The Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition is proud to announce the launch of its first-ever podcast, “Of Seed and Soil,” a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices, stories, and struggles shaping the Virgin Islands’ food system.
Having recently premiered on Thursday, the podcast releases new episodes every other Thursday at 6 p.m., inviting listeners to dive into conversations about food sovereignty, culture, resilience, and ecological consciousness in the Virgin Islands. The project is made possible through generous support from Wildseed, whose commitment to food sovereignty, cultural preservation, and community-powered change aligns with the podcast’s vision.
Hosted by Sommer Sibilly-Brown, founder of the Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition, “Of Seed and Soil” seeks to digitize the often untold and uncelebrated stories of farmers, fishers, producers, and food advocates from across St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Water Island. Through heartfelt interviews and candid conversations, the series invites listeners to reflect on the deep relationship between food, memory, identity, and resistance.
“Food is not just something we consume, it’s memory, it’s resistance, it’s love passed down through generations,” shared Sibilly-Brown. “When we talk about seed and soil, we are talking about the very foundation of who we are as Virgin Islanders.”
The debut episode introduces listeners to the mission of Virgin Islands Good Food and lays the groundwork for themes that will be woven throughout the series, from food sovereignty and sustainability to cultural resilience and inter-island collaboration. In this first conversation, Sibilly-Brown is interviewed by friend and colleague Omi Pennick, founder of IWA Lifestyle and Developing Solutions Consulting Agency, where they discuss the importance of reclaiming ancestral knowledge and building relationships among growers, fishers, and producers across the Virgin Islands.
Future episodes will spotlight a broad variety of stakeholders from across the food system, including small-scale farmers experimenting with drought-resistant crops, youth leaders reviving traditional foodways, educators teaching ancestral food preparation techniques, and policy advocates working to transform the region’s approach to food security.
The Virgin Islands faces pressing challenges, from global supply chain disruptions to the escalating effects of climate change on Caribbean agriculture. With over 96% of food imported into the territory, there is an urgent need to strengthen local food systems and reconnect communities to the land and sea that have sustained generations.
“We have been conditioned to believe that what comes from outside is better,” said Sibilly-Brown. “But our ancestors cultivated these lands with wisdom that we’re now rediscovering. Every time we cook an old family recipe or save seeds from one season to the next, we are keeping our history alive. That is resistance and that is power.”
“Of Seed and Soil” is available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major streaming platforms. Virgin Islanders and allies are encouraged to follow @goodfoodvi on Instagram, Facebook, and visit www.goodfoodvi.org to stay updated, support local farmers and fishers, and share their own food stories. Community members are also invited to engage with the podcast by tagging @goodfoodvi or using the hashtag #OfSeedAndSoil to share how food, culture, and resilience show up in their lives.
“This isn’t just about listening, it’s about doing. Plant something. Cook something. Share something. It’s how we grow,” encouraged Sibilly-Brown.
St. Croix Source
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