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Meet the Activists Bringing Urban Farms to Cleveland.

Photo via The Guardian

Hey guys! Instead of not posting this week, we’ve decided to take this time to educate ourselves, read, listen, and share ways the black community is thriving. I want to use this platform to share valuable and unique information.

“People of colour are constantly under attack, and not just by guns and the police, by all sorts of structural violence like corruption, food deserts, educational and health inequalities” – Amanda King, founder of Shooting Without Bullets.

As someone who writes daily on food, I want to highlight a Cleveland based organization that I found to be really incredible, Rid-All Green Partnership.

“Food is the longest relationship you will ever have, and we’re trying to help people make it a good one.”

This is a quote from Keymah Durden III, one of the founders of the Rid-All Green Partnership. I wanted to highlight an amazing organization lead by incredible black voices from a town I grew up in and have family in. They strive to change eating habits in a city where health inequalities disproportionately affect African American communities.

Rid-All’s ethos is community building through education and experience. They transformed a desolate illegal dumping ground into a lush, eight-acre agricultural innovation site with greenhouses, fishponds, and a composting facility – creating a community of pride and economic opportunities along the way.

How you can learn more.

Please take a few minutes to do a little deep dive and learn about why farming and healthy eating habits are essential to not only black-dominated communities but to all of us together.

You can learn more about the activists bringing urban farms to Cleveland by watching this video below. I personally found this video to be so inspiring. By the end, I just kept saying, “wow, this is amazing”.

YouTube video

You can also go to Rid-All’s website, greennghetto.org This is a collection of great information not only their organization, but on backyard farming, eating healthy, podcasts, and so much more.

And lastly, this informative article highlighting their organization on The Guardian

A Few Other POC Owned Cleveland Restaurants.

Since we’re talking all things Cleveland today, I thought I would also highlight a few other black Cleveland based business owners. If any of my Cleveland readers have others you feel should be noted, please let us know in the comments!

Open Pitt Barbeque

Said to be the best BBQ spot around. Ask for extra sauce on everything…yes, please. All about the sauce…always.

Beckham’s B&M

Recommended by my brother, Creighton. Beckham’s B&M has been in the Beckham family since 1958. Beckham’s son Greg and his wife Sonya now own the restaurant today, which has expanded into four locations and a food truck.

Sauce The City

Home of the Original Cleveland Hot Chicken.

Black Box Fix

Said to have the most creative sandwiches in Cleveland. This Legacy Village spot is owned by Chef Eric Rogers. Rogers also owns the bakery The Sweet Fix and the health-conscious restaurant The Fresh Fix.

The Vegan Doughnut Company

Ohio’s first and only 100% Vegan Doughnut Shop. This place looks so delicious!

You can find more black-owned Cleveland restaurants here.

Related Reading: favorite black-owned restaurants around the US.

And with that…

I’ll be back to regular posting soon, but I’m looking at this time as an opportunity to share something impactful and important with you guys. It’s fun, it’s different, and I love learning!

Question: I’d love to hear from you. Are there any organizations run by people of color that I should be learning about and highlighting this week? I always value your feedback and suggestions and would love to hear from you guys!

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Comments

  1. I so, so needed to see this post – thank you for shedding light the positive, especially in our hometown which has seen so much trouble. I like to remind myself, and my children, that the good always outweigh the bad, and our actions no matter how small can make a positive impact in someone’s life. Thank you for using your platform for part of the good. Much love to you and your family.

    1. Thank you so much Victoria! I am really glad this post could bring you joy and I hope some others I share do as well! ? xTieghan

  2. How incredible! Thank you so much for sharing, Tieghan! And thank you so much for dedicating your time this week to help make something good come from such an awful week in our nation’s history. Using your platform and voice this way is super powerful! And though I don’t know you personally, dare I say, I am proud of you!!

  3. Love that you highlighted this organization! – Being from Cleveland I am always proud when groups of people effect change in a neighborhood that was neglected for so long. Real change! Thank you – love everything you do – your recipes are always my go to’s! thanks for highlighting someone from your hometown also!

