Natasha Bowens, Author, Community Activist and Beginning Farmer
Name: Natasha Bowens
Occupation: Author, Community Activist, Beginning Farmer
Place of Residence: Frederick, Maryland
Background and Personal History: Natasha is a beginning farmer, community activist and author of the forthcoming book, The Color of Food: Stories of Race, Resilience and Farming. As a young biracial woman in today’s food and agricultural movement, she believes in the power of food and storytelling to build and empower community. For the last five years, Natasha has been dedicated to honoring, preserving, and amplifying the stories of Black, Native, Asian and Latino farmers and food activists. She has gathered stories from over 75 farmers and food activists who are revolutionizing the food system and preserving cultural foodways around the country.
Current Projects: Natasha runs The Color of Food photographic storytelling project which she started in 2010 after exploring the intersection of race, food and agriculture on her blog Brown. Girl. Farming. and for Grist magazine. Her work has now garnered national media attention such as The Atlantic, CNN, Bill Moyers and Colorlines. You can see stories and portraits from the project on The Color of Food website, across social media and at live presentations and exhibits nationwide. The book will be published by New Society Publishers this spring and pre-orders are available now.
Natasha is also currently a member of the Future Harvest CASA Beginning Farmer Training Program and is working with the Housing Authority of the City of Frederick to support residents in the community revamp community gardens, sharpen cooking skills and develop a youth educational farm and leadership program. In all of her work, she strives to support connections and empowerment in the POC farmer and food activist community.
Other Fun Facts: Natasha recently married the love of her life. She considers herself a nomad and takes to the open road with her husband whenever she can. She also likes to cook and experiment with making home and garden goods out of old wood and farm materials when she finds spare time.
More Places to Find Natasha on the Web:
Click here to read all of Natasha’s MOTHER EARTH NEWS blog posts.