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Shane Bernardo On Food Justice And The Power Of Food To Connect Us To The Past

Shane Bernardo tends to cucumber vines growing in a hoop house
Shane Bernardo tends to cucumber vines growing in a hoop house

“Detroit often gets presented as this wasteland--as this post-industrial wasteland, where nothing exists. And a lot of young folks and the media are taking advantage of this wasteland narrative to present urban farming as this new thing.”--Shane Bernardo

This week we’re giving a second listen to a conversation with Shane Bernardo who does community organizing in Detroit around issues of food justice. Our conversation touches on urban farming, intergenerational trauma, and the power of food to connect us with the traditions of those who have come before us.

And we wrap up the show with a crisp apple cocktail recipe from Cardinal Spirits, our local craft distillery.

Links to Shane’s work, and organizations he mentions in the interview:

Food as Healing–Shane Bernardo’s website

Pathology of Displacement: The Intersection of Food Justice and Culture–a Why Hunger publication by Shane Bernardo. The article can also be found here.

Feedom Freedom

D-Town Farm

Oakland Avenue

The Boggs Center

Detroit Summer

Earth Works Urban Farm

Gardening Angels

I am sure there are many ways to make Lugaw, the dish Shane mentions in the interview. I found this video to give you an idea of what it’s like, in case you’ve never had it.

Music on this episode:

Semilanceata by Dr.Doctor from the Free Music Archive

The Earth Eats’ theme music is composed by Erin Tobey and performed by Erin and Matt Tobey.

Kayte Young discovered her passion for growing, cooking, foraging and preserving fresh food when she moved to Bloomington in 2007. With a background in construction, architecture, nutrition education and writing, she brings curiosity and a love of storytelling to a show about all things edible. Kayte raises bees, a small family and a yard full of food in Bloomington’s McDoel Gardens neighborhood.