Who Will Feed Us

We are so excited to announce that our team is currently in production and fundraising mode for a 2nd season of the podcast. We can't share too much about what it will look like yet but we can share that it'll include the same great team as in season one, that we'll have a new name for season two, that we'll bring the same lens of Food Sovereignty to every episode, and that the podcast will be released in the springtime of 2023. We know everyone is constantly bombarded with appeals for money these days, and there are many places you can choose to put your money. We hope that after season one, you've seen the value in what we're trying to do with this podcast and enjoyed the content we've put into the world. After putting hundreds of hours into season one, we're a lot wiser and more knowledgeable about what it'll take to do this work this winter and are ready to jump into it with both feet. However, we know how important money is to making this happen and ensuring the same quality of guests and production as in season one. That's why we've created a fundraising campaign...to ask for your help in making this happen. The good news is that we're already more than 60% of the way toward being fully funded thanks to a significant sponsorship but we still need a last push to get to our fundraising goal and make sure this podcast can be every bit as good as season one and hopefully even better! If you can afford to and enjoyed season one of the podcast we hope you'll consider sending a little money our way to help take season two from a great idea to fully formed series wherever podcasts are found... We can’t do this without you! You can find details and give to our campaign at: https://gofund.me/0c91b0a3 Links:  Fundraiser: https://gofund.me/0c91b0a3

In the final episode of our series we’re going to be revisiting agroecology and how it may offer a solution to some of the many challenges that we’ve identified in our current agricultural system. Our guest for this episode is Jessie MacInnis, a peasant farmer, academic, and activist, who has been involved in conversations on agroecology at local and international levels. She will break down the mystery of agroecology and explain how it is useful for her farm and can be useful for farmers of all scales. It’s a great conversation and it helps debunk the myth that small farmers cannot feed the world.  Jessie MacInnis is a small-scale, first generation agroecological farmer and scholar-activist based in unceded and unsurrendered Mi'kmaq territory (aka Nova Scotia), Canada. She is currently the Youth President of the National Farmers Union of Canada. She has been extensively involved with La Via Campesina regionally and internationally for a number of years. She recently graduated from the first cohort of the Master of Human Rights (MHR) program at the University of Manitoba. Check out the following for more about the NFU, La Via Campesina, and Spring Tide Farm. La Via Campesina: Agroecology National Farmers Union Who will feed us? | National Farmers Union spring tide farm 🥕 (@springtide.farm) • Instagram photos and videos As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF) Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the guest and producers of this podcast do not necessarily represent the thoughts, opinions or policy of our sponsors, including that of the National Farmers Union.

In this episode we’re examining this country’s agricultural system through the lens of decolonization and focusing on the importance of Indigenous foodways. Our guest, Tiffany Traverse, tells us about her work with Fourth Sister Farm, preserving traditional Indigenous foods and reframing our relationship with seeds and with the land. Tiffany is of Secwepemc and European descent. With Fourth Sister Farm she grows rare varieties of vegetables, fruits and other plants that are traditional to both Secwepemc and other Indigenous peoples. The goal of the farm is to connect with other seed and land stewards, and encourage community members to strive for stronger food security without extraction. More info about Tiffany’s work, Fourth Sister Farm, and other Indigenous land/ seed stewards (per Tiffany’s recommendation) : Fourth Sister Farm website Fourth Sister Farm instagram Fourth Sister Farm - Facebook Tiffany’s List of Indigenous Seed & Land Stewards: Dawn Morrison - Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty Rowen White - Sierra Seeds, Indigenous Seedkeepers Network Caroline Chartrand - Tiffany’s Mentor & Metis Seedkeeper Julian Napoleon - Cree/Dene Farmer at Amisk Farm and Head Grower at Twin Sisters Native Plant Nursery Jacob & Jessica Beaton - Tea Creek Farm (Indigenous Teaching Farm) Janice Brant - Seedkeeper and Educator at Kenhteke Seed Sanctuary and Learning Centre Indigenous Solidarity Working Group | National Farmers Union. As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF) Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the guest and producers of this podcast do not necessarily represent the thoughts, opinions or policy of our sponsors, including that of the National Farmers Union. ETC GROUP Links Who will feed us third edition (2017):  https://www.etcgroup.org/whowillfeedus Who will feed us animations (2018): https://www.etcgroup.org/content/new-video-who-will-feed-us-peasant-food-web-vs-industrial-food-chain

