Fodder’s 2026 Storytellers told of survival, putting down roots and taking new challenges

GREENAGERS AND BRIDGE, BERKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL VENTURES, BERKSHIRE GROWN AND GREAT BARRINGTON LAND TRUST HOSTED SEPT 27 EVENT

FODDER 2026 WAS SPONSORED BY

GUIDO’S FRESH MARKETPLACE, HOUSATONIC HERITAGE, EDIBLE BERKSHIRES AND THE VILLAGE GREEN NEWS.

Participating organizations were Berkshire Agricultural Ventures , Greenagers , Berkshire Grown, Great Barrington Land Conservancy and BRIDGE.

This year I had the pleasure of working with 8 farmer storytellers, ranging in age from 17 to 60+, to develop stories of the farming life, which reflect the diversity of this place we all call home.

ALL THE STORYTELLERS!

RONAN CONWAY AND YNEZ BOURDON TALKED ABOUT RUNNING THE SUMMER CAMP AT GIDEON’S GARDEN, WITH BRIDGE

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ASHNI SUNDER SPOKE OF HER KINSHIP TO HOME IN THE CARIBBEAN AND TO ELIZABETH “MUMBET” FREEMAN

SEIDE DESTIN SPOKE ABOUT GROWING UP IN HAITI, AND OF HIS LONG JOURNEY TO MASSACHUSETTS, WITH THE HELP OF BRIDGE STAFF AND INTERPRETER FOR THE EVENT LINA POLO

INDIAN LINE FARM’S ELIZABETH KEEN TOLD THE LOVE STORY OF HOW SHE MET HER HUSBAND AL AND LANDED IN EGREMONT.

ANNA CORTEZ GOT SO INTO DESCRIBING THE WAY HER FAMILY MADE SUGAR CANE AND COFFEE THAT SHE FORGOT ALL ABOUT HER COMFORT BLANKET/ WRITTEN STORY.

GEORGE MERZIER SPOKE IN CREOLE TO TELL HIS STORY COMING TO THE US, WORKED WITH LINA TO TRANSLATE IT INTO SPANISH, AND LINA READ THE ENGLISH VERSION. IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THE AUDIENCE TO GET A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE, AND FEEL WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE AN IMMIGRANT FOR A FEW MINUTES.

KYLE WILSON TALKED ABOUT THE HARDEST DAY OF WORK HE’D EVER EONE, WITH GREENAGERS, AND OF THE BENEFITS HE GOT OUT OF IT.

ME, THE PROUD TEACHER, GIVING KYLE A SECOND ROUND OF APPLAUSE.