Why farming still matters | Levia Harvey | TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet

Quick Overview

Levia Harvey argues that farming, particularly for Black farmers, is a vital legacy facing decline due to systemic issues, and encourages the audience to start their own farming legacy using simple, accessible methods like container gardening to combat this trend.

Key Points: The speaker shares the farming legacy of her ancestors, Ned Hatcher (freed slave, 1800s farmer) and his son Meredith Hatcher, who owned 317 acres in Tennessee. Marvin and Sadie Hatcher, Meredith's son, were also great farmers known for their chicken-keeping and farming land preservation. Black farmers have seen a massive decline, with less than 2% of all farmers being Black, a vocation that was once thriving in Black America. Potatoes grown in the dark turn green, producing toxic compounds, illustrating that what is easily accessible (like grocery store potatoes) is not always best for health. The speaker emphasizes that farming does not require vast acreage; one can start a legacy by growing food in small containers (pot, soil, seeds, water, sun, time) anywhere. The speaker, Levia Harvey, identifies herself as a seventh-generation farmer in training, committed to continuing the family legacy of love, family, community service, and agriculture.

Context: This is a TEDxYouth talk delivered by Levia Harvey at TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet, focusing on the importance of preserving the legacy of Black farming. Harvey traces her lineage through four generations of dedicated farmers—Ned Hatcher, Meredith Hatcher, Marvin and Sadie Hatcher—highlighting their connection to the land and their success in agriculture despite historical challenges like slavery and land loss. She contrasts this rich heritage with the current reality where Black farmers are less than 2% of the total, urging the audience to take action to reverse this trend.

Detailed Analysis

Levia Harvey opens by introducing her family's multi-generational farming history, starting with Ned Hatcher, who was freed from slavery in the 1800s and moved to Tennessee to continue farming, eventually acquiring 317 acres. She then introduces Marvin and Sadie Hatcher, who were also great farmers known for chicken-keeping and preserving their land, contrasting with the general trend of Black land loss. Harvey cites Pete Daniel's book "Dispossession" to emphasize the alarming statistic that less than 2% of farmers today are Black, noting that 90% of Black farmland was lost in the 1900s. She shifts to a practical example, explaining that potatoes stored in the light turn green and produce toxins, suggesting that readily available food isn't always the healthiest option. Harvey then pivots to action, detailing how anyone can start farming anywhere—in a small house, condo, or apartment—by using a plastic container, soil, seeds, water, sun, and time to grow their own food. She concludes by challenging the audience to start their own legacy to continue the tradition of farming, love, family, and community service that her family has upheld.