Sustaining the Steward

About this episode

Dr. Connie Baptiste discusses the importance of mental wellness in land stewardship and the emotional impact of her family's agricultural history.

In this episode of BRAIDEd, host Keionna Thomas sits down with Dr. Connie Baptiste, a fifth generation farmer and military veteran who identifies mental wellness as the essential foundation of land stewardship. Dr. Baptiste reflects on the emotional weight of becoming the first person in her lineage to own her farm after generations of ancestors worked as sharecroppers. The discussion addresses the invisible mental health crisis in the agricultural industry and the importance of using language that fosters safety and wellness for farmers. Dr. Baptiste also examines the connection between military discipline and farming while calling for collective efforts to preserve family land. The episode concludes with a reflection from Ms. Valerie of the EcoWomanist Institute Southeast, who utilizes the teachings of bell hooks to describe self recovery as a vital strategy for liberation and communal healing. Together, these voices argue that true agricultural sustainability starts with the wellbeing of the people on the land.

People in this episode

Host: Keionna Thomas

Guest: Dr Connie Baptiste

Topics covered

• mental wellness
• land stewardship
• agriculture
• military discipline
• family land preservation

Keywords

• sustainability
• mental health crisis
• communal healing
• bell hooks

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