ANONYMOUS
PORTLAND, OREGON
WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY DOING? (WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING, ETC)
I am currently in the process of applying to a farm incubator program to start my own farm during the 2021 season.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FARMING?
I have farmed for one season (March through October 2020), as part of a farm apprenticeship for an intensive mixed vegetable organic farm. But as a teen I spent summers working as a picker on berry farms (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc).
WHAT INITIALLY BROUGHT YOU TO THE FIELDS?
The main reason was my desire to reconnect to my Indigenous identity. I am a Zapoteco from what is now the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. My family has stewarded the land since time immemorial, but as a result of colonialism, neoliberalism, and imperialism my family was forced to leave our homeland and migrate to the United States. Here in the U.S. our only connection to the land has mostly been as exploited Indigenous migrant workers. I am trying to shift my relationship to the land from one of exploitation to one of healing. I am reclaiming my relationship with agriculture. I am especially interested in cultivating Indigenous foods and making that accessible to my community.
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN TO FARM FOR SOMEONE ELSE (NOW OR IN THE PAST?)
I did so for educational purposes. I completed a farm apprenticeship program that would give me the knowledge and skills to go out and start my own farm. I don’t have access to land or family wealth, so I couldn’t just go out and start a farm and learn as I went. The only real option I had was to complete an apprenticeship program.
WHAT ARE SOME ISSUES FOR FARMERS WORKING ON SOMEONE ELSE'S FARM - ISSUES THAT YOU'VE WITNESSED OR EXPERIENCED?
My biggest issue was that both of my supervisors were white men while the farm crew was composed of mostly women of color. That type of power dynamic will always inherently result in violence towards the non-white/non-male folks. Whenever we tried to voice our concerns to reduce harm, we were gaslit and told that our demands were not realistic. It was especially violent when they would make comments about wanting us to work faster or do things their way. There was lots of emotional labor on the worker end to continually educate our supervisors on how their behaviors/actions were problematic and violent. They would say that they would try and do better, but at the end of the day they did not.
CAN YOU TELL ME THE QUALITIES OF A DREAM FARM NOT LEADING TO OWNERSHIP - THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO WORK ON?
In the context of small scale organic farming, I want to see more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color farming. I would love to see folks being more intentional about building community and supporting one another. I would love to see white supervisors attend workshops on anti-racism/sexism and hold themselves more accountable. Would love to decenter productivity as a core aspect of farming. I also would love to see more farms with social justice missions.
A big aspect for me is changing the work culture around farming. Lots of farmers I know like to emphasize how they work 70-80 hours (or more sometimes) a week. I think doing that perpetuates unhealthy and unsustainable conditions that are damaging in the long run.
“Here in the U.S. our only connection to the land has mostly been as exploited Indigenous migrant workers. I am trying to shift my relationship to the land from one of exploitation to one of healing. I am reclaiming my relationship with agriculture.”
WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK?
The type of farms I want to work at (BIPOC lead, regenerative practices, urban, collectively led) are not really at a point where they could hire people and pay them living wages. The only real options I have are to start my own farm or to work for white folks in a rural setting. I am thankful that I have access to a farm incubator program that will give me access to land in a mostly safe space (have equity values and firm stance on supporting beginning BIPOC farmers). It would be exhausting, but if I didn’t have any other choice I would work for white farmers.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE DIFFERENCE (IF ANY) BETWEEN A FARMER AND A "FARM WORKER"/"FARM EMPLOYEE" BESIDES PROPRIETORSHIP?
A big thing for me is recognition. For example, my friend worked at a small scale flower farm. The actual farmer (owner) didn’t do any of the work, but she took credit for all the work and never recognized the existence of any of her crew. This was at least the case for the farms social media presence. There is also lots of emotional labor that you sometimes have to perform that often goes unrecognized/unvalued.
DO YOU CALL YOURSELF A FARMER? WHY OR WHY NOT.
I do because we basically do the same labor (if not more). I sort of see it as an act of reclaiming my labor.
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE WORKING ON FARMS NOT THEIR OWN?
I don’t know what it would look like, but some type of union/organizing body. More education about our rights, especially for those located in more rural settings. It would be great if there were some website or database where people could write reviews about their experience working at a farm (if would be a great resource for future folks seeking employment there).
ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOURSELF & YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FARMING? WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT?
I just wanted to recognize my privilege as a person who is college educated and english speaking. My experience is definitely not the same as someone who recently migrated here, who does not have a legal status, and who may not speak english or even spanish. My heart hurts for undocumented farm workers who continue to be exploited.
I look forward to continuing the work of dismantling farms systems that were built on violence and exploitation. We will be free.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION/TAKE ON THE FARMER LUNCH? (DO YOU TAKE LUNCH, DO YOU SKIP LUNCH, DO YOU ENJOY TAKING LUNCH WITH YOUR CREW - FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING, IS THERE PRESSURE TO BE SOCIAL....)
To build camaraderie we took lunch as a whole crew. For the most part this was great. I think it's important to take breaks and care for oneself/each other. Especially if you want to farm for the long run. As with any group dynamic though, conflict is inevitable and we definitely had our share of uncomfortable and tense lunches.