I made some temporary moves from my Dad’s apartment in Silver Spring, MD to Jersey City, New Jersey with my cousin from my mom’s side of the family. It was great to spend some time getting to know my cousin more (as we’ve both drastically changed since childhood), but now I am staying with a Black, Vegan friend in Weehawken, NJ!

During Covid and the ongoing fight for Black people to be treated as equals; I’ve been feeling as though I’ve wanted to unpack and unlearn many things that have seeped into me from our racist, white supremacist, sexist, misogynoir society. I’ve always been in love with nature; however I’ve yet to take the time to grow a full harvest of veg or be able to stay with a plant long enough to nurture it into a long healthy life.

One of my Best friends in Thailand named Lily, introduced me virtually to a passionate Black agriculture femme named Bean; she lives in NYC. I met with Bean for the first time this week and I was able to see her home in Brooklyn with a serious sanctuary in the backyard! I had been feeling pretty stressed about my own point in life and how to move forward with my photography, but taking the time to chill for hours in her self-designed utopia, lifted all of my spirits to the blue skies above us.

When one can keep plants alive, nurturing them from seedling to adulthood, breeding them into new plants; this, is the kind of dedication and delay of gratification that I seek.

I’ve always seen Mother Earth as everyone’s true Mother. From her earth we are born and in our death, we return to her.

It’s important for me as a Black woman, to meet other Black women who have had a vision, and set it free to the world so that they may have their dreams grow like the plants around us. This time of revolution for Black racial justice, has had me in my feelings about dedication and learning more about the land we inhabit.

And of course as a Black Vegan, I have been thinking lately about how many Black folks don’t feel they have access to Veganism or even growing plant-life in general.

But what if we can change that? What if by community-based initiatives, more Black people had access to land to harvest? What if by encouragement from other Black folks who are exploring the land; cultivating growth within, there was a shared network of growers in every community? This is very possible and it’s something I would like to help contribute to while here on the East coast.

Every thought is a seed, waiting to break free of the soil’s surface.

Bean constructed this greenhouse for $50. Imagine if every school, home, small business etc. had their own?

I do not have a home of my own and have been bouncing from location to location since being back to the states. The Quarantine slow down was much needed for me and my planning. Taking all full precautions, I want to explore this fiery inner desire I have for making Veganism (specifically) available to Black communities and helping bring home-grown food to life.

Much like being a farmer, agriculturist, gardener or landscaper; working with the earth takes time. It takes routine. It takes discipline. All great traits I am finding I need to exercise. I’m excited to make new connections with Black people like Bean who open their homes and hearts to my curiosities; all things plant-based and Black.

sending green love to you wherever you may be 🙏🏽

-DW