Eddy Olson-Enamorado, Tamales y Bicicletas’ Outreach Coordinator, says environmental justice is a big issue in Minneapolis. The organization owns an urban farm to help tackle food insecurity within the Twin Cities. They grow a variety of fruits and vegetables there, with many native to Central and Latin America.
“Fresh produce can be kind of hard to get, And at times it’s not as accessible for many people in our communities,” explained Olson-Enamorado. “And so by just growing it in an urban setting, it's local, it's closer, it's physically easier to get to, and people can learn about the plants that they're growing at the same time that they're growing this food that they can then use.”
Olson-Enamorado says that having access to culturally specific foods makes it easier for people to bond and feel at home. The organization is raising money in hopes to build a greenhouse to keep the farm going year-round.
“It's meant to be a sustainable way to grow food through the winter – it's very well insulated,” he said. “It's oriented so that it captures the most amount of sunlight that it can during the winter months. I think having spaces like that, in the wintertime, where people can be around plants - when it's all snowy and cold outside, they can go inside and be warm.”
Tamales y Bicicletas used to own a bike shop, providing bikes, repairs, and other related programs to community members, but the pandemic forced the bike shop to close.
The organization is hosting a program in August on the urban farm for Minneapolis Public School students ages 11-15. The program will teach the students about the contributions of Indigenous people and other communities of color to sustainable farming and food preparation.
The application can be found on their Instagram account.
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