Stories
Visual storytelling documenting less visible forms of women’s labour.
In Meghalaya, The Hearth is at The Heart of Seed-keeping
While documenting seed preservation practices within households and community seed banks in the villages of Umsawwar and Nongwah in Meghalaya, Queeneerich Kharmawlong and Ibapdianghun Myria realise that the women doing incredibly important work see it as just an ordinary part of their lives.
Following Women Foragers into the Sal Forests of Madhya Pradesh
For a fleeting window each monsoon, women from the Baiga community venture into the sal forests in the central Indian landscape to gather wild harvest, especially putpura—edible wild mushrooms—that appear for just 15 to 20 days once the rains begin. Kiran Admache and Nidhi K. follow along on a wet July morning, learning about monsoon-foraging rituals as they walk.
“I learned to clean fish from my mother. You have to be careful—the blade must not cut into the fish”
Despite its importance, cleaning fish remains one of the least visible forms of labour in the fisheries economy. Revathi Sunil and Rashmi Sridar document what a day’s work looks like for the women at the Rameshwaram Fish Market in Tamil Nadu.
A glimpse into women’s everyday lives within food systems.
“The heat is just too much! But pineapple and roselle juice sell well”
—Ibadapmon Barim, 32, Khweng village, Meghalaya
“Our elders say, if you never put an axe to a mahua tree, it won’t let a person go hungry”
—Kalabai Merawi, 45, Kannai village, Madhya Pradesh
“We have always lived on these islands and gone to sea. How can the state say it does not belong to us?”
—S. Pandiammal, 44, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
Recipes and stories featuring seasonal and hyperlocal ingredients distinct to their respective foodways.
Niang Ryndia Salad
In Meghalaya, Eri silkworm pupae are often eaten after the silk cocoon has been harvested.
Putpura Sabzi
Putpura mushrooms, foraged from beneath sal trees during the monsoon, are a seasonal delicacy among tribal communities in central India.
Olakkal Nandu Gravy
This recipe for blue swimming crabs is whipped up after a long day of hard labour.
Reported features on how farmers navigate the complex realities of the field.
Hands That Brew: The Complexities of Female Labour in the Making of Rice Beer
Traditional drinks are often regarded as repositories of culture. In Centrepiece, Rini Barman explores some of the less romantic aspects of this practice and the many implications of the act of brewing rice beer.
What Are Seeds, When Not Sold?
Oishika Roy explores experiences of seed savers and scientists to gather proof of relationships between people and seeds beyond that of money: generational, and through the principle of commons.
The Slow Disappearance of Karal Meen from Rameshwaram’s Fish Markets
Industrial demand is making one of the most affordable species of fish along the east coast of India more expensive. E. Haripriya explores what these ripple effects mean for local kitchens in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu.
This curation is part of the Woman Farmer Project, a multimedia storytelling initiative led by The Locavore in partnership with the Doc Society Climate Story Kitchen. It aims to build a roadmap for successful collaborations between institutions and innovative grassroots networks who are committed to amplifying climate stories.
The Doc Society supports climate action across the globe by championing independent filmmakers, audio producers, journalists, and artists working alongside impact producers and movement builders to bring more communities into climate conversations to advance climate just and biodiverse futures.