Reclaimed Land: Growing Peace and Justice in Nashville (part 1)

Sizwe Herring is an environmental and social justice leader in Nashville, Tennessee and the founder of New Earth Matters Tennessee,  “a dynamic group of diverse earth educators dedicated to growing community through G.R.A.C.E.: Gardening, Recycling, Activism, Composting, and Education.” Influenced by the teachings of George Washington Carver, Sizwe Herring has been a leader for social and environmental justice in Nashville since moving there from Flint, Michigan in 1982. In part 1 of this conversation, Sizwe shared his philosophy on the earth, art, and building “communities of seen”.

Interview conducted by Emmett McKinney of CoLab Radio.

How did New Earth Matters begin, and how does it interact with our current social and political moment?

Sizwe Herring: I really feel – you know I feel special, man, that you thought about me. I have been in Nashville since 1982. I left Flint, Michigan, which is like the polar opposite, came down here to this town and just really fell in love with it. Things just move so much slower. Take some pictures and smell the roses. But um, in the last 30 years, there has been such a massive growth and over-burdening of our systems. So part of Earth Matters, we wanted to try to get a grip on this and honestly make sure that we don’t leave people out.

I was hired as director of the Green Neighborhoods Project, and that became Earth Matters Tennessee. So we actually got the community garden movement going here in the city, and distributed 30,000 tons of soil every year for 20 years. We built raised beds, added the soil supplement, and got people to save seeds and grow food. 

So that was our beginning, back then. Part of what we tell people, one thing, regardless of your political affiliation – whether you’re white, black gay straight have a disability, a child, an older person, we all have the same desire to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and have clean food – and to be able to love, love our environment. We use that as a way to try to pull people together to look beyond the superficial things that separate us and let’s look at the real things that connect us.

We did a lot at our central urban garden project, what was called the George Washington Carver Food Park. We uplifted Dr. Carver’s practices. We were open all year round. We grew food in the spring and summer, and we grew soil in the fall and winter. And we were on top of 4 acres of land that we got from the state of Tennessee Department of Transportation. We ended up getting a greenhouse, a tool bank lending library, a stage, and civic displays. We had potlucks, holiday celebrations, fundraisers, and some really famous people had come out to support us at our garden. So we really had a public service based, African American led operation going over there for 20 years.

Along with that sight we started a network of gardens. I became the Urban Agriculture Specialist for the city through a group called Community Food Advocates. They wanted to make a network, so we all would be there to support each other. So we had 140 gardens, man. I’m really proud of the garden work we developed, because as we said before, all these people come from diverse backgrounds and come together with one common goal, and that is to grow food, to grow soil, and to do good to others.

How do you think about New Earth Matters the context of the South, and Tennessee, and particularly around liberty and civil rights?

Sizwe Herring: Our mission is, “We’re a dynamic group of diverse earth educators dedicated to growing community through GRACE. GRACE is an acronym for “Gardening, Recycling, Activism, Composting, and Education.” We were able to combine all of these things in a way that was really unique to our city, and probably to the Southeast.

Especially being led by an African American, coming from Detroit and Flint, I, when I came down here and saw this beautiful land and saw how verdant everything is, and saw all the birds and insects and was enamored by what I saw when I moved to Tennessee. The rolling hills and the state parks and everything was just phenomenal, so you know, I fell in love with this place. But the story is a little different right now.

Last time we spoke, you told me about how your parents’ complementary ideologies and approach to activism shaped your own.

Sizwe Herring: Well yeah, I was born in the 60s – a very turbulent 60s in Detroit – and then my father’s family came from Valdosta in Georgia, and then they migrated up to Detroit. And my mother’s family was from New Jersey, and all we know as far as that family, is that they’re in the Monclair, New Jersey area.

I think what you’re referring to is that my dad was a very proud – and not just him, but his people – part of the Black Panther party. The Black Panther Party was up every morning making sandwiches and meals for kids who were not on these meal programs: fed the kids before school, and at school, and after school. And he really looked at the political acumen of the group and how well organized they were, and there were gatherings in which the organization made plans.

On the flip side, my mom’s family, her motivation came more from a love child, like a hippie background, and I loved her for that. And there’s always been a wonderful connection between two. Because I see the two – you know I see myself as a Panther-Hippie, or the off-spring of a Panther Hippie, a Hippie Panther. And that the ideals of both, the grace of the two together, can help everybody.

So yeah I think it really manages to drive me to continue my education at Tuskegee University, which used to be Tuskegee Institute when I was there in Tuskegee, Alabama. I walked the path of Dr. George Carver, and learned so much more about him, I mean we are all taught about him during Black History Month – but his history is much deeper than what we read about.

How do you think about art as it relates to your work, and about some of the projects you have done in and around Nashville?

Sizwe Herring: The thing about gardening is that gardening is work. You want people to have a good time, you want people to enjoy themselves, so they want to come back. So by overworking youth for the summer, or a full week, or 2 hours, or whatever…you’re not helping the situation. What we did was look at the 3 central letters in the word “earth.” And so many people – I have talked to journalists around the world who have never seen the word “art” in “earth.”

And so in 1992, instead of just making rows and rows of leaves, we actually made art out of these piles of leaves. Our initial land sculpture was that of an Egyptian ankh, which is the  Egyptian sign of life hieroglyphic. It was comprised of 10,000 bags of leaves, the biggest land sculpture we ever had, and as people flew over Nashville, people could see this land sculpture from the sky. So over the many years, the 20 years we were there, we had 5 different land sculptures –the ankh, we had an infinity symbol, we had a peace sign, we had a yin-yang symbol, and at the time of our plotted demise, we had a giant heart that was made of about 5,000 bags of leaves.

And our art stuff we do over the years – our flags, we have some pretty big projects around the city – you know it’s all about adding color to communities that need it. We call it “community of seen” by urban gardens and neighborhoods. We sort of make people feel better about where they live. We’re just one organization, but we do what we can.

How have you noticed impacts and transformations in students’ lives?

Sizwe Herring: Oh yeah, definitely. I recently had an assessment happen. I was recently out in front of the neighborhood stores. And they pull up pretty fast – it was a little too fast, really – and this guy gets out of the car and goes “Mr. Sizwe, Mr. Sizwe! Do you remember me?” I said “No.” She said “I’m Jessica” from the country. And when I connect the person, she gave me the biggest hug, and then all these kids -- these 3 little beautiful children get out of the car and she says “This is Mr. Sizwe from the country program. You remember that song I taught you?” And we used to teach these songs – and she had taught the kids the songs. That’s how we know it goes to our hearts, because the song is about:

Breathe like a mountain

Smile like the sun

Flow like a river

Sleep like a rock.

So that’s four things they sing about – and I’m like okay, ‘that’s a powerful, powerful thing.’

[This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. In part 2 of this interview, Sizwe Herring describes the destruction and reconstruction of his gardens, and the power of forgiveness. Sizwe Herring is available to speak, teach and consult on various themes, opportunities and projects. He encourages folks to reach out through email (bro.sizwe@gmail.com) or voicemail (615) 252-6953. Support online at www.emtn.net or newearthmatters.org.]

About the Author:

Emmett McKinney is a Producer for CoLab Radio, where he works to amplify community narratives. As a Master in City Planning student (2020), Emmett works to ground policies aimed “sustainability” and “resilience” in communities’ lived experiences. His current research focuses on transportation and water infrastructure, and how equity and justice are integrated into data-driven planning. Outside of CoLab, Emmett can be found running, drinking coffee, and dancing to reggaeton.