Remi Welbel (she/they) is senior studying neuroscience and dance from Chicago, IL. She is also the co-founder of Zumwalt Acres: A Regenerative Agriculture Community located in Sheldon, Illinois on unceded homeland of Kickapoo, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Potawatomi, Myaamia, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ peoples. Remi is dedicated to combating climate change, fostering a healthier food system, and regenerating the land through a community-building approach. She believes in working with regional farmers who are interested in learning about regenerative agriculture practices, and in empowering the next generation of young farmers, policy makers, health care workers, educators, artists, scientists, and changemakers. In her free time, she loves to dance, take long walks, and cook communal meals. Remi believes that the environmental and agrarian undertones of Jewish practices and customs should not be seen as auxiliary, but necessary to fully understand and celebrate our tradition. She is excited to help build a future of Jewish farming that catalyzes a commitment from Jewish communities to tend to the earth, to address climate change, and to take care of one another. Together, in this process, they believe we will cultivate solidarity with other communities and will reimagine human relationships with non-human earth systems.

Listen to: Remi’s interview with Judith Kane