The unequal price of food starts with production! Our guest, Cheyenne Sundance, highlights the necessity of paying fair wages for farm work and in making small scale farming a viable livelihood and step to achieving food sovereignty. We’ll dive into the tension between food prices and fair wages while getting into one of Sundance Harvest’s central goals of providing dignified work to people who have historically been shut out from an equitable place in agriculture. Small scale farmers feed the world, so let’s make sure they are fairly compensated! Cheyenne Sundance is the director of Sundance Harvest, a year round urban farm growing flowers, herbs, mushrooms, and veg in Toronto. Cheyenne started Sundance Harvest from nothing but stubbornness, a nurturing love of the land and a drive to see true equity in agriculture. She sits on the Ontario board of the National Farmers Union as well as started the first BIPOC Farmers Caucus across Canada with the National Farmers Union and now sits on the Executive Board. For more about Cheyenne and Sundance Harvest, check out the following links. Sundance Harvest BIPOC Advisory Committee | National Farmers Union sundance harvest (@sundanceharvest) • Instagram photos and videos As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF) Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the guest and producers of this podcast do not necessarily represent the thoughts, opinions or policy of our sponsors, including that of the National Farmers Union. ETC GROUP Links Who will feed us third edition (2017):  https://www.etcgroup.org/whowillfeedus Who will feed us animations (2018): https://www.etcgroup.org/content/new-video-who-will-feed-us-peasant-food-web-vs-industrial-food-chain

This episode draws attention to the very real impacts of the climate crisis on farmers and our food production system generally. Farmers are feeling the impacts now and need to be a part of the solution! We will hear from Arzeena Hamir, organic farmer and politician, about the important role that Farmers for Climate Solutions is playing in shaping agricultural policy and informing growers about steps that can be taken towards on-farm climate adaptation. Arzeena Hamir and her husband Neil own Amara Farm, a 26-acre certified organic farm in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. She is a local politician and was a co-chair of the Farmers for Climate Solutions Policy Task Force. Arzeena is committed to climate action on her own diversified farm and in ensuring that farmers’ concerns are voiced in policy and regulatory spaces. Dig deeper! Read more about Farmers for Climate Solutions, NFU’s climate policy, and Amara Farm. Farmers for Climate Solutions National Farmers Union Imagine If: A Vision of a Near-Zero-Emission Farm and Food System for Canada | National Farmers Union Amara Farm FB: https://www.facebook.com/arzeena & https://www.facebook.com/AmaraFarm Twitter: @arzeena & @AmaraFarm Amara Farm (@amara_farm) • Instagram photos and videos www.rootedoak.ca @rootedoakfarm As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF) Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the guest and producers of this podcast do not necessarily represent the thoughts, opinions or policy of our sponsors, including that of the National Farmers Union. ETC GROUP Links Who will feed us third edition (2017):  https://www.etcgroup.org/whowillfeedus Who will feed us animations (2018): https://www.etcgroup.org/content/new-video-who-will-feed-us-peasant-food-web-vs-industrial-food-chain

This episode offers a deep exploration of the multi-faceted migrant farm labour crisis. Kit Andres, from the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, offers insight into the unstable foundation of our current agricultural system due to lack of access to permanent residency and work permits that tie workers to their employers. Farming is skilled labour, so policy and treatment of workers should reflect that. Tune in to learn more about how we can work together to uplift migrant workers and build a stronger food system! Kit Andres is a 3rd generation white settler in the Niagara region of Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe territory. As someone with citizenship status, they are united with their migrant, refugee, and undocumented neighbours to win full and permanent immigration status for all. Kit is a farmworker organizer with Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, which serves as secretariat for the Migrant Rights Network, the country's largest migrant-led coalition. Learn more about migrant farm labour and migrant rights! Migrant Workers Alliance for Change Migrant Rights Network Migrant and Undocumented People Expect Full & Permanent Immigration Status for All Migrant Worker Subcommittee | National Farmers Union Twitter: @MWACCanada Instagram: @MigrantWorkersAlliance Facebook: /MigrantWorkersAlliance As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF) Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the guest and producers of this podcast do not necessarily represent the thoughts, opinions or policy of our sponsors, including that of the National Farmers Union. ETC GROUP Links Who will feed us third edition (2017):  https://www.etcgroup.org/whowillfeedus Who will feed us animations (2018): https://www.etcgroup.org/content/new-video-who-will-feed-us-peasant-food-web-vs-industrial-food-chain

