Farmer and activist Karen Washington knows that food is more than sustenance—it’s the foundation of strong, healthy, and connected communities. In 1985, she worked with Bronx neighborhoods to turn empty lots into community gardens, advocated for garden protection and preservation, and launched a City Farms Market to bring fresh produce to her neighbors. In 2010, she co-founded Black Urban Growers (BUGS), an organization supporting growers in both urban and rural settings. In 2014, she helped found Rise & Root Farm in Chester, New York, a QT+BIPOC centered farm rooted in social justice. And in 2019 she co-founded Black Farmer Fund to encourage economic wealth. For her achievements, Washington has received numerous awards and accolades, including the James Beard Leadership Award and James Beard Humanitarian Award. In 2024, Washington was named an Emerson Collective Fellow.
In this conversation with Food Tank’s Content Director Elena Seeley, Washington discusses why she’s precise in her language when naming the problem, how she’s working to strengthen regional food and farming systems, and the power of community in times of instability.