In April 2026, Rabelades Farm organized a Community Farming Weekend, Nourishing the Soil and Soul, in collaboration with Kubib e.V and the support of the Care for Future Foundation, we were able to fund facilitator fees, tools, and educational materials.

Rabelades Farm is a Black queer-led Afroecological grassroots project. Our farm is dedicated to sustainable farming, community building, and reclaiming the countryside as a site of healing and resistance. Through this workshop, we offered 16 participants the opportunity to explore agriculture through both learning and hands-on practice. The workshop was rooted in Indigenous farming knowledge, which emphasizes reciprocity with nature rather than working against it. This approach supports healthier soils, increases biodiversity, improves food quality, and helps mitigate the effects of climate change.

A central topic was the difference between conventional tillage systems and no-till practices, and how reducing soil disturbance can protect soil structure and support a healthier ecosystem beneath the surface. Another focus was the concept of living soil—understanding soil not as inert material, but as a living system full of microorganisms, organic matter, and complex interactions that sustain plant life. We also explored different strategies for building and maintaining fertile soil naturally, including composting, green manures, fungal-based soil support, and compost tea. These practices demonstrate how soil fertility can be strengthened without chemical inputs.

Practical work on the farm formed an essential part of the workshop. Participants and facilitators worked together to prepare the soil, shape garden beds, and incorporate organic materials to support long-term fertility. This collective process allowed participants to directly engage with Indigenous farming principles in practice.

The Nourishing the Soil and Soul Community Farming Weekend is part of a broader effort to promote Indigenous farming knowledge and community-based approaches to agriculture. Beyond the technical practices, we created a space for exchange, collaboration, and shared learning. The experience highlighted that soil regeneration is not only a technical process but also a relational one, connecting people, knowledge, and ecosystems.

Find the long version in German here.