Black Farmer Stories with Myriah Towner

In this episode, Myriah joins me on the podcast to share more about how Black Farmer Stories came to be, what she’s learned through this process and more. This is Mother Earth News.

Jessica Mitchell: Good day everyone, and we appreciate you for joining us on another exciting Mother Earth News and Friends episode. I’m Jessica Mitchell, and joining me today is Myriah Towner of Black [00:01:00] Farmer Stories. At Mother Earth News for 50 years and counting, we’ve been dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources.

And today we’re gonna learn more about Myriah and her story of how Black Farmer Stories came to be. So welcome to the podcast, Myriah.

Myriah Towner: Thank you so much for having me. I’m excited to be here.

Jessica Mitchell: We’re really excited to have you too. To start off our episode, can you share a bit about yourself with our listeners? So maybe just a little bit about who you are and what you do.

Myriah Towner: I am a storyteller and curator, so a lot of my work has been spent, um, focusing on telling stories. So I’m a trained journalist by trade, and then over the years I’ve moved that storytelling to projects like Black Farmer Stories or helping brands tell their stories.

I’ve been an archivist and curator since like 2013. Um, I’ve been working with cultural institutions like The Schomburg Center and The Social Science Research Council to help, [00:02:00] um, preserve Black life and history.

Jessica Mitchell: Well, thank you so much for joining us today on the podcast, and we’re gonna be talking a bit about, like you said, Black Farmer Stories.

The Beginning of Black Farmer Stories

Jessica Mitchell:And so I’d love for you to share just at the beginning of this podcast what Black Farmer Stories is and uh, what you would say its mission is.

Myriah Towner: Yeah, so Black Farmers Stories is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves the history, legacy and agricultural knowledge of Black farmers through storytelling. Um, we started informally, um, in 2019.

I found a wonderful cinematographer and sound recordist in Texas, my home state, and we started, uh, telling stories. We went around and interviewed I think three farmers that summer and then did another, uh, round of interviews the following summer. But our premise is to help families understand the land and, and, and the knowledge of how their land was loved and has been kept in their family over the years and what’s been grown on it.

The premise of it is to [00:03:00] help families document and keep that history in their family. So if they are ever confronted with selling it, they have this archive of how their family has maintained the land over the years and why it’s important to keep holding onto it.

Jessica Mitchell: Yeah. So going into a little bit about that story behind this nonprofit, was there ever really a, an exact moment that inspired you to found Black Farmer Stories or was it kind of something that developed over time?

Myriah Towner: Yeah, I was working at a nonprofit in Atlanta and um, it worked that nonprofit serves urban farmers and community gardeners across Atlanta. And, um, through that work I just met a lot of really amazing Black farmers. And, you know, my background isn’t in farming, but there was this interest when I was working in New York, um, on my days off as a journalist. Um, I was working on a rooftop farm and I just got a bee in my bonnet of wanting to be connected to the land in that way. And so when I was working at this non-profit, I got to build relationships [00:04:00] with Black farmers. And that interest also just like led to my own curiosity of my own family and how we have been connected to the land.

And so through that experience, my uncle is a farmer in Texas. He’s been farming for over 40 years. Through that interest, I just started asking a lot of questions and I remember one Christmas, he was like, “What happens to me when I pass away? What happens to all of my agricultural knowledge? How does that get passed down? Who’s gonna step up?” That really was like the pivotal moment of me understanding one, like there are so many families that are facing this where there is someone in their family who is an elder, who’s been maintaining the land and keeping the land in their family. And then, you know, there is a real question of what happens when they pass away.

And so, for my own family, I wanted to document my uncle’s legacy farming on the land. And so that was the birth of Black Farmer Stories and really the impetus for me, wanting to help other families also understand the roots and legacy of their family on the land.

Jessica Mitchell: Now, did you always picture Black Farmer [00:05:00] Stories as being this multimedia type of project, or did it take some time to determine how best to document these stories?

Myriah Towner: Yeah, I know I wanted to use a lot of different formats, the written word, film, oral histories. I knew that it would be a component of all of those. We’re in post-production right now, which is super exciting. Um, we were delayed in getting to post-production last year, but I’m really excited just to see how each story wants to live.

I haven’t, you know, like mapped out each story saying like, this is gonna be an oral history, or this is going to be on film. They will all leverage different components of those formats, um, because we’ve captured them in all of those different formats. Um, but I think each story will tell us how they wanna live in the world.

And so I’m excited to see what post-production looks like for the project.

Jessica Mitchell: That’s super exciting. How did you decide on where in the U.S. to start documenting stories? So you had mentioned Texas is your home state. Was that a deciding factor?

Myriah Towner: Yeah, definitely. I mean, one, I felt like it was important to start where my roots are, so I knew that I [00:06:00] was gonna interview my Uncle Jimmy, and so I knew that I would be spending time in Texas, but also Texas has the largest number of Black farmers, and so it just felt so natural to start there and I’m still spending time telling stories there.

