyond us to have food security.