In “Food Sovereignty and a Desert Landrace,” New Mexico shepherd Jennifer Douglass recounts a visit to her Navajo friend’s home in Rocky Ridge, Arizona—where generations have raised Navajo-Churro sheep in one of the most remote parts of the Southwest.
The essay offers a glimpse into a life rooted in land, memory, and daily care. Churro sheep are central to this story—not just as livestock, but as a thread of cultural continuity, passed down through labor, ceremony, and tradition.
Through shared meals and time on the land, Douglass reflects on food sovereignty: the right of people to shape their food systems based on culture and ecological knowledge. Her account shows how foraging native plants, raising heritage sheep, and preparing food are part of a larger cycle of survival and connection.
As a guest in this setting, Douglass becomes part of the rhythm—grinding corn, preparing mutton, and listening by the fire. Food, story, and place are tightly woven.
We invite you to read her full essay and spend time with this story of care, tradition, and belonging.
