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ABSTRACT
This ethnographic paper navigates the intersections of feminism, urban farm movements, and democratic education at La Granja Puerta del Sol, a small farm near Buenos Aires, Argentina. Under the stewardship of Dani Ramirez, the farm resonates with the ethos of urban agriculture, while actively contesting gender norms and patriarchal structures. In parallel, it functions as a dynamic educational hub and platform for activist causes in their community. Utilising the theoretical perspectives of Michel Foucault's politics of freedom and Linda Zerilli's feminist practices of freedom, I analyze the farm's strategies in fostering sustainability, care work ethics, and collective decision-making. This exploration unveils how La Granja embodies feminist democratic education, underscoring the farm's potential to influence and reshape broader democratic education practices.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Argentina's journey in advocating for its transgender and wider LGBTQ+ community is one characterized by both struggles and breakthroughs. The country has witnessed significant milestones, notably with the enactment of the Gender Identity Law in 2012 (FNLI Citation2012). This piece of legislation eliminated the requirement for psychiatric evaluations or surgeries for individuals seeking to modify their gender on official documents, thus positioning Argentina as a global pioneer in transgender rights. This legislative success does not overshadow the myriad of societal obstacles the transgender community in Argentina faces. A prevalent issue has been the deep-seated biases that, due to systemic and societal discrimination, have driven many towards professions such as prostitution (Di Pietro Citation2016). This phenomenon is more than just a socio-economic consequence; it represents a culmination of various discriminatory practices deeply embedded within the societal fabric (Berkins Citation2008). The quest for basic rights remains an uphill battle for many transgender individuals in Argentina. Access to health, education, and even citizenship has been riddled with barriers, underscoring the disparities they face in comparison to their cisgender peers (Molina Citation2020; Wayar Citation2018). While Argentina's legislation has been progressive, the lived experiences of its transgender community, as highlighted by several studies (Berkins and Fernandez Citation2005), indicate that there is much work to be done to ensure true inclusivity and equity.
2 Debates surrounding urban farming are intricate, reflecting varied viewpoints from distinct parts of the world. Studies from the global north have linked it to gentrification and social inequality (Cadji and Hope Alkon Citation2015; Colls and Evans Citation2014; McClintock Citation2018; Romero and Harris Citation2019; Stehlin and Tarr Citation2017), while voices from the global south have viewed such agricultural practices as obstacles to modern advancements in need of replacement with more innovative or economically viable alternatives (Ayambire et al. Citation2019; Goodman et al. Citation2020; Lerner and Eakin Citation2011; Neilson and Rickards Citation2017). Amidst these differing perspectives, research on Latin American farm movements suggests that urban agriculture can serve as a platform for marginalized groups to address issues of oppression, misrepresentation, and limited resources. This perspective is supported by studies from Brazil (Tarlau Citation2019), Chile (Aguayo and Latta Citation2015), Mexico (Calderón Cisneros Citation2016), and regions in the Andean territories, Central America, and Cuba (Altieri and Toledo Citation2011).
3 In 2008, Lohana Berkins founded the "La Cooperativa de Trabajo Nadia Echazu," which was the inspirational force behind the "Open Closet" event. Named in honor of activist Nadia Echazú, this trailblazing cooperative prioritized social integration for Argentina's trans community, using textile work and sewing as its primary tools. Highlighting their innovative approach, in 2009, they hosted a standout fashion show at The Bauen Hotel. This event saw a mix of professional models and cooperative workers presenting their own designs on the runway. Their efforts stood apart not just as an alternative to conventional fashion, but as a testament to creating inclusive clothing tailored to the diverse forms of trans bodies (El Portal de las Cooperativas Citation2019).