Lapland, Nova Scotia (Mi\u2019kma\u2019ki)\u00a0\u2013 Members of the National Farmers Union (NFU) and farmers and farmworkers from across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario are excited to host partners from Puerto Rico\u2019s Organizaci\u00f3n Boricu\u00e1 de Agricultura Ecol\u00f3gica, a sister member of the international La Via Campesina, for an Agroecology Brigade.\u00a0 The week-long event kicks off at Spring Tide Farm in Lapland on May 25th.<\/p>\n
Agroecology brigades are collectives of farmers and their communities who work together to meet the material and social needs of their communities and build solidarity. This brigade training will be co-led by farmers from Boricu\u00e1 who will share their practical experience about how brigades can be a tool for political organizing, mutual aid and knowledge sharing for agroecology grounded in principles of food sovereignty and grassroots democracy.<\/p>\n
I think we have a long history and tradition of showing up for each other in farming communities. We\u2019ve sort of fallen out of that practice over the last few decades, but it\u2019s time for us to develop those skills again. When we consider climate change and things like hurricanes, wildfires and drought, I think more than ever we need to have those relationships and that practice of coming together to help each other out,<\/p>\n
Wyanne Sandler, a member of the board of the NFU Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn these times of cost of living and climate crisis, NS farms and communities are already on edge,\u201d says farmer and NFU NS organizer Paul Wartman.\u00a0 \u201cIn these brigades, we learn how to create networks of farm-based mutual aid and how to take political actions for supportive policy.\u00a0 I\u2019m personally excited to connect with other rural farmers and workers, Black\u00a0 urban growers, Indigenous \u2013 Mi\u2019kmaq, Boricu\u00e1s, Oneida \u2013 land stewards, to put our heads together and our hands in the earth to figure out how to grow our collective food movements.\u201d<\/p>\n
We have so much to learn from our peers in Puerto Rico. They\u2019ve been putting this brigade model into action for many years, and it has become an integral methodology for their organization not only as a means of mutual aid, but for political education and strengthening farming communities. Combining mutual aid, collective political analysis and action, and solidarity, to me, are key building blocks for resilient farming communities here in Nova Scotia. The brigade model, and agroecology principles more broadly, are key to how we in the NFU Nova Scotia want to support farmers and farm workers in this province,<\/p>\n
Jessie MacInnis, NFU NS board member and regional co-coordinator of La Via Campesina North America.<\/p>\n
The group will vary between 15-25 people and will spend time helping out on farms and community food projects on the South Shore and in the Annapolis Valley over the week, with workshops and discussions interspersed.\u00a0 On Wednesday, a public presentation featuring members from Organizaci\u00f3n Boricu\u00e1 will be held at Hope Blooms (2346 Brunswick St) in Halifax from 1-3 pm.\u00a0 Members of the public and media are invited to attend.<\/p>\n