Um, you know, eventually I will leave Texas and start interviewing in other states, but it just felt really important to start where it all began for me and my family.

Capturing the Knowledge and Experience of Black Farmers in America

Jessica Mitchell: What does the process look like in terms of when you were capturing these stories in Texas? The preparation, the travel, the equipment. And I’m sure that’s a very complicated answer, but maybe just some of those big points of what that all looked like.

Myriah Towner: You know, honestly, it’s been kind of a hoping on a prayer, like going about it how I can, I am not a trained filmmaker and so a lot of it, I’ve been on other sets and kind of picked up things. But, you know, trusting my collaborators to know what things that they need and making sure that they’re supported to like, um, come to set with the best of their abilities and skills.

[00:07:00] And then I’ve asked a lot of people. So I’ve never done podcasts. Well, I have done podcasts before, but um, when I’m like in the field capturing audio, I was in a residency at Kickstarter and there was someone there who was really skilled in, um, podcasts. And so he told me like every piece of equipment that I would need to be, uh, to have the best audio.

And so just like picking up all those things. So like honestly, there’s just been a network of people who have rallied around me to help me know what I need to capture the stories in the most meaningful way. A lot of it is trial by error, so we’ll just keep getting better over time. But I’ve been incredibly fortunate and grateful to have people who are willing to collaborate with me as I’m like figuring this all out, who are so talented and so amazing, and are teaching me in many ways too.

Jessica Mitchell: I love that there’s people out there who will just offer their services and just wanna pass down that knowledge. That is, it’s really helpful.

Myriah Towner: Yeah, exactly. I think it’s important when you have people, I think it’s important when you’re just around other people and you’re getting to teach each [00:08:00] other, um, and learn from each other.

But film is definitely something that I’ve come to really grow into, and I really love just the way that you can tell stories through film. Yeah, I’m grateful for the people that I can get to continue to collaborate with, um, to help tell stories in Texas.

Jessica Mitchell: All right, so we’re just gonna take a quick break for a moment so you can hear a word from our sponsor. And when we get back, Myriah’s gonna talk more about Black Farmer Stories and some of those stories that she has been able to capture during this journey. So stick around.

See Myriah at the 2023 Mother Earth News Fair

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Our [00:09:00] 2023 Fair schedule includes Fairs in Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. And you can catch Myriah Towner at our Texas Fair this February. Learn more about all our Fairs by going to www.MotherEarthNewsFair.com. Use the code FAIRGUEST for $5 off at check. Whichever Fair you choose to join us at, we are looking forward to seeing you there.

Come visit your Mother at the 2023 Mother Earth News Fairs. And now back to our episode with Myriah Towner.

Stand-Out Stories and Experiences

Jessica Mitchell: We’re back with Myriah and, uh, we’re gonna be talking a little bit more about Black Farmer Stories. And my first question to kick off the second half is, are there any stories that you’d like to share from your experiences while documenting? It could be something that you captured or even just like a behind the scenes story that really [00:10:00] stuck with you.

Myriah Towner: First before I go into that, I would be remiss not to just mention, um, one of my biggest collaborators and allies, um, for Black Farmer Stories, who is Ashley Pellerin. She has been an incredible resource of just connecting me to Black farmers in the area. And honestly, this project wouldn’t be what it is without her. So shout out to you, Ashley, and just continuing to be such an incredible thought partner, um, with this project.

And to answer your question, I mean all of the stories. I mean, I am so moved and touched by every farmer that I get to spend time with one, just like opening up their home and their land to me. And also just getting to hear the stories of how the land came to be in their families and how they’ve maintained it over the years and what their future looks like. So I don’t know that I have any of that like stick out because they all are so meaningful and and special to. I am literally moved to tears every time I sit on the land and just look out like the thousands of acres that they have and just like how important that is, especially when you think about Black land [00:11:00] ownership shrinking.

And so it is just incredibly powerful. Obviously, my Uncle Jimmy’s story is, The reason why this project exists. And so I’m always encouraged and motivated by his determination, even to this day. I mean, he’s had to endure and withstand so many challenges, and the fact that he’s still committed to farming and thinking of innovative ways to, um, diversify his crops. I mean, it’s an, it’s like remarkable. I mean, he’s tried so many different things. He’s still so curious. I mean, he’s thinking about flower farming and raising bees, and I just love the way that he thinks, how innovative he is. So I’m gonna get to spend the most time with him, but I’m just always in awe of just how he’s thinking about farming and collaborating and bringing his community together.

I mean, it is not just about him and his story, but he’s always thinking about his fellow farmers in the area and how they can all improve and grow revenue. And so I love just like how strong that community is. I got to spend three months there this summer and [00:12:00] it was really, really remarkable just to see how strong that community network is there.

