We Are Each Other's Harvest

We Are Each Other's Harvest

Adult nonfiction
My friend Keith, a genial custodian at the union who bears a
striking resemblence to Santa, and I are talking gardens. There is
snow outside everywhere we look with plenty more expected before we
turn the corner to spring. But we are already looking forward to
composting, planting seeds, weeding, watering, varmint proofing, and
harvesting the fruits of our labor. And enjoying them. Especially the
tomatoes. We love our tomatoes.
With all the yearning to be back at Orono Community Garden
stirring in my heart it's no wonder that I took to Natalie Baszile's
We Are Each Other's Harvest: Celebrating African Farmers, Land, And
Legacy. This hefty volume, gorgeously illustrated with photographs
has poetry and prose interspersed. It's the coffee table volume
you'll actually read before putting it on display and the one your
guests will actually pick up and at least thumb through.
There's a lot in the book that will make you angry. Like
indigenous peoples, Blacks were farming as stewards of the land rather
than exploiters way back before we started kidnapping them to build
white wealth through slavery. But at every turning this country
they've been robbed of just about every bit of land they've gained
stewardship of. Sometimes they've been out and out robbed. Ownership
and development of valuable property and white jealousy and resentment
lay behind a lot of lynchings back in the day. But other methods have
been more covert. Government organizations tasked with helping all
small farmers have histories of only coming through for the Whites.
And then there's the devastation wreaked by lawyers.
But the rest is pure inspiration. Baszile has gone all over the
country--even up to Alaska--collecting the stories of Black farming
operations that are still in the game. These are candid looks behind
the scenes, discussing challenges (human created as well as nature
wrought) alongside backstory, triumphs, and joys.
This magnificent book was very vision driven. Baszile ends her
foreward with this stirring paragraph:
"For now, as we find ourselves reeling with the devastating
effects of climate change, wealth disparity, and global pandemics,
it's my hope that this work contributes to the ongoing conversation
about farming, sustainability, food justice and food sovereignity,
land stewardship, intergenerational wealth, and community. I hope it
shines a light on the systems that continue to rob Black and brown
people of their birthright; that it encourages people of color to
reclaim our legacy and reinvigorates our commitment self
determination; that it motivates people to devise solutions to the
ongoing challenges farmers face; and that it resets the narrative
around labor, inspiring communities of color to reimagine what it
means to be connected to the soil."
On a purrrsonal note, it's been a nice quiet weekend. The highlight
was a Goodwill run Eugene and made. I found a unicorn shirt and a
scrapbook. On the way back we got McDonalds take out which we enjoyed
at home. I am all done with antibiotics and ready for oral surgery.
Two pieces of really good news. I'm getting good homework feedback.
I was especially pleased about getting 37 out of 40 points on a
presentation I thought I bombed. Adam and Asia will be moving to
Portland really close to Katie and Jacob when their lease runs out.
It's hard to find anything anywhere near affordable in Portland. (Jules)
Don't forget their cats. Beans and Delilah will be moving too.
(Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to Adam, Asia, Beans, and Delilah!
Hope the new place is AWESOME!!!
Tobago and Jules Hathaway



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