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Snapshots from the Rail

If you're on Insta, help advance our reach by following, commenting, and sharing. If not, that's cool. Check out our most recent IG post below.

Scroll down for notes from the WayOut experience. If we don't study ourselves, we get studied. Often, with a lot of misunderstanding and misrepresentation. We're side launching a community ethnographic endeavor-- out of the ivory tower and into the grassroots. The snapshots below are excerpts from written and audio field notes. Join the research. Not as subjects, but as intellectuals. Post your reactions, insights, analysis and similar experiences.

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If you're in the Tuskegee area, come on through and pick some fresh blueberries at @sgrbpatch, a Black women owned farm that's all about building and providing for community. Picking season starts June 15th!
#tuskegee #alabama #blackownedfarms #blackfarmers

Sharing is caring! Mike here, excited to announce my new Youtube channel @justmicdtl dedicated to offering a grounded look at our struggle for collective autonomy and exploring my views on how we can more efficiently move from ideas to collective action and onto freedom.
I'm asking for your help. Please subscribe to and SHARE THIS CHANNEL! Lots of great topics coming up, all from a unique, down-to-earth perspective.
Youtube.com/@justmicdtl
#collectiveautonomy #liberation #blackpower

New YouTube video premiered today! Check out our most recent excursion to @off_gridish homestead for a weekend Van Build Campout! Link in bio.
Btw, if you're looking to connect with Aasha specifically, link up with her on IG @blackfreelifer .
Mike typically manages this profile.
Subscribe to our channel for more adventures and our reflections as we roam free and realign with nature.
#blackvanlife #travelnoire #blackhomesteaders #blackfarmers #blacknomads #blackcampers #vanbuild

We had a time! It was quite a vibe! This weekend, we reconnected and recharged with our fam @off_gridish and connected with some new instant fam! Shout out to @the_ethnic_explorer for capturing the drone shots! That drone was way up there but didn't ascend nearly as high as the relaxing, loving vibes happening down below all weekend. Good times.
Reposted from @the_ethnic_explorer
Such an amazing time meeting everyone and connecting and building community. Yall stories are really inspiring and Read More

There won't be another total eclipse happening in the US for 20 years! If you want to do something great, go out and align yourself with greatness. Come hang with us in Marion, IN at @herlivingcampus !
We'll be camping there over the weekend leading up to the big celestial event. There are still a few camp sites left, but they won't last! You can also just come for the Family Day eclipse viewing event on 4/8.
If you've never seen an eclipse in person before, it is truly something magical! Vid Read More

Join the Mission to Create 10,000 Black Female Farmers! Attend the virtual meeting on 2/19 7pm EST hosted @farmasis and @kidogo_farms
The vision for FarmaSIS is to create a community built on the idea of each sister who graduates to go teach ten other sisters, who then go and teach another ten. The system would continuously replicate itself until the idea of self-sufficient farming once again became ubiquitous within the Black community.
For more info, contact the hosts or visit farmasis.com
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There is no "both sides" to genocide.
Millions of people - half of them children - are locked in a concentration camp with their supply of food, water, gas, medicine, etc. completely cut off. With a sea on one side and a military occupation on the other, they are unable to leave as entire neighborhoods are completely destroyed by missiles. This isn't about some ancient, religious war. This is the result of a violent colonization project that started in 1948. What is happening right now under th Read More

Nature calls. At times she can be silent, yet still speak volumes. Like when you think you're the "only one" in a crowd and then catch the eyes of another and exchange that "I see you, fam" smile and head nod.
Other times, Nature can holler with an incomparable wrath, moving anyone within earshot swiftly back in line. In my experience though, most often her call is gentle, unassuming.
Like the way an elder offers up nuggets of wisdom in what seems like everyday, casual rambling. No stopping to Read More

👀 We've visited many homesteads and have heard countless stories of hard lessons learned. Part of transitioning to off-grid, sustainable living is trial and error. But there are so many people out there willing to share their knowledge and experiences so that you can gain insights and hopefully avoid repeating their mistakes. Tap in!
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Reposted from @offgridhomesteadfam
I am pushing this summit so hard because I truly wish I had the opportunity to learn all of this information Read More

Parents, y'all think we should bring this back?! Our teens thought this old-school courting chair was hilarious.
Link in bio to check out our recent journey to Tulsa, Oklahoma and subscribe to see more of our Cross-Country VAN roadtip.
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.#vanlife #blacktravel #blackvanlife #blackwallstreet #tulsa #blacktravelfeed #blacknomads #travelnoire

