Q: Introduce yourself! Who are you and where are you located?

A: I’m Kayleen Nagell (she/her). I have been working at Greener Pastures this spring as a Social Media Intern. I received my MA in Strategic Communications in 2020 and my BA in Global Studies in 2012. I reside along Minnehaha Creek in South Minneapolis with my partner and our two dogs.

Q: Why did you choose to work at Greener Pastures?

A: My interest in food issues really developed over the last several years. I started looking for ways to support progressive solutions after I completed my training in strategic communications at the U of MN. Upon meeting Sarah Carroll, Greener Pastures’ Founder and Director, I was impressed with her vision for food system change on a local level and I was particularly curious about how she connected eaters to activism when it came to this vision. As someone relatively aware of issues across our food system, I have often found myself seeking the very education and resources Greener Pastures offers. I have enjoyed the challenge of applying my theoretical knowledge in support of Greener Pastures’ mission over the last several months.

Q: What is your food story? How/when did your interest in food become prominent for you?

A: I”m a liberal arts kid at heart - natural sciences have never been my thing. Because of this, I struggled to imagine how I could combat climate change in a meaningful way. I always loved to cook and bake but I used to think these interests were somehow in conflict with my vision of being a feminist. Oh, how I was wrong! It wasn’t until I started digging into the issues behind our food that I found a sense of power and belonging in climate change action. 

As a young college graduate, I was set on working in development in India and had carved out a pretty clear pathway for myself. Although my path pivoted, working in India showed me how important food is, what power it holds for individuals, society, and culture, and how it connects us to the earth and to others. This made me appreciate the “chore” of cooking as a practice in humanity and environmentalism. Once I began to embrace it, I started digging deeper into food systems information and was shocked at all we haven’t been taught. Kind of like the shock and horror of taking your first college-level class on American history! 

I began to think seriously about how I could influence our food system through communications after I took a food systems course at the U of MN. Around the same time, I got the opportunity to develop key messaging and branding for a culinary arts educator who’s weaving in food systems education in the kitchen classroom at a local public school. Since then, I’ve been eager to find a role where I can pair my passion for food issues with my training in strategic communications. In my internship, I have enjoyed helping others understand these complexities and the ways they can create agency for themselves to build a better system. 

Q: What are two things you’ve changed in your behavior or approach to food in order to push against farming that is not sustainable, humane, and/or just?

A: With the help of Greener Pastures resources, I’ve been able to educate myself on food labels so I can shop with a clear understanding of where my money is going. This is such practical training for everyone and I’m so grateful for this resource. I know others are trying to eat ethically but struggle to make sense of all the noise in food marketing. Secondly, I was recently gifted a chest freezer and I’m so excited to finally be able to buy a bunch of farm-direct meat for the first time in my life! I have a personal policy of only purchasing meat from my food coop but I have wanted to vote for smaller farms with my dollars in a more direct way.

Q: What food-related content are you reading, listening to, or watching that you’re excited to share? What do you like about it? 

A: So many! But I’ll just share three:

1. The cookbook “Isa Does It: Amazingly Easy, Wildly Delicious Vegan Recipes for Every Day of the Week” has been a favorite for years! Even though I’m not vegan, I love diversifying my protein sources and this cookbook makes it so delicious!

2. I loved the Netflix docuseries “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America”. This series is so well done and taps into the power of food history in the United States. Watch it!

3. If I want to get nerdy and understand a food issue from a more scientific lens, Food Tank’s podcast “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” is great!

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