Janett Lewis, founder of Rustic Roots Sanctuary in Spanish Lake, Missouri, is more than a farmer—she is a healer, advocate, and community leader dedicated to reclaiming food sovereignty for her community. Her work goes beyond growing food; it’s about restoring dignity, nurturing connections, and confronting the systemic barriers that make healthy food inaccessible.

Rustic Roots began as a small community garden on a neglected property and has grown into a 6.5-acre urban farm producing over 20,000 pounds of fresh food annually. After three Shop ‘n Save stores closed in Spanish Lake in late 2018, leaving the community with only one grocery store, Rustic Roots stepped in as a crucial source of fresh produce, directly addressing the gap in food access.

The farm distributes 90% of its harvest back into the community through programs like weekly food deliveries to seniors and residents with a disability. The work at Rustic Roots highlights the broader need for structural change, advocating for food justice as an essential component of racial and economic equity in neglected communities.