It is awesome in the truest sense of the word to do nothing and have food provided by nature. Was pulling vines that were overtaking the backyard and noticed these little mini watermelon looking things.
Turns out they're edible! Creeping cucumbers. The flavor is hard to describe. Kinda of like a cucumber with a very mild sour, or maybe vinegar-like kind of taste. We are missing out on so many unique flavors living in a society that mass produces the same few crops for year-round consumption.
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It's hard to put our experience touring Tulsa, Oklahoma into words, so we made a video! Check out episode 2 of our Cross-country Van Trip available now on YouTube! Link in bio
By subscribing and sharing our YouTube content, you are making a tangible contribution to our community-building efforts. Thank you for supporting us and spreading the word!
#vanlife #blackwallstreet #tulsa #tulsaok #blackvanlife #blacknomads #blackhomesteaders #blacktravelfeed #travelnoire

Y'all ever had Charleston red rice? Or some good old Gullah seafood rice?! 🤤 Here's your chance to camp out at a Black-owned homestead and get some down-home cooking at its finest!
Come on out to Georgetown, SC for the day (10/7) or book a stay for the whole weekend at Kidogo Farms. Check the website or reach out to @kidogo_farms for more info
#gullahgeechee #gullah #southcarolina #blackhomesteaders #blackfarmersmatter #blacktravel #blackcampers

Over the past 2+ years traveling in our van in pursuit of affirming outdoor spaces, we've learned a lot! Check out our latest YouTube video where we explore the Pros and Cons of the methods we use to seek out camping destinations. Youtube Channel Link in bio.
https://youtu.be/RQ9PurZr7og
👕 by @adinkrastyles
#vanlife #affirming #campingtrip #blackvanlife #blacknomads #blackhomsteaders #blackland #blacktravel #blacktravelfeed #melanated

New YouTube video alert! Watch and Share! Check out some highlights from our summer Cross-Country Van Trip! Link in bio
1 Van. 2 Adults. 2 Teens. Countless memories. If you're feeling what WayOut is about, watching and sharing our YouTube videos is one of the best ways you can support the work we do.
We have some exciting new community organizing developments that we can't wait to share with you soon! Until then, enjoy our cross-country video series!
#vanlife #blackvanlife #blacknomads #black Read More

Our friends @tko_farming are hard at work building the Southern Agrarian Training Center to share our elders' farming wisdom with the next generation. Click the link in our bio to hear a podcast talking about their project and to support the building of a valuable community space.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/4hc6n-southern-agrarian-training-center-fund
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#mississippi #blackfarmers #blackhomesteaders #blackvanlife #blackwealth #southernfarm

Everytime we visit a new land, we are awed by how different and unique it feels from all the other lands we are visiting across the country. BLK Dream Camp is no exception. Its wide expanse is made to feel quite cozy by small bush-like trees which dot the landscape. The feeling of both remoteness and coziness felt like a paradox that only a dream could pull off.
Blk Dream Camp is aptly named for a number of reasons:
Our host Aleeyah is literally building her dream on 25 acres purchased in Ari Read More

Y'all know what happened in Tulsa, OK in the 1920s? I'll tell ya. People laughed, loved, and danced the night away. They raised families, had cookouts. They dreamed, and then put boots to the ground to make it reality. Against all odds, they prospered and lived in abundance.
Walking through the Greenwood District in Tulsa, there are countless reminders of the atrocities that took place on Black Wall Street. Amongst the dark tales that ooze from monuments and plagues along the roads, there is Read More

POV: When you're with someone willing to live life a little on the edge with you.
📷 Enjoying the sunset at the Grand Canyon.
#vanlife #grandcanyon #blackvanlife #blacktravel #blacktravelfeed #travelnoire #blackinnature

Right time. Right place. Right people. When you're aligned, it's like the universe is showing off and out for you.
That's how our stay with Zani and Yaseen @offgridhomesteadfam felt. In the time we were there, we got to experience multiple rare events that we couldn't have planned for even if we tried.
Their homestead is unlike any we've ever been to. 25+ acres on a wide expanse of land, you can see miles in every direction. There's an abundance of sage bushes throughout the land, which proba Read More

Our cross-country trip begins in Kentucky with a waterfall and deep-fried oreos!
Every heard of a moonbow? Us neither. Apparently, when there's a full moon this is one of the few places in the world where you can see a rainbow created by moonlight.
#vanlife #homesteaders #blackfarmers #blacknomads #travelnoire #Blacktravelfeed #wayoutdoors #blackvanlife #abovegroundrailroad

