Hello,
I’m Data. I am a landed immigrant from Indonesia who has lived in Canada intermittently for more than a decade. Having accessed CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) money in 2020, I was able to shift my attention and energy to learn temperate climate, human scale farming and permaculture. Following my time and learnings from Hayes Teaching Farm, a small group of friends and I started a food garden cooperative—TOASA Cooperative Farm with a mission of working with the community in a peace and friendship spirit to nurture a decolonised relationship to the land.
A friend of mine and member of the cooperative introduced to me the National Farmers Union and invited me to join as a farm worker member. I was intrigued to join and learn more, as I’ve always been interested in grassroots movements and social justice. I took some time to read about how the NFU advocates for small scale farming, farmers and farm workers as well as their advocacy embedded in agroecology, as opposed to corporately controlled food, increased inputs, and the idea of growth. I believe in starting small, in collaboration, not competition. I felt that the NFU was able to align with my beliefs so that we can better shape an agricultural/farm/food future that gives back to the land and to each other.
I joined the NFU in Spring 2022 as a farmworker and by fall 2022 at the NFU-NB AGM I was appointed to the board as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) President and was sent to Saskatoon the month following to attend the national convention. Recently I helped organize with the NFU BIPOC caucus and TOASA a farm workshop in Quispamsis for BIPOC farmers, producers, workers and allies.
Learn more about the NFU’s BIPOC Caucus.
I believe that we need not to work in silos, but rather in cooperation. We need shared knowledge, intergenerational exchanges and reconciliation. Being a member of the NFU has allowed me to broaden my networks and to work with like-minded individuals to make this world better for future generations. Working on the grassroots level with TOASA and my community helps make that vision come alive. The NFU’s policies, groups and networks help preserve that and keep advocating for a food system that works for all.
