In this course we explore the development of Black farming communities in the United States. The course is designed to give students knowledge and understanding of African American rural material culture, including the function of gardens and yard ornamentation. These material expressions are examined within the cultural, social, and ecological context. We trace the history of US agricultural policy and its impact on small family farms and Black farmers, and we examine the structure of US agribusiness, and the "myth of the family farm." The course takes an anthropological and agroecological perspective to examine the dynamic relationships between people the environment, and focuses on particular ways that Black farmers promote biodiversity within local ecosystems. We look at how African American farmers' attitudes toward and beliefs about land guide land management strategies. Course work includes research-based lectures on the anthropology of Black farming, film viewings, and both written and multi-media assignments.