About this episode

The episode features discussions on community food work and Caribbean farming in East New York.

This episode, recorded in late September 2024, features the voices and wisdom of East New York Farms youth leaders Jemel Thomas, Gaby, and Hope, as well as staff member Alexx Caceres as they talk about their community food work and seed keeping in particular. We were chatting moments before I (Owen) led a seed keeping workshop for an awesome group of community members and visitors where all had a chance to share knowledge, swap seeds, and shell several types of beans (this part was not recorded, sorry!) After Alexx, you hear from Ms. Marlene Wilks and her twin sister Ms. Pauline Reid while we sit at their farmers market table outside East New York Farms' gates during a bustling market. The two are from Jamaica and have been farming in East New York since 1990 and selling their Caribbean vegetables, herbs, and plants at this market since 2000. Several customers also share about their cultural foods: another Pauline from Jamaica, Molly from Senegal, and chef Desma Ross from Trinidad and Tobago. FOOD AND MEDICINE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Callaloo (Amaranthus spp.) Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) Long Beans (Vigna unguiculata) Jamaican Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) Gungo Peas /…

People in this episode

Hosts: Owen Taylor, Chris Bolden-Newsome

Guests: Jemel Thomas, Gaby, Hope, Alexx Caceres, Pauline, Molly, Desma Ross, Ms Marlene Wilks, Ms Pauline Reid

Topics covered

• community food work
• seed keeping
• Caribbean vegetables
• farming

Keywords

• East New York Farms
• Jamaican vegetables
• herbs
• farmers market

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Jamaican Pumpkin, Callaloo, Bitter Melon, Long Beans, Gungo Peas, Shado Beni, Scotch Bonnet Pepper, Cerasee, Moringa, Guinea Hen Weed

Books & works: Leave it Better, Civil Eats In the Shadow of Slavery

Places: Brooklyn, Jamaica, East New York, Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago, City of New York, New York, New York Times, the Atlantic World

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