Building connections: How Ash Richards uses land care as cultural preservation

The city’s Director of Urban Agriculture talks about the impact of history, gardening as collective power, and resources for food sovereignty in our latest Civic Catalyst series.

Get to know: Ash Richards. 

Role: Director of Urban Agriculture at Farm Philly, a position housed under Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. Richards oversees several different programs within Farm Philly, including: the Land Access program, Community Agriculture Network, Carousel Farm House, Community Compost Network, Junior Farmers program, and the upcoming Agriculture Resource Center.

Green superpower: Storytelling

How Richards wields their superpower: Getting policy creators to make decisions that are informed by history and the stories of people who are directly impacted. “A lot of the food sovereignty and food insecurity issues we have are historical, based on oppressive policies and decisions that were made in the past that continue to have an impact today,” said Richards. Richards prioritized history and storytelling in creating Philadelphia’s urban agriculture plan, “Growing From the Root” – a 200-page document outlining the city’s ten-year food policy plan. 

What they find fun about urban agriculture and food sovereignty work:  Gardens represent collective power, trust-building, and social cohesion, according to Richards. People often share resources, tools, seeds, and food with one another, across the generations. They say that seeing this play out and watching people connect is a powerful part of why they are drawn to this work. 

Challenges to overcome in the land justice movement: “Our biggest challenge is ownership: communities being able to own these spaces or have long-term access to these spaces,” explained Richards. Preserving gardens is important. Not only are they permeable surfaces for stormwater runoff and foster biodiversity, but they are “another public space that people feel safe in” which preserves ancestral and cultural food practices. Farm Philly does not have the power to grant land ownership, so the team continues to advocate for it from those who are responsible, such as the Philadelphia Land Bank. 

What Richards is looking forward to with Philly’s urban agriculture: Launching the Agriculture Resource Center (ARC), the first capital project on the urban agriculture plan. Richards envisions the ARC – which will be located at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center – as a one-stop shop for land stewards of all kinds. The center will offer workshops and tools as public goods. 

In addition, Richards is looking forward to hiring a systems planner to work with them on putting together an Implementation Alliance for the urban agriculture plan. The intention of the alliance is to keep the team on track to reach their 83 goals outlined in the plan while holding onto a vision of a racially and economically just food system in Philadelphia. 

Their advice for getting involved: “There are so many resources; we’re not the only ones doing this work!” they said, mentioning organizations like Philadelphia Orchard Project, the Penn State Extension master gardeners program, and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 

How to get in touch: Reach out to Farm Philly, and check out farmphilly.org. Email Farm Philly at farmphilly@phila.gov, or by phone at 215-685-0278.

Cover photo: Courtesy of Ash Richards

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