EP. 32: East New York Farms and Caribbean Vegetables and Herbs in Brooklyn

This episode, recorded in late September 2024, features the voices and wisdom of East New York Farms youth leaders Jemel Thomas, Gaby, and Hope, as well as staff member Alexx Caceres as they talk about their community food work and seed keeping in particular. We were chatting moments before I (Owen) led a seed keeping workshop for an awesome group of community members and visitors where all had a chance to share knowledge, swap seeds, and shell several types of beans (this part was not recorded, sorry!)

After Alexx, you hear from Ms. Marlene Wilks and her twin sister Ms. Pauline Reid while we sit at their farmers market table outside East New York Farms' gates during a bustling market. The two are from Jamaica and have been farming in East New York since 1990 and selling their Caribbean vegetables, herbs, and plants at this market since 2000. Several customers also share about their cultural foods: another Pauline from Jamaica, Molly from Senegal, and chef Desma Ross from Trinidad and Tobago. 

FOOD AND MEDICINE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Callaloo (Amaranthus spp.)

• Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)

• Long Beans (Vigna unguiculata)

• Jamaican Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata)

• Gungo Peas / Pigeon Peas (Cajanus cajan)

• Shado Beni / Culantro (Eryngium foetidum)

• Scotch Bonnet Pepper (Capsicum chinense)

• Cerasee (Momordica charantia)

• Moringa (Moringa oleifera)

• Guinea Hen Weed (Petiveria alliacea)

• Soursop (Annona muricata)

• Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus)

LINKS:

• East New York Farmers Market (homepage)

• East New York Farms (instagram)

• GreenThumb, City of New York

• Marlene Wilks at East New York Farms

• Pauline Reid at East New York Farms by Leave it Better

• New York gardens produce Caribbean treasures - New York Times / The Bulletin

• A Community of Growers How East New York Farms builds food security and provides jobs for its neighborhood. - Civil Eats

• In the Shadow of Slavery: Africa’s Botanical Legacy in the Atlantic World by Judith Carney

THIS EPISODE SUPPORTED BY:

• • YOU! Please become a Patron for $1 or more a month at Patreon.com/trueloveseeds
  • The No-Till Market Growers Podcast Network (which includes our friends at the Seed Farmer Podcast)
  • Scribe Video Center and WPEB, West Philly Community Radio

ABOUT:

Seeds And Their People is a radio show where we feature seed stories told by the people who truly love them. Hosted by Owen Taylor of Truelove Seeds and Chris Bolden-Newsome of Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden.

trueloveseeds.com/blogs/satpradio

FIND OWEN HERE:

Truelove Seeds

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FIND CHRIS HERE:

Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden

THANKS TO:

• Youth: Jemel, Gaby, and Hope
• Staff: Alexx Caceres and East New York Farms
• Ms. Marlene Wilks and Ms. Pauline Reid
• Customers: Pauline, Molly, and Desma Ross
• Elissa Fredeen of Scribe Video Center