Jessica Mitchell: Do you think he’s gonna be excited to see the final product?

Myriah Towner: Yeah, definitely.

Jessica Mitchell: How many Black farmers and ranchers have you been able to connect with so far? And do you have a goal as to who you’d like to connect with next? Or where in the country you wanna go next?

Myriah Towner: So, so far we’ve done, um, nine interviews. As I mentioned. I think I will continue to stay in Texas for probably another season, and then, um, we’ll branch out to some other states like Alabama and Georgia. But I think, um, right now, like the focus is just to continue telling as many stories as I can in Texas, um, because there are so many stories, I haven’t even gotten to all of them.

Learning from Black Farmers in America

Jessica Mitchell: Now, you talked a little bit about this in the beginning, but I’ll ask the question formally if you wanna expand on it. What are some ways the folks you’ve met have inspired you or taught you something during this project?

Myriah Towner: Yeah, I mean, I think they have taught me just the power of owning something of owning [00:13:00] land, just the freedom that comes with it, both financially, being able to grow your own food, raise cattle. A lot of the farmers, the agricultural producers that I’ve interviewed, they all, a lot of them raise cattle. And so also just like getting to understand that aspect of the business of just like raising cattle.

I purchased my first cow, uh, two years ago, and so it, um, is now in rotation for the Braunvieh Assocation for kids. A kid is now getting to use that cow and raise it and learn how to raise cattle. Um, and so I’m really excited for that and programs like 4H. Yeah, so I think mainly just the power of land ownership, being able to own land, cattle, being able to run your own business, the entrepreneurial skills and the financial freedom from, um, being their own business owner. I think all of those things and just like, you know, being so connected to the land, I mean, they know so much and it has inspired me to one day own my own piece of land and grow my own food and raise my own cattle or [00:14:00] poultry, whatever it is. Um, but just like really understanding the power in having something for yourself.

Jessica Mitchell: Was there any aspect of farming or working the land that really spoke to you when you were meeting all of these different farmers, like, you know, was beekeeping or owning cattle or something that really excited you?

Myriah Towner: Yeah, I think raising cattle, again like, that has been like the prime experience for me with a lot of the farmers is like they raise cattle. And so, um, I think I’m so intrigued by that, my uncle’s cattle specifically. I mean, they are so connected to him and they are so comfortable around humans and I think there are a lot of cattle who are scared of humans and won’t come near, but my uncle’s cattle will just like completely like circle you and come near you.

And so, I’ve grown really, I’ve grown really fond of, of cows and just like their being and how they are and how they exist. But I think the other aspect is just like being able to like grow your own food. And from other farms outside of Black [00:15:00] Farmer Stories that I’ve been connected to, I think rooftop farming is really interesting to me. And beekeeping as well. I love just like being able to watch things grow and seeing how it comes up. One of my dearest friends, um, is a flower farmer and I worked with, um, flower farmers during the pandemic when I was running a flower CSA at my apartment. And I think also that crop is one that just, I mean, the fact that you like put this seed in the soil and it grows like Ranunculus and peonies I mean just, it’s so amazing and I love that trade as well. Just flower farming in general.

Jessica Mitchell: Well, you talked about how right now you guys are in post-production, right? For a lot of your projects. Is there anything you’d like to share with our listeners of what’s next for Black Farmer Stories or anything to look out for, uh, over the next coming weeks or months or years?

Myriah Towner: Yeah, I mean, I have said from the beginning, I mean this is like slow storytelling in so many ways. The way I move is slow. The way I tell the stories and try to spend time on the farms is slow. And so, I have been taking my time with capturing the stories and [00:16:00] telling them, and so I’m super excited that thinking about how I started this in 2019 and now four years later we’re in post-production and I will get to release the stories, um, on the site this year, I’m just really excited and grateful for the journey and everything that I’ve learned and it’ll just make the storytelling more rich over the years, but right now it’s just focusing on honoring the stories and the farmers that I’ve gotten to interview to date and telling their stories with dignity and, um, integrity this year. And then, um, doing another round of interviews this summer.

Jessica Mitchell: That sounds great. You’re also gonna be at the Mother Earth News Fair in Texas very soon. This, this episode is gonna come out right around that time. So can you tell the listeners what it’s gonna look like, your involvement at the upcoming fair, or where they can find you, or what you’ll be doing?

Myriah Towner: One, I’m excited to be back home in Texas and, um, we will be traveling our pop-up exhibition, our photo pop-up exhibition. And so those who are able to come [00:17:00] will be able to see, um, photos and narrative of our farmers that we’ve captured to date. And so, um, I’m excited for people to get to see some of those shots from the footage and, and get to read some of the stories.

