Honoring Viviane Barnett: A Trailblazer in Community Gardening and Civic Leadership
I’ve been working solo here at the Good Rain Farm ship since late November. Though there is a goal to post a blog monthly to share about the farm and food sovereignty efforts it’s clear it’s been a struggle for years now to reach that level of consistency. To fail is to be human. Anyways I felt some disappointment that I failed to post in February and now it's March. I figure we can combine the two national month themes to try and make up for it. In celebration of Black History Month and Women's History Month, I want to pay tribute to the remarkable legacy of Viviane Barnett—a Black Portlander and civic leader whose resilience and community empowerment are inspirational and worthy of being known. In 2021 I began an 18 month period participating in the Viviane Barnett Food Systems Leadership Fellowship, a project spearheaded by EcoTrust with collaboration from Black Food Sovereignty Coalition, Mudbone Grown, OSU’S Center for Small Farms & Community Food Systems and Multnomah Counties Health Department’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Program. An all Black, Indigenous and People of Color cohort was assembled. We had monthly and quarterly meetings, skills sharing workshops and healing spaces in which to engage in. My cohort is full of amazing and engaged activists and leaders and it’s a privilege to have my name appear alongside theirs. Thinking back on this fellowship I wanted to share with you all a bit more about the amazing women for which this fellowship was named for: Viviane Barnett.
Not long after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination in May 1968, Portland's Albina district witnessed a different response than other cities experiencing unrest. Instead of quelling riots, the National Guard arrived to prepare the ground for Green Fingers—a visionary initiative led by African American real estate broker Viviane L. Barnett. Green Fingers was envisioned as a tangible, self-help alternative to inadequate state welfare programs. Despite its significant impact, the story of Green Fingers and Barnett's contributions remain largely absent from Portland's historical narrative of progressive planning and sustainability spheres.
From 1968 to 1982, Barnett championed the Green Fingers Project—a network of community gardens in Portland's Albina neighborhood to reclaim vacant land and foster food security, collective resilience and self-reliance in the face of urban development, civil unrest and racially targeted displacement. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
Obviously Barnett's journey was not without its challenges. Despite the overwhelming success of Green Fingers and its national acclaim, Barnett faced persistent obstacles rooted in institutional racism. Disruptions to the program, including frequent displacement and the demolition of garden sites mid-season, underscored the systemic barriers Barnett had to navigate within Portland's city government and planning offices. You can find a timeline here at the Green Fingers - PORTLAND BLACK GARDENS website.
The Green Fingers Project emerged on land left vacant following the construction of Interstate 5 and Emanuel Hospital—both projects that displaced hundreds of African American residents through eminent domain. Undeterred by the challenges, Barnett rallied community groups, volunteers, and donors to transform these vacant lots into vibrant gardens of hope and sustenance. At its peak, Green Fingers boasted around 300 participants and served an additional 1500 community members, serving as a beacon of resilience in the face of adversity. Notably in 1969 First Lady Pat Nixon visited the Green Fingers gardens during her tour of volunteer programs in Portland.
Here is a photo of First Lady Nixon and Viviane Barnett that was snapped by The Oregonian. I encourage you to listen to audio of Viviane Barnett giving an overview of the Green Fingers Project during a press event with a few remark by Lady Nixon offered near the end on the Green Fingers - PORTLAND BLACK GARDENS website as well.
"Helping Each Other to Help Ourselves": With this motto guiding her, Barnett embarked on a mission to mobilize Albina's residents and transform vacant lots into flourishing gardens. Green Fingers became more than just a gardening project; it became a symbol of empowerment and solidarity within the community. Through collaborative efforts and mutual support, participants cultivated not only crops but also a sense of belonging and agency in shaping their own futures. Green Fingers inspired the emergence of around 100 community gardens throughout the city. By 1975 the Portland Park Bureau began managing over 450 plots in 12 gardens in Southeast and Southwest Portland. I couldn’t easily find the names of these gardens but I imagine many of them are still in operation today.
As we reflect on the enduring legacy of Viviane Barnett and the Green Fingers program, I would like us to recognize the importance of preserving and amplifying stories of resilience, empowerment, and community-led initiatives. After all, telling stories is a big part of Good Rain Farm, especially place-based connection stories and our foods! Despite facing systemic barriers and ongoing challenges, Barnett's leadership and the dedication of countless volunteers nurtured a thriving network of community gardens that served or still serve as symbols of hope and empowerment. Together, let us celebrate the extraordinary contributions of Black leaders like Viviane Barnett and work towards a future where equity, inclusivity, and empowerment are fundamental values upheld by all.
After all, these very same values are what drive Good Rain Farm forward and into being. I started the farm at a time when Indigenous farmers, land caregivers and food sovereignty efforts were highly visible. This work has always existed and there have been people protecting and upholding our Indigenous rights to food however I saw a new path possible as well to aid and build off of the work already done before me. Creating a farm that could substantially impact food security and access through more common avenues of CSA, Farmers Markets and Grocery stores felt like a powerful way to contribute and amplify Indigenous stories and visibility. Your support, that support of CSA members and the messages I’ve received via DM’s and Emails have demonstrated just how powerful and important my small contribution to this work has been. With Good Rain Farm I’ll continue to endeavor to be a worthy enough contributor to our regional food system and food sovereignty efforts as Viviane Barnett clearly is.
As we honor Barnett's memory and legacy, let’s continue to champion community-driven initiatives that uplift and empower marginalized communities, ensuring that their voices are heard and their contributions are celebrated for generations to come. We honor her memory and pledge to carry forward her mission of community empowerment and social justice. Reaffirming our commitment to fostering equitable and sustainable communities built on principles of solidarity and self-determination.
- Your Farmer, Michelle Week
References: Ecotrust - Viviane Barnett Fellowship for Food System Leaders
Green Fingers - PORTLAND BLACK GARDENS
Oregon Historical Quarterly: Summer 2023 Issue
