This post is the third of our 4-part series uplifting our year-end fundraising campaign! Each week, we’ll tackle one of the interconnected issues that drive our work — and this week is all about Farmer Advocacy & Training. Regardless of whether you are able to contribute financially, we hope this series will bring you into deeper connection with these collective issues and inspire you for the path ahead.

Over the last couple weeks, we’ve started to explore the food access crisis in the US, and how that intersects with agriculture’s impact (for better or for worse) on the climate crisis.

But what about the people growing the food?

Did you know that at least 33% of farmworkers are living below the poverty line? The average hourly wage for a farmworker is $10.60, and benefits like sick leave and health insurance are extremely rare.

For farmers of color, women and LGBTQIA+ farmers, there are even more obstacles to a safe and stable workplace (many of us have firsthand experience with this) – and yes, these injustices show up on organic, sustainable farms, too.

For centuries, and all around the world, small farms and farmworkers have been undervalued and exploited.

This week in particular, we stand in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of farmers in India, who are in the midst of the largest protest in history, to resist new bills that threaten their already tenuous livelihood. We are in awe of their strength and determination.

Here in the US, when we’re talking about farming & farm workers, we have to remember our violent history and the ways that impacts the systems of oppression that continue today.

Indigenous populations were thriving before colonization and genocide, practicing centuries old complex and successful food growing for their expansive communities. So much of that knowledge was stolen, or purposefully erased, in order to bring power to the colonies. The violence within our borders continued with the profound exploitation and free labor of African slaves. Many of these people came from rich agricultural backgrounds that brought crucial growing techniques that enabled the success of international trade and agricultural, and therefore financial, stability as a nation.

This is the foundation of the food system in America.

Today, our food system relies heavily on skilled immigrant farmers, who come to the US for agricultural work. Even though their work brings so much value to our economy, they are still facing huge challenges around worker rights, pay and safe housing.

How do we create a new food system, free of inhumane, cheap labor and exploitation?

There is no simple “newsletter blurb” answer to this question. It’s going to take significant systemic investment, policy change and repair.

Yet, as we continue to organize for these changes, we believe it’s also going to take one small farm at a time — and the community of consumers connected to those farms — to model a new way of valuing farmers, food, land and community.

There are also many indigenous led food growing projects across the country that are centered on bringing back indigenous food growing practices, as well as Black led food justice initiatives to both uplift African agricultural techniques, and redistribute the wealth and access to land that so many Black people had taken away from them over the last three hundred years. It is our and all farmers job to stay connected to these projects, both to educate ourselves as fellow stewards of the land and to spread the word and amplify the needs of these projects to our communities.

All of this context has driven a vision for Rock Steady that not only feeds our diverse communities, and nourishes our planet, but uplifts the voices and rights of farmers, as well as help restore the connection between consumers and food growers.

Our approach to farmer rights, training & advocacy:

We are a worker-owned cooperative farm, striving to pay living wages and create safer spaces for our queer, multi-racial team to thrive. We invest in our farmers through skill training, professional development, opportunities for ownership, shared power & decision making, transparent financial and decision making protocols, and a commitment to the ongoing internal work around racial justice, anti-oppression and culture building.

We also work hard to put in place internal policies that center on our farmers health and safety, and the legal rights of all our employees. We are also committed to in-depth community agreements on farm that create a safe working environment for all workers, especially LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC people. With all this said and done, there is still so much room for improvement and growth. Because of this we have put a lot of energy into an array of feedback sessions and communication skill building.

One metric of success in these efforts so far is that 100% of our 2020 team is planning to return next season!

That said, again, we’re fighting within and against a system that undervalues the essential work of growing food. To get specific – in 2021, our farm crew (with a combined 40+ years experience) will earn $14-16/hr, April through November. While this is far above average, the nature of seasonal, hourly pay still leaves a long way to go to what most would consider a truly livable wage.

One area we hope to expand, as a strategy to forward our mission while increasing earning capacity for our team, is the programming offerings from Rock Steady. These services and public programs include education, workshops, tours, events, and soon, we hope to create a unique paid apprenticeship for LGBTQIA+ BIPOC farmers. Stay tuned as those details unfold!

Why do we share all this?

These realities are largely invisible to consumers and funders. Yet we firmly believe that farmer care – especially for LGBTQAI+ folks and Black, Indigenous and non Black People of Color – is inextricably linked to food access, climate justice and equity.

While funding received does not directly impact wage increases, or the time we spend organizing these efforts, your support creates stability for our farm and a secure, mission-driven outlet for our produce.

Can we count on your support for the 2021 season?

If you have the resources to contribute, we hope you’ll consider a year-end gift to our Food Access Fund. Your donation will allow us to grow and distribute high quality, sustainable produce to those who cannot afford food.

To everyone who has already donated — THANK YOU! Your support means so much.

Want another way to get involved? Forward this series along to someone in your life who might want to join you in this effort!

Lastly, even though we are focused on our fundraising initiative right now, our 2021 CSA is also open for registration! Anyone can join for the best of the season’s harvest, with 20 weekly shares, June through November. We offer sliding scale pricing, flexible payment plans and “full diet” optional add-on shares.

STAY TUNED — we’ll be back next week for the final part of this series, about Community Engagement. Thank you for reading!