The “Why”:
Whimsical Art For Farm Labor Equity
WAFFLE Studio is a passion project to raise awareness and funds for social movements pushing for safe, healthy, and fair working & living conditions for farm workers in the U.S. As an eater and lover of food and flora, I want to live in a world where the agricultural goods that nourish us all are produced safely and fairly. As a food systems researcher, I learned that we have a TON of work to do to make that world a reality. I believe we each have a role to play in advocating for safety and fair compensation for the incredibly skilled folks who plant, tend, and harvest our food, flowers, fibers, and more.
Mission
To support the movement advocating for equity, justice, and wellbeing for farm workers by:
- Donating a portion of sales to partner organizations
- Raising awareness of farm labor justice issues
- Advocating for policies and programs that serve farm workers
Vision
Farm labor jobs in the United States should:
- Be safer and healthier
- Offer livable wages and benefits
- Support workers in advocating for their rights without fear of retaliation
- Promote holistic wellbeing for workers, their families, and their communities
Partnerships
One way I seek to contribute to the movement for a more just food system is by supporting groups who advocate for workers’ and migrants’ rights and/or increase access to crucial services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers (including healthcare, legal representation, and more). If you work with one of these groups and want to explore how we might collaborate, I’d love to hear from you via my contact form or at wafflestudioshop@gmail.com!
Currently, I am donating 10% of the sale price of each item I sell to these partner organizations. As I keep building the business, I aim to both grow this partnership network and sustainably increase the percentage of sales I am able to donate. These are organizations I’ve chosen to partner with because I worked alongside their members as a farm worker health and safety researcher and/or grew to respect their work and the resources they provide. Whether or not you want to buy something from my shop, I hope you’ll consider supporting them directly!
The “Who”:
About the Artist
Miranda Martin
(she/her)
This business is a passion project born of a lifelong love of making things with my hands as well as several years researching the realities of the working and living conditions on farms in the U.S. (And I still have so much to learn!) As someone with multiple mental health challenges, joyful crafting in solidarity with folks working toward farm labor equity fuels and sustains me to keep fighting for a world that values people over profit.
For those who might want to know, here are some of my intersecting social identities that inform – though by no means dictate – how I experience and show up in the world: white, middle-class, U.S. citizen, cisgender woman, neurodivergent, demiromantic asexual, trauma survivor. I share these for two reasons: 1) to be transparent about my multiple and considerable privileges; and 2) to increase the visibility of my more marginalized identities as a love letter to my fellow (especially younger) humans who are or might be a-spec, neurodivergent, and/or in a lifelong process of healing.
Values
These are the ideals I strive for, even though I am not even close to perfect in following them. Instead, I aim to do a little better every day. Check out my blog for stories of my many missteps and realignments in working toward these ideals.
Kindness
Respecting the humanity of all people. Sometimes this looks like greeting others with a smile and an affirming word. At other times this looks like engaging in transformative conflict and raising my voice to fight for universal human rights.
Intentionality
Consistently reflecting on how I can act more ethically. This includes scrutinizing my own supply chain to continuously improve my sourcing practices and communicate about the materials that go into my products.
Equity
Recognizing my own privileges and using them to build a world where every person has equal opportunity to lead safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
Transparency
Clarifying the flow of money in the business, especially in fulfilling my donation promises, pricing, and sourcing my materials.
Humility
Actively listening, learning from, and amplifying the voices of farm workers, their families, and members of their communities.