Speaker 1: Illinois, farmers and advocates are at the nation’s capital this week to pressure Congress on a new federal farm bill. The previous farm bill which governs a huge range of food and land programs was extended but expires this fall. The group from Illinois is pushing for the next bill to address climate change and racial injustice. Joining us on the line from DC is Natasha Nichols. Thanks for being with

Speaker 2: us. Thanks for having me

Speaker 1: and Natasha, you’re the founder of we. So we grow in Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood. Tell us about we so we grow

Speaker 2: well, the we so we grow project was born out of a desire to connect the community to their food because so often those of us who live in large cities don’t really understand how food gets directly to our tables. We just assume that we go to the grocery store and we have it.

Speaker 1: You know what I heard today that we were gonna be talking about the federal farm bill. Like a lot of people, I was thinking, you know, farming, we picture rural downstate parts of Illinois. But the work that’s governed by the farm bill is very present in cities like Chicago as well. Right.

Speaker 2: Very much so. Um whether people know it or not, we have a very robust urban ag space within any of the 77 neighborhoods that are around the City of Chicago. You can find community gardens, urban farms or other spaces that will teach you how the food that you eat gets to you.

Speaker 1: You’re advocating this week for something called the Justice for Black Farmers Act. What would that legislation do?

Speaker 2: Well, the Justice for Black Farmers Act recognizes the history of discrimination within the U.S.. D A against black farmers and ranchers and it really seeks to correct and prevent further discrimination in the federal agriculture system. Um This bill would bring critical reforms to the U.S.. D A. It would enact policies to protect against land loss and then it would also reinvest in existing and aspiring black farmers. So essentially just giving equity for every single farmer despite their racial background, black

Speaker 1: farmers have been fighting for more justice for years. Do you have hope that this Congress will actually be able to do something

Speaker 2: that I always have? Hope. We always have hope. We’ll, we’ll never ever let go of that hope. Um And we’re also hoping that our elected officials will understand that it is just an inherent right for the people who are producing the food and making sure that the food gets to the consumers will do right by every grower out there.

Speaker 1: Let’s pivot to climate change. It’s certainly a big threat that’s facing farmers. How are you trying to ensure that the next farm bill helps the food sector stay resilient?

Speaker 2: Well, we are also pushing for the agriculture resilience and that would help farmers to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Um It’ll strengthen every farm, whether we’re urban or rural with research, conservation and energy investments. Essentially, we just want to be really, really good stewards over the land that we’ve been entrusted with. Um And we want to make sure that we’re leaving the land better than we found it for the future growers of the world.

Speaker 1: Like we mentioned, you’re in Washington DC and tomorrow you’ll be meeting directly with legislators who serve on the agriculture committees. What’s your plan? What are you gonna tell them?

Speaker 2: We’ve been inman for the last eight years and we just want to make sure that we have all of the tools and the support that we need in order to continue growing great food. And we are pretty lucky in Illinois to have folks who support the farm bill already. They just need to put faces to, to the people who support them and are asking for their support.

Speaker 1: Natasha Nichols is the founder and director of we, so we grow on Chicago’s South Side. She’s in Washington DC to meet with members of Congress about the next farm bill. Thanks so much for speaking with us, Natasha. Thank you so

Speaker 2: much. For having me.

Speaker 1: This is WBEZ.

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