Seedkeep - Blog Post 1 - Introduction

Hello! My name is Lu :) and this is my first blog post for the fellowship! 

 Q1: What is your ancestor story?

 A: My ancestor story lies in West Africa, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. I identify as Black mixed race, namely Afro-Bahamian (West African/Akan? and Native Lucayan), and Ashkenazi Jewish and British (Belarussian/Welsh). My father is Afro-Bahamian was raised on the island of Eleuthera, in the Bahamas. He was raised by my great-grandmother, who he claims was Afro-Lucayan, the Lucayans being  Indigenous peoples to the Islands. 

My mother was born in Washington, D.C., who's maternal father was a Belarusian Jewish immigrant, who left his home at 16, to escape anti-Semitic state-sanctioned genocide enacted by Russia. My maternal grandfather's side of the family goes back to the 11th century in Wales, and grew up in a white Midwestern Christian family, and his mother was of Lithuanian descent. 

 

What is the path that brought you to this work?

 A: I have been involved in Black and brown-led urban farming spaces since 2018, as an intern, as a volunteer and a worker. I've found a strong sense of self and community with the people I have met and places and spaces I have been privileged to be in thus far across the city. I have pretty minimal experience saving and processing seed. Although, I have never practiced seedkeeping this extensively and in as personalized a way as this until now! I want to start a zine about seeds I'm growing, and have some illustrations and recipes to share. 

 What variety are you growing and how is it meaningful to your story? 

 A: The varieties that I am growing are okra (clemson spineless, it was a pleasure to be introduced to you!), callaloo (to be seen!),in honor of my Afro-Bahamian/West African ancestry. I became more acquainted with okra last year when I was farming. It is one of the more recognizable West African foods, and have also seen it sold in Asian markets and in Korean cooking. As for my Ashkenazi and white settler ancestry, I am hoping to learn the process of saving cabbage seed (unfortunately won't have the chance to grow it because of conditions needed. I feel this program will help me process some intergenerational trauma via colonialism and disconnection, and empower my relationship to and connecting with others through food.