What’s one practice you’ve been nurturing lately?

Emergency preparedness. That’s what’s been on my mind a lot, especially through the work we do on the farm. My background is in community resilience and disaster relief, and Fennigan’s Farms was born out of a desire to create a resiliency hub.

I grew up with parents who were part of a religion that spent a lot of time preparing for the second coming of Christ. That upbringing made me think deeply about the longevity of the spaces we live in and what will happen to them over time. And while I don’t hold those same beliefs now, I do understand the climate crisis very clearly. In many ways, I’ve been able to translate those early religious teachings into something more spiritual, something more aligned with the thinking of Octavia Butler.

Through my community and ancestors, I’ve learned what it means to care not just for ourselves, but for one another. I believe it’s important to keep spreading the message of emergency preparedness. Because a lot of folks still see it as extreme or unnecessary to think this far ahead, to pack a go-bag, to carry seeds, to learn survival skills.

When I prepare, I draw wisdom from people like George Washington Carver, James Baldwin, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Octavia Butler. These are folks who not only knew how to sound the alarm for their communities, but also understood the political realities that had to be addressed in order for us to move beyond just surviving to a place where we can finally begin to live and breathe.

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Preparing for emergencies can feel overwhelming. Where would you suggest someone start if they’re just beginning to gather what they need?

• First, start by putting together a list of three to five people in your community who you feel safe around. Like, if you fell off your porch today and broke your ankle. Who are you calling? Once you pinpoint those folks, begin building a deeper relationship, if you haven’t already, and walk through a plan together for what to do in an emergency. What resources or skills do you have to offer? Who will need medication? Who has young kids? You want to know who you can trust, lean on, or offer support to during a crisis.
• Once you’ve figured out what’s available within your group, start identifying any gaps. These conversations might sound like: “What are we still missing?” or “How can we work together to get what we need?” 
• You’ll also want to decide how you’ll communicate during an emergency. In a disaster, you might not have phone service, so where will you meet if something happens? How will you contact family in other areas? Establish safety protocols, too, like not traveling anywhere alone.
• Finally, stocking up on emergency supplies like flashlights, tents, sleeping bags, and more can get expensive. So while there’s still time, try dedicating a little from each paycheck to buying one or two items from your list. That way, you can slowly build your stock over time.