Of Seed and Soil

Episode 14 (Season Finale): “Across Waters, One Farming Community”

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2598979/fan_mail/new] In the Season Finale of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, host Sommer Sibilly-Brown sits down with Eira Rodríguez, a farmer and advocate from Vieques, Puerto Rico, who works with the collective La Colmena Cimarrona. Eira and her community have been important partners with Virgin Islands Good Food, working together to learn more about each other’s communities and mobilize brigading efforts and mutual aid to support farmers across the Caribbean. Their work reminds us that the challenges facing farmers such as climate change, land access, and food security, do not stop at borders. In this powerful conversation, they discuss:     •    The strength of community-based farming movements in the Caribbean     •    How mutual aid and brigading help farmers recover and rebuild in times of crisis     •    The importance of collaboration across borders, languages, and cultures     •    Why farmers throughout the region must work together to strengthen our food systems This season-ending episode highlights the reality that our islands are deeply connected. When farmers share knowledge, labor, and resources, we build something bigger than any one farm—we build a regional movement for food sovereignty. As this season of Of Seed and Soil comes to a close, we celebrate the farmers, chefs, advocates, educators, and community leaders who have shared their voices and reminded us that our food future depends on cooperation, care, and collective action. Learn more: https://www.goodfoodvi.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodfoodvi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodfood_vi/?hl=en Subscribe and stay connected as we continue uplifting the voices of those growing food, building community, and shaping a more resilient future for our islands.

Episode 13: “Youth Growing the Future”

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2598979/fan_mail/new] In Episode 13 Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, host Sommer Sibilly-Brown sits down with Zavira Wilson, a student at the University of the Virgin Islands and an emerging voice advocating for youth engagement in agriculture and community leadership. Zavira represents a new generation of Virgin Islanders who understand that food security, community safety, and youth empowerment are deeply connected. Through her work and studies, she is helping to inspire young people to see agriculture not only as a career path, but as a powerful tool for strengthening communities and creating opportunities for the future. In this episode, Zavira and Sommer discuss:     •    Why youth involvement in agriculture is essential for the long-term sustainability of the Virgin Islands     •    How agriculture can play a role in building safer, more connected communities     •    The importance of mentorship, education, and opportunity for young people interested in farming and food systems This episode is a reminder that the future of food in the Virgin Islands is already taking root in the hearts and hands of its young people. Learn more at: https://www.goodfoodvi.org [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjYtSUJqWUVOZ1h2bEVFXzBKQVJBQUUxeldhQXxBQ3Jtc0ttdDBiaFVMLXpYRGgxdEFrMlJyUGpPSXo2TWdIVHc2b1FBdWVSbEZWaU9acE43UzdZSjNPQnFwUkhjVEYwVFdfSUhocFNsOHBXM0xpUE1DQk9pWnhER3RYZGhNU2FiazRhTjdIMy0zVkM1RWs1ZDZETQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodfoodvi.org%2F&v=C1EOW4iyj-c] Follow us on Facebook:   / goodfoodvi  [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazVDbkdiVkFlU1duRzMwZFNBYVBBQVNyd1B6Z3xBQ3Jtc0tudDhRcEhNMV8zNmEweFRkTDM2VEtRaUtQS24wVExpbWJzajd3STNhRGhBWXdNSWZOZnZPNjhTNnQwMTlkWUdqQUhHQXFaaWNFUk82eWV2TGhRckJpdlNEUjkzakJITzZibk9BanpHY1lUU2hCWUpPcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgoodfoodvi&v=C1EOW4iyj-c] Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodfood_vi... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEtfSWNTMHNhVzI1eWpsT0VJSF9JWUdiWUM5UXxBQ3Jtc0tuNHQwYUFJeU5VZkpjTG5QbWxiLU5GaEk2RThRYkh6YmEwNE0tNEhfak1Qd1o2UVZBQkpQTDJiMkNXU1BINUk0RTAzQjVvZmdoU1Utb2xOS01WdnFpVlFEb0Q2ZC13Ym9PcjFuaFZ6a096Ukp4M09oNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fgoodfood_vi%2F%3Fhl%3Den&v=C1EOW4iyj-c] Subscribe and follow for more conversations with the farmers, advocates, and leaders growing a more resilient food system in the Virgin Islands.

