“Food, Land, and Us”: La Semilla’s Farm Bill Zine Offers a Tool for Change

La Semilla Storytelling Staff
September 3, 2021

One week out from the release of our Farm Bill zine, we reflect on the purpose and potential impact of this collaboration as we move forward in our work on the ground. “Food, Land, and Us: A Look at the Farm Bill from the Paso del Norte Region” is one example of the ongoing efforts La Semilla is doing to uncover and uplift histories and lived experiences from our region. By laying bare these complex histories of food and agriculture here, we share an opportunity to learn and understand the world we live in today and our role in shaping history moving forward.

We acknowledge the current attacks on critical approaches to teaching history in the U.S. and also understand that these attempts to stifle truths are not new. This aggression is often rooted in willful ignorance and hate, as well as fear. This is an ongoing battle to respond to the intentional erasure of history and an attack on critical thinking. For those of us working within food justice, we know how closely tied histories of racism and other injustices are to our food systems. We also know how powerful folks coming together can be and how collective action shapes the present and, eventually, history.

Many of us grew up attending public schools in a system that largely excluded our local histories and community experiences due to standardized testing. We know the severe limitations and responsibility that are placed on our educators, especially during this ongoing pandemic. “Food, Land, and Us” is one effort to present an honest history in all its complexities. We see complexity as an opportunity to learn and understand the world we live in more fully. We also know the impact of seeing ourselves and our communities represented in these histories can have on spurring action.

We invite you to continue on this journey as we share and gather regional foodways stories from the past and present. Through storytelling and art we will meet the erasures with creation and visibility. Through these efforts, we strive to gain more understanding of our literal place in the world, to name and rectify past harms, and to envision a collective path towards life-affirming food systems.

Our stories matter, and through this work, our stories will spread.

View, download, and purchase “Food, Land, and Us” at our store.

View a recording of our virtual release and panel discussion here.