Look, Mama Nature is gonna do what she wants. And it don't help nobody to be mad about it. The old saying goes, "Nature does not hurry, yet everything gets accomplished". That includes this festival! It's now happening on Saturday, JULY 15TH!
Different dates but the same great time. We'll see you in a few weeks at @sgrbpatch in Tuskegee, AL. If you weren't able to make it to the original date, here's another chance to get on board!
#blackvanlife #blackhomesteaders #blackfarmers #blacknomads Read More

Just 2 weeks away! Join us at @sgrbpatch in Tuskegee, AL for live music, drum circle, nature walks, foraging, kids activities, camping, vendors, and more!
You can come soak up good vibes all day or keep the party going and camp overnight on the farm. Only 5 campsites left!
Link in bio. Let's come together and celebrate community and the abundance that nature provides!
#blacknomads #blacktravel #blacktravelfeed #blackhomesteaders #blackfarmers #tuskegee #tuskegeeuniversity #travelnoire #black Read More

We're heading Southwest and need your help! PLEASE SHARE THIS to help us connect with more land stewards as we continue to work on expanding the Aboveground Railroad community.
We're so excited to finally be venturing into the southwest soon to connect with some long-time IG fam in real life. We'll be making many stops along the way and would love to be able to stay on Black-owned land for the entire journey.
We are especially looking to connect with land stewards in OK, AR, or Northern Texas Read More

Let’s celebrate community, our roots, and the abundance that nature provides! This Juneteenth weekend (6/17-6/18), take the Southern Route to your Roots and enjoy some good food, good music, and down-home family vibes at @sgrbpatch in Tuskegee, Alabama!
Tickets for the daytime festival are $10 (FREE for kids under 13!) If you want to keep the festivities going overnight, you can add on a campsite for up to 5 people for just $20! Only 6 campsites left. Secure your tickets and campsite today!
Li Read More

We kicked off the spring camp season out on @mysticpinefarm , a small farm in southwest VA stewarded by Chef Stephanie and we couldn’t have felt luckier!
Chef Steph (has a great ring to it), like so many farmers and homesteaders we’ve met, is a “let’s get er done” type person. In a short time, she has cleared her land, hand built raised beds and hand plowed crop rows to grow the food she uses for the delicious food she makes.
We enjoyed her down-home shrimp and grits, with a side of the most Read More

@kidogo_farms presents Camping 'Cross Da Gullah Nation 2023! April 20-23 in SC! Tour and camp throughout the Gullah-Geechee Nation, from Allendale to Dorchester to Georgetown, with meals, drinks, and entertainment provided at each location. Join the fun!!
Get info and tickets at www.kidogofarms.com/geechee-camp-tour
As usual, Aboveground Railroad community members get the family hookup. Check your email for details.
#blacktravel #blacktravelfeed #blacknomads #blackvanlife #travelnoire #black Read More

Getting our popcorn ready to see the stunning changes over at @off_gridish! Make sure you tune in. Catch them on #iglive next Tuesday at 7:30pm EST right before the episode airs!
We love to see the Aboveground Railroad community thrive. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Can’t wait to visit again soon!
#blacktravel #blacktravelfeed #blacknomads #blackvanlife #travelnoire #blackhomesteaders #blackhomesteads #blackfarmers #blackfarmersmarket #blackcampers # Read More

Save the Date!📅 On Juneteenth weekend, @sgrbpatch is hosting a nature-filled good time at their blueberry farm in Tuskeegee, Alabama!
Pick your own blueberries, fill up on some down-home cookin', turn up with some good music and fun outdoor activities, and then warm up gathered around the bonfire!
You can come just for the daytime festivities or extend the fun by camping out on the farm.
Stay tuned for more details and registration!
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#blacktravel #blacktravelfeed #blacknomads #blackvanlife Read More

It's going down once again at Unity Family Farm May 19-21 in Gibson, GA!
Garrett invites all for a weekend of community camping and relaxation at his homestead. Free camping and free food!
Save the date OR better yet, put in your RSVP now! RSVP is required by May 1st. See flyer for contact info.
#blackhomesteaders #blacknomads #blacktravel #blacktravelfeed #blackvanlife #travelnoire

"Where ya going in those flip flops, girl?"

...The day before we spotted some chanterelle mushrooms from a distance so we wanted to head a little deeper into the brush to see if we could find enough to cook. As we are walking we hear a loud voice, “Where ya going in those flip flops, girl?”...

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