In the Season Finale of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, host Sommer Sibilly-Brown sits down with Eira Rodríguez, a farmer and advocate from Vieques, Puerto Rico, who works with the collective La Colmena Cimarrona.
Eira and her community have been important partners with Virgin Islands Good Food, working together to learn more about each other’s communities and mobilize brigading efforts and mutual aid to support farmers across the Caribbean. Their work reminds us that the challenges facing farmers such as climate change, land access, and food security, do not stop at borders.
In this powerful conversation, they discuss:
    •    The strength of community-based farming movements in the Caribbean
    •    How mutual aid and brigading help farmers recover and rebuild in times of crisis
    •    The importance of collaboration across borders, languages, and cultures
    •    Why farmers throughout the region must work together to strengthen our food systems
This season-ending episode highlights the reality that our islands are deeply connected. When farmers share knowledge, labor, and resources, we build something bigger than any one farm—we build a regional movement for food sovereignty.
As this season of Of Seed and Soil comes to a close, we celebrate the farmers, chefs, advocates, educators, and community leaders who have shared their voices and reminded us that our food future depends on cooperation, care, and collective action.
Learn more: https://www.goodfoodvi.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodfoodvi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodfood_vi/?hl=en
Subscribe and stay connected as we continue uplifting the voices of those growing food, building community, and shaping a more resilient future for our islands.

In Episode 13 Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, host Sommer Sibilly-Brown sits down with Zavira Wilson, a student at the University of the Virgin Islands and an emerging voice advocating for youth engagement in agriculture and community leadership.

Zavira represents a new generation of Virgin Islanders who understand that food security, community safety, and youth empowerment are deeply connected. Through her work and studies, she is helping to inspire young people to see agriculture not only as a career path, but as a powerful tool for strengthening communities and creating opportunities for the future.

In this episode, Zavira and Sommer discuss:

    •    Why youth involvement in agriculture is essential for the long-term sustainability of the Virgin Islands
    •    How agriculture can play a role in building safer, more connected communities
    •    The importance of mentorship, education, and opportunity for young people interested in farming and food systems

This episode is a reminder that the future of food in the Virgin Islands is already taking root in the hearts and hands of its young people.

Learn more at: https://www.goodfoodvi.org
Follow us on Facebook:   / goodfoodvi 
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodfood_vi...

Subscribe and follow for more conversations with the farmers, advocates, and leaders growing a more resilient food system in the Virgin Islands.

In this special installment of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, host Sommer Sibilly‑Brown sits down with Tarik and Tamara McMillan, co‑founders of Greater Changes LLC, a liberation‑focused behavioral health and wellness agency rooted in Caribbean culture and community empowerment. 

Together, they explore the holistic power of building community around farmers—not only through physical support but through emotional, cultural, and mental well‑being as well. This episode shows that farmers do not flourish in isolation; they thrive when the whole community actively champions their work, sustains their spirit, and removes the stigma around mental health that so often burdens those who carry the heaviest loads. 

In this episode, they discuss:
---Why supporting farmers mentally and physically is essential for resilient local food systems
---How Caribbean family values and shared history shape collective nourishment and mutual care
---The role of community in sustaining farmers’ well‑being—not as an optional add‑on but as a core component of food sovereignty

This episode is a reminder that genuine food justice lives at the intersection of care, connection, and shared responsibility. When we invest in each other—body, mind, and spirit—we cultivate more than food: we cultivate community.

🌱 Learn more at: www.goodfoodvi.org
📲 Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfoodvi
📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfood_vi
🎧 Subscribe and follow for more conversations that nourish the heart, elevate the land, and remind us why we grow together.

In Episode 11 of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, we speak with daughter of the soil, Emmanuella Perez-Cassius, a generational landowner, consumer advocate in St. Croix, who shares a deeply personal and practical conversation about what it means to inherit land and truly honor it.

With land passed down from her grandfather and father, Emmanuella offers a candid look at the responsibility that comes with ancestral land ownership. She speaks to the challenges and opportunities of managing land as both a sacred inheritance and a working asset, while advocating for policies and practices that support consumers and economic sustainability.

