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A Black-Owned Farm Fights Food Deserts in the Bronx

Provided by: Goodful |Published on: April 27, 2021

Videos Grades 6-8, 9-12

Synopsis

This video shows how community activist and Black feminist Tanya Fields started an urban farm in the Bronx called The Black Joy Farm.
Students will learn how the farm provides the community with affordable access to healthy food, recipes, fresh fruits and vegetables, and locally produced eggs.

Subjects: Civics, Health

Authors: Goodful

Region: New York City

Languages: English

Positives

This video shows students how community members can work to promote healthy food access and green spaces through urban farming.
Tanya Fields explains how imperialism, colonialism, and slavery have negatively impacted Black communities' relationship with growing food.

Prerequisites

The video begins with an advertisement.
Students should be familiar with the concept of a sliding fee to understand how the farm provides free or discounted food boxes to those in need using the revenue from the sale of full-price food boxes.

Differentiation & Implementation

Civics and government classes can research the steps needed to secure a license for a community garden in their own community. Students can discuss what kinds of laws or procedures might make it easier for people of marginalized genders or other historically marginalized groups to access land and licenses to start projects like the Black Joy Farm.
Science and health classes can use this video to talk about why fresh fruits and vegetables are an important component of a healthy diet and better health in general.
Social studies and ethics classes can discuss the problems many lower-income communities face getting access to fresh, healthy food and the compounding effects on the overall health of the community.
Other resources on this topic include this article about a Los Angeles farmer and garden educator, this Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell video that explains the importance of local and seasonal produce, and this video on food extinction and ancient plant varieties.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.