Women of the Earth

Before 1937, hemp had been used for millennia as a means of fiber, paper, and fuel - and yet it became illegal to cultivate in the United States for decades. Today, two sisters in New York's Hudson Valley are re-introducing hemp on their farm as a way to heal their soil, while blazing a trail in regenerative agriculture.

As climate chaos increases around the world, Michelle Week, a farmer outside of Portland Oregon is drawing on her Sinixt indigenous knowledge to adapt her farm to the changing seasons. By practicing techniques like seed saving and dry farming, Michelle is combating the increasing food security crisis while continuing to provide fresh food to her local community.

There are so many barriers in place when it comes to growing food in cities, but education and lack of access to space are the hardest to overcome. Yemi Amu has dedicated her life as a farmer to solving this problem, by starting the only Aquaponics farm in NYC. Oko Farms in Brooklyn is both a working farm which provides fresh food to surrounding neighborhoods, while also actively engaging the public in education on how to grow food for yourself in urban environments.

The near extinction of buffalo across North America had devastating consequences—especially for Indigenous communities, for whom buffalo were a source of food, shelter, spiritual connection, and governance. Today, Lucille Contreras, founder of the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project, is leading a powerful effort to restore buffalo to their ancestral lands in Texas. Through this work, she is also reviving cultural traditions and creating a space for her Indigenous community to reconnect with the buffalo and the way of life they represent.