The Northeast Farmers of Color Network

Who and What is the “Network”?

The Northeast Farmers of Color network (NEFOC Network) is an informal alliance of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian farmers making our lives on land in the Northeast region (New England, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Middle Atlantic, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania.) There are 21 founding member-farms of NEFOC and a total of over 600 farmers, land stewards, and earth workers in our network.

Currently, the NEFOC Network exists as a members-only listserv* and we also gather regionally and annually for skillshares and knowledge exchanges.

We have the following purposes:

1. To break the isolation of being farmers of color in the Northeast by building relationships of mutual respect and joy, the foundation of all other movement work.

2. To share skills, resources, and time with one other through mutual aid. To build collaborative projects and initiatives.

3. To coordinate our policy demands and catalyze reparations for Black-Indigenous-POC farmers and land stewards.

Eligibility:

• Location: Must live (or be in the process of moving to) in the Northeast Region (New England, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Middle Atlantic, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania)

• Identity: Identify as Black, Indigenous*, Latinx, Asian, or another ethnicity of color.

• Land-connected: Be a farmer, earth-worker, land steward, herbalist, medicine person, food justice activist, food systems workers, or have other connections to the land.

• Respect: Agree to abide by the NEFOC Network Community Guidelines.

*we use the term “Indigenous” as adapted from the NDN Collective: “peoples as ethnic communities whose direct ancestral lineage descends from the earliest, original inhabitants of a given region, in contrast to groups that have settled, occupied, and/or colonized the region more recently. The land on which we live and the natural resources on which we depend are inextricably linked to our identities, cultures, livelihoods, as well as our physical and spiritual well-being. The total estimated population of Indigenous peoples is approximately 370 million people worldwide (5% of the global population). We use Indigenous peoples with an “s” to recognize the diversity of individuals and groups that identify with the term, which has been distilled to a singular noun throughout history in an attempt to group our people together rather than recognize our differences and diversity. This is consistent with the UN Declaration on The Rights of Indigenous peoples. Based on this definition, do you identify as an Indigenous person to the Turtle Island/theU.S. (including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico), Mexico, or Canada?

*WHY is the NEFOC Network members-only?

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color’s voices have historically been marginalized; we experience micro and macroaggressions, stereotyping, and other forms of racialized violence in “mainstream” spaces that leave us depleted, erased, and silenced. BIPOC Safe(r) spaces offer a brief, joyful, and healing respite. We appreciate that not everyone understands why BIPOC-only spaces exist. We suggest that if you have questions, that you refer to the following articles and educational resources for support.

• “Why People of Color Need Spaces Without White People” by Kelsey Blackwell

• “Dismantling Racism: A Resource Book for Social Change Groups” by Western States Center

• “How to Show Up in BIPOC-Only Spaces Without White Centering” (paid course) by Layla F. Saad

• “No, Black-only Safe Spaces Are Not Racist” by Cameron Glover

• “Me and White Supremacy” (book) by Layla F. Saad

• “Why Environmentalists Must Make More Space for BIPOC, and How We Should Do It” by Leesa Ko

• “Why there’s nothing racist about black-only spaces” by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff

• “5 Reasons We Need Black-Only Spaces (And No, Reverse Racism Isn’t One of Them)” by Michal 'MJ' Jones

• Racial Equity Tools: Caucuses and Affinity Groups (aggregated list)

What Is the Difference Between the NEFOC Network & the NEFOC Land Trust?

The NEFOC Network identified that the #1 barrier to feeding our communities fresh, healthy food is access to land. The NEFOC Land Trust was envisioned by the Network members, serves the will of the Network members as a direct response to this barrier and is essential in the development of the land trust. The NEFOC Land Trust is distinct in that it is a separate entity working to pave the way for equitable land relationships for BIPOC farmers, land stewards, and earth workers in the Northeast region. The NEFOC Land Trust will continue to serve NEFOC Network Members who will directly benefit from the land access work the land trust is building in the Northeast region as well as nationally. The Network is currently an informal alliance that meets virtually and in person and communicates through a closed, application-only list serv.

Member Benefits

1. Members-only listserv

2. Partnership opportunities

3. Members-only grants for regional NEFOC Network gatherings, trainings, and skillshares

4. Early/priority registration for NEFOC-related events, trainings, and fellowships

5. Free Technical Assistance to develop business plans, cooperative development, soil mapping, crop planning