Jessica Mitchell: Listeners, anybody listening who wants to come to the Texas Mother Earth News Fair, uh, will have a link in the show notes so you can go and register for it and see Myriah and so many other great guests there. It’s gonna be awesome. Our first fair of the year.

Myriah Towner: I’m super excited. We’ve only done a pop-up once, which was last year for Black History Month with the African American Museum in Texas. And so I’m excited to get to pop up again this year during Black History Month.

Jessica Mitchell: One last question before we kind of wrap up and, and talk about where people can find you and everything. I wanted to ask, what have been the biggest challenges and rewards for you during the documenting process on Black Farmer Stories?

Myriah Towner: That is a good question. I think challenges are often as a storyteller, when [00:18:00] ideas come to us, sometimes we feel we aren’t equipped to be the one to follow through with the idea. And so I think that there has been a lot of just imposter syndrome thinking like, am I the right person? How do I tell these stories?

And I feel like it could be so big and the vision that I have for it is really big. And so sometimes I can get really overwhelmed. And so it’s just really like always going back to the origin of this project and what the intent was. And so I think for me, overcoming that challenge is thinking about if I impact one farmer’s family, then like that was the whole purpose of this entire project.

And so I think that is one of the challenges and you know, the reward is getting to spend time with these farmers. I mean, this is like a dream job in every way. Being able to go around Black farms and get to spend time and tell their stories and learn more about who they are and honestly make friends and family with these farmers. They are like family to me. And so I feel [00:19:00] like I’m just building this like beautiful community and network of farmers who are so dear to me and I’m just grateful that they’ve entrusted me with telling their stories. And I don’t take that lightly. I hold that incredibly dear to me and it, it’s like a lot of weight to just feel responsible for telling their stories in a really dignified and honorable way.

And, that is the reward of this project is getting to build real heart connections and relationships with the people I encounter along this journey. And getting to share these stories publicly is I think is like the biggest reward, which will be this year.

Connect with Myriah Towner and Black Farmer Stories

Jessica Mitchell: Where can people connect with you and follow what Black Farmer Stories are doing? And we can plug them in the show notes for the episode.

Myriah Towner: You can continue following our journey on Instagram, @BlackFarmerStories, and I’m online at www.BlackFarmerStories.com.

Jessica Mitchell: Was there anything else you wanted to share before we wrapped up our time together?

Myriah Towner: I wanna say thank you to Mother Earth News for having me and allowing me to share more about this project, and support your Black [00:20:00] farmers.

Jessica Mitchell: Thank you so much for joining us, Myriah. It was so great to hear your story and all the amazing work that you and, and the rest of the team is doing to capture these amazing stories.

Myriah Towner: Thank you so much.

Jessica Mitchell: We thank you the listener for joining our podcast and encourage you to share it with your friends, colleagues, and family.

To listen to more podcasts and to learn more, visit our website, www.MotherEarthNews.com/Podcast. And remember, no matter how brown your thumb is, you can always cultivate kindness.

Post-roll Credits: You’ve just listened to our episode with Myriah Towner. You can reach us at Letters@MotherEarthNews.com with any comments or suggestions. Our podcast production team includes Carla Tilghman, Jessica Mitchell, John Moore, and Kenny Coogan. Music for this episode is “Travel Light” [00:21:00] by Jason Shaw. The Mother Earth News and Friends Podcast is a production of Ogden Publications. Learn more about us at www.MotherEarthNews.com.

Until next time, don’t forget to love your Mother.

About Myriah Towner

Myriah Towner is a storyteller and digital curator. Her work has supported the storytelling, video production, and curation of “African/American: Making the Nation’s Table,” the nation’s first major exhibition to celebrate Black farmers, chefs, food and drink producers, and their contributions to American cuisine. Towner has worked with nonprofits and community organizations to support local farmers, community gardeners, and farm-based education efforts. Her curatorial work has focused on producing digital platforms and exhibitions highlighting and commemorating African-American history for cultural institutions, including the Emmett Till Project and An American Dilemma for the 21st Century. She is the creator of Black Farmer Stories, a digital platform that preserves the history, legacy and agricultural knowledge of Black farmers in the United States through storytelling.

Additional Resources

Learn more about Black Farmer Stories, and follow what the team is doing on Instagram

Join Myriah at the Texas MOTHER EARTH NEWS Fair!

Our Podcast Team:

Carla Tilghman, Jessica Mitchell, John Moore, and Kenny Coogan
Music: “Travel Light” by Jason Shaw

Listen to more podcasts at MOTHER EARTH NEWS PODCAST.

Check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Bookstore for more resources that may interest you.

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The Mother Earth News and Friends podcasts are a production of Ogden Publications.

Ogden Publications strives to inspire “can-do communities,” which may have different locations, backgrounds, beliefs, and ideals. The viewpoints and lifestyles expressed within Ogden Publications articles are not necessarily shared by the editorial staff or policies but represent the authors’ unique experiences.