amwa at los angeles worm farm collective
abelle and eunhae sifting at lawfc
amwa @ los angeles worm farm collective
july 28, 2019
written by bianca nozaki-nasser
members of the los angeles worm farm collective , amwa, equal action, and los angeles spoonie collective at lawfc in east, los angeles.
last sunday the los angeles worm farm collective hosted amwa, equal action, and los Angeles Spoonie Collective at their first monthly community workday in East Los Angeles (Tongva land). amwa organizers and members were invited to spend the morning learning from and working with lawfc, and, of course, we closed out the day with a potluck -- sharing plates full of black beans, roasted sweet potatoes, and sweet mangos.
lawfc organizers natasha and stephanie giving workday orientation.
founded in 2014, lawfc is a business that produces worm castings for use as nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. by collecting waste from the community and using it in their vermicomposting (composting with various species of worms) process lawfc is helping grow the alternative economies movement in Southern California. the lawfc is cooperatively owned and collectively governed by its four core members, keshy, kimler, natasha, and stephanie. that means that all workers are business partners who have an equal share of the business and an equal say in its direction. together they are committed to contributing to the movement for economic justice.
economic justice is a set of moral principles for building economic institutions, the ultimate goal of which is to create an opportunity for each person to create a sufficient material foundation upon which to have a dignified, productive, and creative life. with this framework in mind, their long-term goal is to develop a network of local cooperatively-owned businesses that empower workers and communities alike, especially for those who experience limited options and oppressive workplace environments, including queer and trans folks, youth and young adults, people of color, women, and those from low-income and working-class communities.
from sorting and sifting to weeding and wrangling worms, amwa was excited to be able to spend the day learning from and working with lawfc. we were able to sink our hands into the freshly sifted dirt and smell the aroma of fertile ground that came from the labor of people and worms working together. for the past year, amwa has been building work around our spiritual connections to food. we have been focused on the taste of a home-cooked meal, the labor of a loved one standing over a stove, the warmth of communal celebrations, and the relief of homegoing. the day in the dirt provided the opportunity to recognize and connect to the labor of the source soil that feeds us.
as artists and art workers, we have been taught to think in trade-offs - negotiating our existence under capitalism and our right to thrive, grappling with politics of arts institutions and access to resources. during our workday, amwa learned that lawfc focuses not only on sustainability, but seeks to explore their own intersectional identities through nature, cooperative business working structures, and their relationships with one another. lawfc reminds us that there are so many ways that our queer and trans, black, people of color, and low-income communities have always worked together, shared resources, and cared for each other. as we grow, amwa hopes to continue, honor, and support these legacies.
we believe that oppressive systems will not be dismantled by functioning within them, but by grassroots and community efforts like the lawfc that work to build alternative economies together. amwa is grateful for lawfc and thanks them for welcoming us into their space.
we encourage you to learn more about vermicomposting. to purchase worm castings please contact - sales@laworm.com- or to get involved with lawfc contact mobilize@laworm.com.