In this episode, Emmanuella explores:

-----The emotional, cultural, and financial realities of being a land steward
-----The importance of being an informed consumer
-----The need for Virgin Islanders to maximize land ownership for themselves and future generations
-----Her personal journey of learning, leading, and building through the lens of community empowerment

This episode is a testament to what it looks like when legacy meets leadership, and how land plays such an important role. 

🌱 Learn more at: www.goodfoodvi.org
📲 Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfoodvi
📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfood_vi

🎧 Subscribe and follow for more rooted conversations with the people building the food future of the Virgin Islands.

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
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfoodvi
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfood_vi

Subscribe and follow for more stories from the land, the leaders, and the local visionaries shaping the future of food in the Virgin Islands.

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
📲 Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfoodvi
📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfood_vi

🎧 Subscribe for more stories that honor the people, land, and relationships shaping the future of food in the Virgin Islands.

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

📲 Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfoodvi

📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfood_vi

🎧 Subscribe and tune in to more stories that connect food, land, healing, and the future of our islands.

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

🌍 Visit Virgin Islands Good Food: www.goodfoodvi.org

📲 Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfoodvi

📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfood_vi

🎧 Subscribe and follow for more real stories from the people growing, cooking, and transforming our food futures in the Virgin Islands.

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

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfoodvi

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfood_vi

Subscribe for more unfiltered, rooted, and revolutionary voices from the land.

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.

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.

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. 

Subscribe and follow for more episodes that honor the farmers, stories, and struggles shaping our food future.

In this powerful second episode of Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom, host Sommer Sibilly-Brown sits down with Luca Gasperi of ARTfarm—one of St. Croix’s most beloved and resilient farms.

A second-generation farmer, Luca shares the story of his family’s legacy on the south shore of St. Croix, where they have been cultivating land since the 1960s. Together with his partner Christina Frederick-Gasperi, Luca co-founded ARTfarm, known for its heirloom vegetables, tropical fruits, and artisanal practices rooted in sustainability and care.

But in March 2025, their story took a devastating turn when a wildfire scorched over 25 acres of land, destroying crops, infrastructure, and decades of labor. In this episode, Luca and Sommer speak candidly about the power of community in recovery and resilience, and why land is not just soil, but also the memory of those that came before us.

This episode is a testament to the enduring spirit of Virgin Islands farmers—and a reminder that even through loss, the land continues to teach and remember.

Tune in every other Thursday to hear a story of endurance, soverignty, and hope from the farming community of the Virgin Islands.

Food sovereignty lives in every seed we plant and every story we share.

To learn more and support ARTfarm’s please visit https://artfarmllc.com. 

To learn more about or to donate to the work of Virgin Islands Good Food visit www.goodfoodvi.org.

Subscribe and follow this channel for more episodes honoring the hands that feed us and the land that holds us.

This podcast is sponsored in part by the WildSeeds Fund.

 Emancipation Day in the Virgin Islands
Welcome to the very first episode Of Seed and Soil: Unincorporated Voices of Food, Farming, and Freedom—a podcast amplifying the lived experiences, wisdom, and resistance of farmers in the Virgin Islands.

In this special Emancipation Day premiere, host Sommer Sibilly-Brown, Executive Director of Virgin Islands Good Food, sits in the guest seat, interviewed by longtime friend and development strategist Omi Pennick, one of the founding visionaries behind VIGF.

Together, they dive deep into the purpose behind Of Seed and Soil and explore:
• Why storytelling is a revolutionary tool for food justice
• The urgent need for food security in the Virgin Islands
• Why farmers’ voices belong at the center of the conversation
• What food sovereignty really means—and how you can join the movement

This isn’t just a podcast. This is a call to action.

It’s time to move toward the revolution.

Subscribe and follow for future episodes where we bring you stories directly from the land, from the people who feed us, and from those daring to imagine a freer, more food-secure future.

https://www.goodfoodvi.org