Episode 3: Land Access and the Financialization of Land Hosts: Madeline Marmor and Ayla Fenton In today’s episode we will learn about land access issues, specifically the financialization of farm land with our guest Katherine Aske.  We’re going to clarify the difference between valuing land as a financial asset, a commodity and valuing land by its productivity. Access to farmland is one of the main factors gatekeeping agriculture because of the colonial context, financial challenges, and land grabbing done by speculative investors. Katherine shares findings from her research about land tenure models in the Canadian context. Our guest, Katherine Aske, grew up in Mi'kma'ki. From 2019-2020, she interviewed grain and oilseed farmers across Alberta for her MA research into the financialization of farmland. She has worked as a farm worker in Alaska and around Vancouver, and is currently farming on unceded Musqueam territory as UBC Farm's Practicum Field Coordinator. She previously worked for the National Farmers Union (NFU) in New Brunswick, and is now involved in leading the NFU's Farmland Committee.  For more about land issues and Kat’s farming experience, check out the links below. http://nationalfarmersfoundation.ca/ Losing Our Grip How a Corporate Farmland Buy-up, Rising Farm Debt, and Agribusiness Financing of Inputs Threaten Family Farms and Food Sovereignty | National Farmers Union Protecting the Commons | National Farmers Union  Farmland Ownership | National Farmers Union About Us | CSFS at UBC Farm landfoodsovereignty.ca As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF) Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the guest and producers of this podcast do not necessarily represent the thoughts, opinions or policy of our sponsors, including that of the National Farmers Union. ETC GROUP Links Who will feed us third edition (2017):  https://www.etcgroup.org/whowillfeedus Who will feed us animations (2018): https://www.etcgroup.org/content/new-video-who-will-feed-us-peasant-food-web-vs-industrial-food-chain

In today’s episode we will learn about land access issues, specifically the financialization of growing/farm land with our guest Katherine Aske.  We’re going to clarify the difference between valuing land as a financial asset, a commodity and valuing land by its productivity. Access to farmland is one of the main factors gatekeeping agriculture because of the colonial context, financial challenges, and land grabbing done by speculative investors. Katherine shares findings from her research about land tenure models in the Canadian context. Our guest, Katherine Aske, grew up in Mi'kma'ki. From 2019-2020, she interviewed grain and oilseed farmers across Alberta for her MA research into the financialization of farmland. She has worked as a farm worker in Alaska and around Vancouver, and is currently farming on unceded Musqueam territory as UBC Farm's Practicum Field Coordinator. She previously worked for the National Farmers Union (NFU) in New Brunswick, and is now involved in leading the NFU's Farmland Committee. Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the guest and producers of this podcast do not necessarily represent the thoughts, opinions or policy of our sponsors, including that of the National Farmers Union. Hosts: Madeline Marmor & Ayla Fenton Bio: Ayla is a first-generation farmer and community organizer. She graduated from Queen's University in 2011 with a B. Sc (Honours) in Biology, and since 2013 has been working on local organic farms, learning regenerative production methods for vegetables, livestock, cereal grains and dairy. Since. Ayla has been a board member of the National Farmers Union, and is a former Youth President.  Maddie is a landless farmer born in downtown Toronto. She has been farming for the past 7 years on farms throughout Ontario and has grown food on the current and traditional lands of the Houdensaunee, Anishinabewaki, Attiwonderonk, Mississauga, Odawa, Wendake-Nionwentsïo, Petun, Saugeene - Ojibiway nations.Over the years she has come to recognize the privilege and political significance of farming on stolen land, knowledge which has informed her dedication to food sovereignty and agroecology. She is a member of the National Farmers Union and sits on the Climate Justice collective for the international social movement La Via Campesina. For more about land issues and Kat’s farming experience, check out the links below. http://nationalfarmersfoundation.ca/ Losing Our Grip How a Corporate Farmland Buy-up, Rising Farm Debt, and Agribusiness Financing of Inputs Threaten Family Farms and Food Sovereignty | National Farmers Union Protecting the Commons | National Farmers Union  Farmland Ownership | National Farmers Union About Us | CSFS at UBC Farm As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF) ETC GROUP Links Who will feed us third edition (2017):  https://www.etcgroup.org/whowillfeedus Who will feed us animations (2018): https://www.etcgroup.org/content/new-video-who-will-feed-us-peasant-food-web-vs-industrial-food-chain

