BACK TO SERIES INDEX
Food For All Podcast : 5 of 5

Reclaiming the Land and Liberating People Through Food

Tyrean LewisSara Bannoura

Introduction

Tyrean “Heru” Lewis, founder of Heru Urban Farming, is on a mission to dismantle food apartheid in St. Louis. Raised in North St. Louis, Tyrean witnessed firsthand how systemic inequities left his community without access to fresh, nutritious food. His awakening came during a visit to several grocery stores, where he saw how wealthier neighborhoods were stocked with abundant, high-quality produce while his own neighborhood was left with scraps. Recognizing this disparity as food apartheid—a deliberate system of exclusion—Tyrean took action. Starting with buckets on his porch, Tyrean transformed vacant lots into thriving gardens.

Resources

Episode Toolkit

Find key information about the state of our regional and national food ecosystem as well as data highlighting political, economic, and health trends in this toolkit.

Download Now

Inside the Episode

Urban farming is the heartbeat of a just and resilient food system, directly addressing the failures of industrial agriculture and the injustices of food apartheid. Where families face systemic barriers to fresh, nutritiousfood, urban farmers are transforming vacant lots into sources of life, healing and hope.

These grassroots efforts combat food deserts and swamps by delivering nutrient-dense produce, creating jobs, and strengthening social ties in communities long ignored by industrial supply chains and local policymakers.

At its core, urban farming is about reclaiming food sovereignty. It empowers local farmers, families, and communities to break free from exploitative systems, fostering self-sufficiency and building stronger local economies.

Urban farms are not just gardens—they’re hubs for education, collective action, and cultural connection. Urban farmers are planting the seeds for a future where there is truly food for all—restoring power, resilience, and justice.

From the Interview

I think we need to take up our own system. I believe in food hubs and community-ran grocery stores. I think that’s the way to go. Why do we have somebody else dictate what we’re doing?

Tyrean Lewis
Heru Urban Farming