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In this episode of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, we speak with Louis Emanuel Petersen, Jr., Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, about the bold path forward for food and farming across the territory.

A lifelong advocate for agriculture with ancestral roots in farming, Commissioner Petersen shares how his upbringing, education, and return home to the Virgin Islands shaped his vision for a thriving, self-sustaining food system. His passion for agriculture runs deep, not just in policy, but in practice, mentorship, and legacy-building.

In this episode, Commissioner Petersen discusses:

• His personal journey back to the land and what it means to serve his community through this work
  
  
• The intention and purpose behind the Territorial Agricultural Plan
  
  
• Why agriculture is a viable business opportunity and a path to economic resilience
  
  
• The Department’s efforts to expand staff capacity and strengthen local support systems
  
  
• His commitment to recruiting and inspiring young Virgin Islanders to return home and enter agriculture
  
  

This episode is both a roadmap and a call to action—inviting a new generation to plant roots, grow businesses, and feed the territory with pride and purpose.

Learn more at: www.goodfoodvi.org
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In Episode 9 of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, we hear from Dara Monifa Cooper, a long-time food system advocate, connector, and visionary based in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

For decades, Dara has been a quiet force in the movement—uplifting farmers, sharing critical information, building bridges, and pushing for systems-level solutions that reflect the power and potential of Virgin Islanders. Whether through grassroots work or organizational partnerships, her leadership is grounded in collaboration, accountability, and collective liberation.

In this episode, Dara shares:
-----Why cross-sector relationship-building is essential to a thriving food system
-----How we can hold each other accountable while still moving forward in love and alignment
-----Her vision for how Virgin Islanders can create solutions from within that sustain both land and people

This is a thoughtful and energizing conversation with someone who has long been doing the behind-the-scenes work to keep our farming community informed, empowered, and connected. Dara reminds us that liberation isn’t a solo act—it’s a collective rhythm rooted in trust, transparency, and shared purpose.

🌱 Learn more at: www.goodfoodvi.org
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In Episode 8 of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, we are joined by Tarik McMillan—a son of St. Croix, a licensed trauma clinician, and a powerful voice in the movement for land stewardship and justice in the Virgin Islands.

Tarik brings a deeply rooted perspective as both a mental health professional and an advocate for land ownership, cultural preservation, and resistance to gentrification. With a background in trauma-based counseling and community healing, he speaks candidly about the emotional, spiritual, and generational connection to land, and what it means when that connection is threatened.

In this episode, Tarik explores:

What gentrification really looks like in the Virgin Islands—and how it differs from development

The role of land stewardship as a form of self-determination and healing

Why community-based land ownership must be central to our food and freedom movements

This is more than a conversation about policy—it’s a grounded and necessary discussion about belonging, sovereignty, and the right to remain.

🌱 Learn more at: www.goodfoodvi.org

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In Episode 7 of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, we sit down with Chef Ralph Motta—a St. Croix native whose deep love for the Virgin Islands and fresh, local ingredients has shaped his culinary journey.

From childhood curiosity to professional kitchen, Chef Motta shares how growing up in the Virgin Islands informed not only his palate but also his purpose as a chef. In this thoughtful conversation, he talks about the cultural importance of food, supporting local farmers, and why fresh, sustainable ingredients matter—especially in a place as unique as the VI.

In this episode, Chef Motta discusses:

--How growing up in St. Croix inspired his passion for cooking.
--Why the Virgin Islands’ food culture is worth preserving and celebrating
--The chef’s role in advancing local food systems and sovereignty

Whether you are a foodie, a farmer, or someone passionate about community-led food systems, this episode offers a grounded and flavorful take on the deeper meaning behind what we eat.

🌱 Learn more about Chef Motta’s work: mottacuisine.com

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In Episode 6 of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, we’re honored to spotlight one of the enduring pillars of food justice and cultural stewardship in the Virgin Islands: Mama Benita Martin of We Grow Food, Inc.

