About this item
Imagine the typical American farmer. Many people visualize sun-roughened skin, faded overalls, and calloused hands - hands that are usually white. While there's no doubt the growing trend of organic farming and homesteading is changing how the farmer is portrayed in mainstream media, farmers of color are still largely left out of the picture.The Color of Food seeks to rectify this. By recognizing the critical issues that lie at the intersection of race and food, this stunning collection of portraits and stories challenges the status quo of agrarian identity. Author, photographer, and biracial farmer Natasha Bowens's quest to explore her own roots in the soil leads her to unearth a larger story, weaving together the seemingly forgotten history of agriculture for people of color, the issues they face today, and the culture and resilience they bring to food and farming.
About the Author
Natasha is a beginning farmer, community activist and author of The Color of Food: Stories of Race, Resilience and Farming. As a young biracial woman in today's food and agricultural movement, she believes in the power of food and storytelling to build and empower community. For the last five years, Natasha has been dedicated to honoring, preserving, and amplifying the stories of Black, Native, Asian and Latino farmers and food activists. She has gathered stories from over 75 farmers and food activists who are revolutionizing the food system and preserving cultural foodways around the country.
Natasha runs The Color of Food photographic storytelling project which she started in 2010 after exploring the intersection of race, food and agriculture on her blog Brown. Girl. Farming. and for Grist magazine. Her work has now garnered national media attention such as The Atlantic, VICE, YES!Magazine and Mother Earth News.
Natasha is also currently a member of the Future Harvest CASA Beginning Farmer Training Program and is working in her own community to support two community gardens and develop a youth educational garden and leadership program. In all of her work, she strives to support connections and empowerment in the POC farmer and food activist community.
Other Fun Facts: Natasha recently married the love of her life. She considers herself a nomad and takes to the open road with her husband whenever she can. She also likes to cook and experiment with making home and garden goods out of old wood and farm materials when she finds spare time.
