zien-celeste

Zien-Celeste (they/them/we/us/Beloved/Sister-Sibling) is a Queer Black-Creole Louisiana-born multidisciplinary artist, caregiver, end-of-life doula, spiritual chef, and Black-Feminist devotee. As a sister, companion, and community-tender they are inspired by Black Feminism, food, rites of passage, ritual keeping, the wisdom of the body in motion, and our connection to land and ancestry in both human and non-human forms. 

With first-hand experience of the deep connection between food and body liberation, Zien-Celeste has been enamored with the food justice movement in Hudson Valley, NY, and has flowed between various environments as a cooking instructor for young adults at Bard College, an abolitionist farmer student at Sweet Freedom Farm and a farm manager at Home Farm, a radical seed-breeding company.

Presently, they are entering their 9th year of experience in food justice and education work. Their experiences has led them to the understanding that we must be conscious about our ways of engaging with food as it can either be a means of nourishment with one another or a means of furthering disconnection and weaponized isolation.

Zien-Celeste transitioned from farming to invest full-time in Beloved Kitchen, a community catering service dedicated to the joy and nourishment of black and brown farmers and change-makers. Presently, they are continuing to extend their love for our revolutionary ancestors, learning, and space holding by seeding a long-term project for caregivers x farmers.