Okay, I said that I would post two stories of organizations doing great work that help direct marketing producers and markets, but I decided I should support one organization in my own city too, so now it is three.
I chose this organization because it has quietly shared resources and space to anyone wishing to grow food, to work at a garden or increase food sovereignty in the Lower 9 or across New Orleans. I first met BGN’s E.D. Jenga Mwendo about 10 years ago and was able to spend some time with her then and have kept an eye on her organizing since. I am impressed with her enthusiasm for honest grassroots work and her willingness to partner with larger entities whenever necessary, and yet not allow her community to be swallowed up by their intentions. In other words, in a very turf-y area of organizing here in New Orleans (no pun really intended), she does her level best to rise above all of that and do what is good and nurturing.
Jenga Mwendo
Jenga Mwendo
Jenga is the founder of Backyard Gardeners Network in Lower 9th Ward, raw food entrepreneur and in this video, is talking about her excellent work in the lower 9th ward section of New Orleans. Jenga’s garden will be on my Slow Food tour May 18th. If you believe in community food systems at their most collective and grassroots level, you may want to check her work out more and support her efforts:
This is one of my favorite pieces about New Orleans, written by Jenga as a response to a unworthy story by NYT about lower 9:
Jenga’s response to NYT
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