Description: In this episode we’re talking about the corporatization and financialization of agriculture with Cathy Holtslander, National Farmers Union Director of Research and Policy. This episode gives us a historical account of market power in Canadian agriculture and shows how policy from the top down has enabled corporate consolidation.  Cathy details what the impact has been on farmers, and what we can do about it.  We are reminded that our ultimate goal of food sovereignty is in direct conflict with corporate agriculture. In addition to working as the Director of Research and Policy for the NFU, Cathy Operates an organic grain farm with her partner in Saskatchewan and has been advocating for sustainable and just farm policy since the early 1990s. Links from the Episode: http://nationalfarmersfoundation.ca/ National Farmers Union Food Sovereignty | National Farmers Union Policy matters | National Farmers Union Catherine Holts (@catholts) / Twitter NationalFarmersUnion (@NFUcanada) / Twitter www.rootedoak.ca @rootedoakfarm As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF) http://nationalfarmersfoundation.ca/ Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the guest and producers of this podcast do not necessarily represent the thoughts, opinions or policy of our sponsors, including that of the National Farmers Union. Bios Host: Ayla Fenton Bio: Ayla is a first-generation farmer and community organizer. She graduated from Queen's University in 2011 with a B. Sc (Honours) in Biology, and since 2013 has been working on local organic farms, learning regenerative production methods for vegetables, livestock, cereal grains and dairy. Since. Ayla has been a board member of the National Farmers Union, and is a former Youth President. She has been involved with organizing young farmers and farmworkers nationally and internationally, advocating for the transition to agroecology, food sovereignty and climate justice. Ayla also represents the NFU in the global peasant movement La Via Campesina. Stuart Oke : Stuart is a young farmer from Eastern Ontario who, alongside his partner Nikki, owns and operates Rooted Oak Farm, a 12 acre organic vegetable and cut flower farm. After years of renting land Rooted Oak has recently relocated to Eastern Ontario, and the traditional territory of the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudensaunee and Oneida Peoples. Stuart is the former Youth President for the National Farmers Union and current Vice President for Canadian Organic Growers. He also serves on the Policy and Government Relations Working Group for the National Farmer Coalition Farmers for Climate Solutions. ETC GROUP Links Who will feed us third edition (2017):  https://www.etcgroup.org/whowillfeedus Who will feed us animations (2018): https://www.etcgroup.org/content/new-video-who-will-feed-us-peasant-food-web-vs-industrial-food-chain

Description: Welcome to the Who Will Feed Us Podcast! In this first episode, we will meet our host, Ayla Fenton and our three co-hosts: Stuart Oke, Aliyah Fraser, and Madeline Marmor. Together, they will introduce the podcast and set the scene: who they are; why they wanted to create a podcast from the perspective of young farmers; and, what they hope to achieve/gain/offer from the process. Join our hosts as they lay the groundwork for the episodes to come and explore the forces that shape our food production system. Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the guests and producers of this podcast do not necessarily represent the thoughts, opinions or policy of our sponsors, including that of the National Farmers Union. Host: Ayla Fenton Bio: Ayla is a first-generation farmer and community organizer. She graduated from Queen's University in 2011 with a B. Sc (Honours) in Biology, and since 2013 has been working on local organic farms, learning regenerative production methods for vegetables, livestock, cereal grains and dairy. Since. Ayla has been a board member of the National Farmers Union, and is a former Youth President. She has been involved with organizing young farmers and farmworkers nationally and internationally, advocating for the transition to agroecology, food sovereignty and climate justice. Ayla also represents the NFU in the global peasant movement La Via Campesina. As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation http://nationalfarmersfoundation.ca/ Show notes/links http://nationalfarmersfoundation.ca/ www.whowillfeedus.ca www.nfu.ca @NFUCanada https://viacampesina.org/en/ www.rootedoak.ca @rootedoakfarm https://luckybugfarm.com/  @luckybugfarm ETC GROUP Links Who Will Feed Us first edition( 2009) - https://www.etcgroup.org/content/who-will-feed-us Who will feed us Posters (2013) :https://www.etcgroup.org/content/poster-who-will-feed-us-industrial-food-chain-or-peasant-food-webs Who will feed us third edition (2017):  https://www.etcgroup.org/whowillfeedus Who Will Feed Us Video (Pat and Nnimmo) (2017 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE4ubI5XkA4 Who will feed us animations (2018): https://www.etcgroup.org/content/new-video-who-will-feed-us-peasant-food-web-vs-industrial-food-chain

Welcome to Who Will Feed Us, a podcast by young farmers exploring the forces that shape Canadian agriculture and the solutions needed to build a more just and ecologically sustainable food system. Throughout a nine episode arc, a variety of guests, including activists, policy advocates, and of course other farmers, farmworkers, seedkeepers and food providers, will share individual experiences as they help hosts, and listeners, understand some of the underpinnings of what we believe is a food system that serves no one a healthy meal. Episode One Drops May 15th and biweekly thereafter.  As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF) http://nationalfarmersfoundation.ca/