Growing and Cooking in Community w/Rootlife & By Brimarie
Growing food in the city is also an opportunity to grow community and healing in more ways than one. Dishaun Harris, aka Farmer D and the founder of Rootlife is a Black urban farmer and filmmaker manifesting the change he wants to see in his community. He stewards 5 community farms around the city of New Haven, CT and collaborates to create programs and events that nourish people’s bodies, minds, and spirits. Briana Mclean, one of Farmer D’s collaborators - is the talented cook behind the culinary business By Brimarie. With a focus on plant-based ingredients, she cooks up well seasoned dishes at the farm-based classes and as part of her weekly prepared meals and catering services. Briana and Dishaun joined me to talk about food as medicine, community and liberation.
Farmer D and Briana can be found at one of 5 urban farms around the city of New Haven, CT through the growing season. You’ll find them growing veggies, cooking, connecting with nature and supporting lots of great community programing centering afro-indigenous wisdom and practices as well as plant-based foods. Follow @rootlife on Instagram or sign up for the email list on his website for announcements of opportunities to volunteer and join in. To enjoy some of By Brimarie’s plant-based prepared meals or catering reach out through her website and try a taste at one of her cooking demos at the farms.
Check out Rootlife's new documentary: Black, Brown & Green: A Digital Palette Of Agriculture In Elm City (New Haven, CT) created with support from the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and the Mellon Foundation.
If you want to purchase food from CT Black and Brown Farmers, consider joining the Liberated Land Cooperative's CSA - 2025 farm share subscription. There is a spring/summer option that starts on June 14, and a fall option that starts on August 23rd. Both seasons are 10 weeks long and have a full or half share option. This amazing cooperative of Black and Brown farmers will also be holding educational workshops this season, so follow them on IG or check their website for more info on this and each of the farms involved. You can also hear stories I recorded with some of these farmers over the past few years including Park City Harvest and Samad Gardens Initiative.
You can also find Rootlife selling micro greens, mushrooms and more at the CitySeed Farmers’ Markets and starting in spring 2025 at the new farm stand at The Shack community center and farm at 333 Valley St in New Haven.