  4. That was a very inspiring video on the “soil brothers” Thank you so so much for putting that out!
    Hannah Gorman

  5. Tieghan- Thank you for using your platform to write this post. I was so heartened to learn about the rid-all green partnership! I immediately sent funds to them and felt GREAT about doing so. I think the only way to change our relationship to food (and we must, because we’re killing ourselves) is by seeing it grow, harvesting and prepping it. That simple act opens our eyes to the SAD that has hijacked our culture. Alice Waters said about the ESY, “give people a taste of what’s possible.” The folks at the Rid-All Green Partnership are doing that– and so are you. Thank you!
    PS: huge fan. Tonight we’re having one skillet creamy sun-dried tomato chicken and orzo. Again. Because it’s just So amazing.

    1. Aw thank you so much Elizabeth for supporting them! That makes me really happy to hear. I hope you love the sun dried tomato chicken and orzo! xTieghan

  6. Not related to businesses, but if you haven’t seen Ugly Delicious, it’s a great show on Netflix hosted by David Chang. Each episode centers around one dish and how that dish transcends cultures – think barbecue in Texas versus Korea versus Japan. I was particularly moved by his Fried Chicken episode, which covers a lot of ground on stereotyping.

  7. Hi Tieghan!
    Thanks for using your platform to support and share something positive to what’s going on in Cleveland. I watched the video of the Soil Brothers and it was amazing!
    It’s sad that some people are so closed minded on here, but it’s your blog and your voice, so let it be heard!
    Stay safe and be well in these uncertain times!

  8. Hi Tieghan,

    I never comment but I’m a frequent lurker, and I’d first like to say that your blog and recipes are absolutely beautiful! Your photography skills are some of the most wonderful I’ve ever seen and your recipes are always amazing. My boyfriend and I consistently make at least 3 of your recipes per week (tonight was the 20-minute orzo carbonara and it was wonderful!) and I recommend your work to everyone.

    Second, thank you so much for this post. In general, it is always wonderful to see passionate people lifting up others who are passionate about the same types of things, and it is especially wonderful to see you using your platform to amplify Black voices, which are so frequently silenced and overlooked.

    I know I personally find it hard to ignore negative feedback, but I hope you are able to ignore the folks on here saying that you should not make posts such as this. How on earth could we expect you to carry on as if everything was fine and ignore what is happening? It is not your responsibility to only churn out light, happy content so that others can avoid facing the realities occurring. You’re a human with emotions and compassion, and seeing those emotions come through in your blog is a powerful thing. Anyone who has a problem with you uplifting the work of powerful and creative people of color needs to take a good look at their values and priorities.

    Thank you again for all that you do! I’m looking forward to making your Carne Asada tacos tomorrow night!

    1. Hi Savannah! Thank you so much for this comment, truly. I am so happy you understand where I am coming from by pausing regular content. Also, really happy you have been loving my recipes haha. I hope you are doing well and I hope you love the tacos! xTieghan

  9. Hi Tieghan, I was just looking for something different to do with my cauliflower, but really enjoyed this post and reading about and watching the Soil Brothers video. I live in Cleveland now (well Lakewood right outside) and this is such a life-affirming and inspiring organization. Thanks and don’t stop!

  10. Enjoyed and learned from this article. Thanks TG. Well-worth my time. Appreciate the conversation

  11. Hi Tieghan,
    Thank you for your post today. I love your blog and recipes. I have made quite a few, and for Mother’s Day my daughters, who will be moms themselves for the first time this Fall, gave me both of your cookbooks, so I am looking forward to trying lots more of your yummy ideas! I totally support you in using this platform to broaden peoples minds!
    Thanks!,
    Nikki Watson

    1. Aw Congratulations to them! That is really exciting. I hope you continue to enjoy these posts and some recipes haha. Thank you Nikki! xTieghan

  12. Tieghan, I have been following you for years now, and this post just makes me love you even more. Thank you so much for using your platform for addressing these all too important issues, and highlighting some amazing companies run by POC. Please don’t listen to any of the negative comments you are getting on this post (possible bots??). Thank you for everything you do, and keep up the amazing work! 🙂

    1. Thank you Candice! I am really glad you are enjoying this and I hope some others I post this week go well too ? xTieghan

  13. Thank you so much for this post – very very inspiring & what a positive message being put forth by this group. Also appreciate the information regarding similar groups – thank you, Tieghan.

  14. Thank you for having your priorities straight.
    We need to build all people up with love and compassion.
    If we walk past this moment- where are we going.

    “With life as short as a half taken breath
    Don’t plant anything but live”
    Rumi