Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Geography & Environmental Studies
Program Name/Specialization
Human Geography
Faculty/School
Faculty of Arts
First Advisor
Dr. Andrew Spring
Advisor Role
Professor
Second Advisor
Dr. Margaret Walton-Roberts
Advisor Role
Professor
Abstract
This research examines the lived experiences of Black food growers in rural Southern Ontario to understand how their perspectives challenge dominant narratives of rurality and inform broader discussions on food sovereignty in Canada. Grounded in postcolonial theory, the study highlights how historical dispossession and persistent inequities shape the access of Black communities to land and resources. Using a mixed-methods approach that includes surveys, semi-structured interviews, and reflexive journaling within a community-based research framework, the study documents the barriers Black food growers face. These include limited land access, insufficient funding, inadequate training pathways, and experiences of racial isolation in rural contexts. Despite these constraints, participants demonstrate resilience and innovation through ecological farming practices, community‑oriented food initiatives, the cultivation of culturally significant crops, and the creation of organizations that support Black growers’ access to land and knowledge. Findings reveal that while most Black food-growing activity occurs in urban centers, there is growing interest in rural agriculture, driven by desires for autonomy and cultural preservation. However, structural barriers, such as rising farmland costs, lack of institutional support, and colonial legacies embedded in rural spaces, continue to limit participation. The study emphasizes that strengthening food sovereignty within Black communities requires policy interventions that enhance land accessibility, support ethnocultural crop production, expand culturally relevant agricultural education, and cultivate solidarity networks among Black growers. Ultimately, this research contributes to the limited scholarship on Black agricultural experiences in Canada and offers pathways for developing inclusive, culturally rooted, and sustainable food systems in rural Ontario.
Recommended Citation
Morgan-Adamson, Kadeem Jerofy Mr., "CULTIVATING DIVERSITY IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS: BLACK FARMING AND LIVED EXPERIENCE IN RURAL SOUTHERN ONTARIO" (2026). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 2909.
https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2909
Convocation Year
2026
Convocation Season
Spring
Included in
African American Studies Commons, Black History Commons, Canadian History Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Ethnic Studies Commons, Food Security Commons, Food Studies Commons, Human Geography Commons, Nature and Society Relations Commons, Other Geography Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Regional Sociology Commons, Rural Sociology Commons, Social Justice Commons, Urban, Community and Regional Planning Commons