Black land loss – the loss of land ownership and rights – dates back to the mid-19th century, where in some states Black Americans were prohibited from owning land after the Civil War ended. Meanwhile, the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves but did not guarantee a right to land ownership. While the “40 acres and a …
Read moreA Brief History of Black Land Ownership in the U.S.
When making decisions about our food, there are many important pieces to consider. Was this chicken raised with high-level animal welfare conditions in mind? Does this apple have pesticide residues? Did this lettuce come from Maryland or California? While these are all important pieces to consider, much of the conversation about our food focuses on …
Read moreHow to Support the Farmworkers at the Center of our Food System
By Doreen Paster Maryland made national news during the 2019 legislative session. The General Assembly passed, and then overrode the governor’s veto of a significant increase in the minimum wage to $15/hour over the coming years. Maryland is only the 6th state in the country to do so. The increase in the minimum wage is …
Last week, the proposed bill to ban the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos quietly died in Maryland’s Senate. This is incredibly disappointing news and puts the health of children, farmworkers, pollinators, and our environment in danger. Delegate Dana Stein and Senator Shirley Nathan-Pulliam spearheaded the effort to ban this dangerous pesticide after seeing the EPA backtrack on a plan to bar …
Read moreWhy Did Maryland’s General Assembly Kill the Bill to Ban the Toxic Pesticide Chlorpyrifos?
Antibiotic resistance isn’t an easy thing to understand. You probably know not to take antibiotics for a virus, like a common cold. But, did you know that scientists are concerned that the effectiveness of antibiotics we use to treat infections in humans is diminishing? It’s in part because bacteria are pretty adaptive. When bacteria …
By Leila Borrero-Krouse “These are hard-working family people, but they live in the shadows.” I’ve been working with farm workers on Delmarva for 30 years. I first came to Cambridge, Maryland in 1986 when our family relocated after military service. I currently work as the Maryland Immigration Specialist for CATA. I’m originally from Puerto Rico, so …