19 May Mon 2025
Intercropping Love
Weaving roots together have one thing in common with our shared ancestors, the more diverse intercropping that is done, the stronger and more colorful the results. A strawberry plant with garlic scapes weave their roots together alongside of the chamomile and leeks while not too far in the same bed between layers of mulch the rue plants twist and turn their pale green leaves into finger like formations.
Here we weave our lineages lore on the land as well! We give homage to the Native peoples whose land we have no permission to live on. We thank our individual ancestors, my ancestors who were enslaved in the America's toiling the land under bondage by force, those of my blood who are Native to the Congaree nation of present day South Carolina, and those ancestors of mine who fled Italy and Scotland to save their lives. I am thankful for his ancestors, those that come from the ancient lands of Persia and his Mother's lineage who ultimately ensured we'd be able to purchase farm land of our own. Her Druid, English, and Islander blood made the land purchase seamless.
These roots are strong, these roots are deep, and together we blend and meld them all.
Italian Genovese Basil, along with the Seminole pumpkin, the Persian leeks and zinnias, with the West African Scent Leaf. We blend those into the soil, all growing together in unison as an expression of our own liveliness. Mountain thyme marries the Togolese Tomato, who grows next to the Ethiopian Mustards and the Blue Collard greens.
The Hibiscus and watermelon all happy here on these lands. On these Native lands! With a thank you and a prayer.
-Named after her Great Grandmother Jenni Woolery, the daughter of enslaved Sharecroppers, Jenni Elyse Woolery has made it her life mission to reclaim ancestral land based stewardship. She’s a farmer, herbalist, activist, writer, yogini, initiated Olorisha, and the founder of the Indigi Golden Herbal Folk Academy 501©3 whose main purpose is uplifting the voices of Indigenous Medicine Folk. Follow her work on Instagram @indigigoldenherbalsmedicine