Born in Detroit and rooted in Chicago before finding home in the hills of Bordeaux, St. Thomas, Mama Benita has spent decades cultivating more than crops—she’s cultivated community, culture, and consciousness.
In this episode, Mama Benita shares her journey and reflections as:

-----A farmer, educator, and founding force within the Bordeaux farming movement
-----A mother, mentor, and disability rights advocate supporting inclusive access to land and opportunity
-----A powerful public speaker, grant writer, and culture bearer uplifting African identity in the U.S. Virgin Islands
-----A tireless activist connecting the dots between food, land, education, and liberation

Whether she’s representing We Grow Food at national conferences or lending a hand to sister farmers on St. Croix, Mama Benita leads with vision and love. This episode is a tribute to her legacy, her laughter, and the life she’s dedicated to growing justice from the ground up.

Learn more at: www.goodfoodvi.org

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In this heartwarming episode of “Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom”, we sit down with the owners of Mystical Farms VI in St. Croix, Randall and Lindsey Simmonds, who have spent over two decades growing food, nurturing land, and raising a family committed to self-sufficiency and community wellness.

What started in 2003 with one crop has grown into a multi-generational way of life—blending homeschooling, a landscaping business, and resilient farming practices that center sustainability and service to others.

In this episode, they share:

• What it looks like to raise a family with intention, tradition, and purpose
• Why farming is a family practice, a lifestyle, and a form of resistance
• How Mystical Farms VI is modeling sovereign food systems for the territory and
• The joys and challenges of building a home and future around the land that feeds us all

This is a story about growing together—on the land, in love, and for the future.

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In this deeply insightful episode of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, host Sommer Sibilly‑Brown sits down with Dr. Hadiya Sewer, philosopher, environmental justice advocate, and Co‑Founder & President of St. JanCo: the St. John Heritage Collective. Together, they explore the vital intersections of land rights, food sovereignty, and environmental justice on the island of St. John and throughout the Virgin Islands. They also discuss how Dr. Sewer's mission of fostering sustainable, community-led stewardship of land and culture in the face of climate crisis and ongoing colonial legacies continues to fuel her work locally and nationally.

In this episode you will hear:
---How land conservation becomes revolutionary when centered in liberation and autonomy
---The importance of preserving ancestral heritage, advocating for land rights, and reshaping land-use planning in environmentally resilient ways, and
---What food and land justice look like in practice—and why they’re inseparable from cultural survival in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This is not just a conversation about land - it is an invitation to listen, learn, and support efforts that center Indigenous and Caribbean sovereignty. It’s about building sustainable ecologies, reclaiming ancestral stewardship, and imagining futures rooted in justice.

Learn more about St. JanCo and their work at www.stjanco.org

Explore Dr. Hadiya Sewer’s broader work and philosophy at www.hadiyasewer.com

Subscribe for more stories of resilience, resistance, and radical care from the people tending to the land that feeds us.

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On this episode of “Of Seed & Soil”, host Sommer Sibilly‑Brown speaks with Shelli Brin, founder of Que Sera Farms, a woman-owned regenerative farm based in St. Thomas with extended projects across St. Croix and Tortola.

Shelli brings a lifetime of farming experience: born into a family of agriculturists, fishermen, and community leaders, she has dedicated herself to nurturing agroforestry, beekeeping, microgreens, and farm-based education.

Together, they explore:

—The roots of Que Sera Farms—from ancestral land to mission-driven enterprise
—Transformational work in agroforestry, beekeeping, and regenerative design across island farms
—The challenges of farm restoration, rebuilding infrastructure, and sustaining regenerative agriculture in the Virgin Islands

This episode is a deep dive into how one farm’s regenerative vision can help to reshape our entire island food system.

To learn more about Que Sera Farms and join their community efforts visit www.queserafarms.com

Tune in every other Thursday to hear stories of land, legacy, and liberation. Visit VIGF at www.goodfoodvi.org or follow us on Facebook at / goodfoodvi and on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/goodfood_vi....

Of Seed & Soil is sponsored in part by the Wild Seeds Fund.

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