Episode 12: “It Takes a Village to Feed a Village”

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2598979/fan_mail/new] In this special installment of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, host Sommer Sibilly‑Brown sits down with Tarik and Tamara McMillan, co‑founders of Greater Changes LLC, a liberation‑focused behavioral health and wellness agency rooted in Caribbean culture and community empowerment.  Together, they explore the holistic power of building community around farmers—not only through physical support but through emotional, cultural, and mental well‑being as well. This episode shows that farmers do not flourish in isolation; they thrive when the whole community actively champions their work, sustains their spirit, and removes the stigma around mental health that so often burdens those who carry the heaviest loads.  In this episode, they discuss: ---Why supporting farmers mentally and physically is essential for resilient local food systems ---How Caribbean family values and shared history shape collective nourishment and mutual care ---The role of community in sustaining farmers’ well‑being—not as an optional add‑on but as a core component of food sovereignty This episode is a reminder that genuine food justice lives at the intersection of care, connection, and shared responsibility. When we invest in each other—body, mind, and spirit—we cultivate more than food: we cultivate community. 🌱 Learn more at: www.goodfoodvi.org 📲 Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfoodvi 📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfood_vi 🎧 Subscribe and follow for more conversations that nourish the heart, elevate the land, and remind us why we grow together.

Episode 11: Inheriting Land, Carrying Responsibility

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2598979/fan_mail/new] In Episode 11 of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, we speak with daughter of the soil, Emmanuella Perez-Cassius, a generational landowner, consumer advocate in St. Croix, who shares a deeply personal and practical conversation about what it means to inherit land and truly honor it. With land passed down from her grandfather and father, Emmanuella offers a candid look at the responsibility that comes with ancestral land ownership. She speaks to the challenges and opportunities of managing land as both a sacred inheritance and a working asset, while advocating for policies and practices that support consumers and economic sustainability. In this episode, Emmanuella explores: -----The emotional, cultural, and financial realities of being a land steward -----The importance of being an informed consumer -----The need for Virgin Islanders to maximize land ownership for themselves and future generations -----Her personal journey of learning, leading, and building through the lens of community empowerment This episode is a testament to what it looks like when legacy meets leadership, and how land plays such an important role.  🌱 Learn more at: www.goodfoodvi.org 📲 Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfoodvi 📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfood_vi 🎧 Subscribe and follow for more rooted conversations with the people building the food future of the Virgin Islands.

Episode 10: Cultivating the Future of Agriculture in the Virgin Islands

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2598979/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, we speak with Louis Emanuel Petersen, Jr., Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, about the bold path forward for food and farming across the territory. A lifelong advocate for agriculture with ancestral roots in farming, Commissioner Petersen shares how his upbringing, education, and return home to the Virgin Islands shaped his vision for a thriving, self-sustaining food system. His passion for agriculture runs deep, not just in policy, but in practice, mentorship, and legacy-building. In this episode, Commissioner Petersen discusses: * His personal journey back to the land and what it means to serve his community through this work * The intention and purpose behind the Territorial Agricultural Plan * Why agriculture is a viable business opportunity and a path to economic resilience * The Department’s efforts to expand staff capacity and strengthen local support systems * His commitment to recruiting and inspiring young Virgin Islanders to return home and enter agriculture This episode is both a roadmap and a call to action—inviting a new generation to plant roots, grow businesses, and feed the territory with pride and purpose. Learn more at: www.goodfoodvi.org Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfoodvi Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfood_vi Subscribe and follow for more stories from the land, the leaders, and the local visionaries shaping the future of food in the Virgin Islands.