Hmong American Farmers Association

Growing community wealth since 2011

Spring

The CSA brings back a sense of that nostalgia for me but with a new experience too

Food Hub, Friends of HAFA, Spring

Now is the time to sign up for a HAFA CSA share! If you still have lingering questions about it, here are some answers from Oskar, a 2016 CSA member. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tell readers a little bit about yourself.

I am a Hmong-French American artist/organizer and I live in St Paul.

Why did you choose to participate in a CSA?

I love fresh food so fresh produce is key and I shop weekly to stock up. I figured why not invest that time and money in small farmers who really do depend on the support of the local economy and make a greater impact this way while still eating well.

Why did you choose the HAFA CSA in particular?

Growing up, farming was always a part of Hmong culture. My parents and relatives did farm whenever they could, using these prime skills to be more independent and getting access to familiar foods. It was a lot of hard work and a matter of food security. Although they were not commercial farmers, they would always harvest an abundance and share it.

Being a member of the CSA brings back a sense of that nostalgia for me but with a new experience too. The CSA gets me produce that my mom would use in her cuisine, especially now that I don’t live with my parents. I also get to learn first hand about what it really means to eat what is local and in season. I live in an apartment and don’t have the space, time or skills to garden properly, so in participating in the CSA, I feel like I am supporting local farmers as stewards of the land, local agriculture, and Hmong culture. I am reminded and have a renewed appreciation of how much work and dedication it takes to make fresh produce available. It’s the hands and knowledge of farmers that grow our foods. I don’t take it for granted.

How did you use your CSA?

Who did you share it with? How did you plan your meals around it?

I shared my CSA with family and friends, whether it was giving them some of the fresh produce or sharing meals and cannings made using familiar and new recipes. I tried lots of new flavors and even found some new favorites. I planned meals and snacks around the produce box each week. I was able to have more time to cook fresh food than being out shopping for ingredients, keeping my typical grocery shopping to a minimum.
What was your favorite meal you made with produce from the CSA?

I discovered that garlic scapes are delicious! I also loved making simple meals like sauteed water spinach with jasmine rice. Also, golden beets and small cucumbers made great additions for refreshing, delicious salads.

Why would you recommend the HAFA CSA to others?

The CSA is a great way to explore new flavors and creativity, support local farmers as part of Hmong agri/culture. Since I was wasn’t able to catch the farmers’ market as often with a busy summer, the CSA was really convenient. Finding certain produce consistently in grocery stores was sometimes a challenge and I was able to add them into my CSA box for a really great price once they became available. I also loved getting flowers in the box from time to time. I would say, it’s like getting to know what is local, but in a new way.

HAFA farmers get their first taste of beekeeping

HAFA Farmers, Spring, Trainings

IMAG0307This past month, we trained 9 HAFA members in beekeeping. They went through two trainings, painted their hives and then I worked with all the members to start their hives. Their dedication and devotion to learning how to keep bees on the farm has been an exciting surprise!

Last year I went through extensive training with the Bee Lab at the University of Minnesota to be able to develop our HAFA beekeeping program and give HAFA farmers the information they need to train the next person. So the trainer trains the trainee to be a trainer.

We tend the bees unveiled and unsuited. Most people wear a bee suit, hat and veil. But I am proud to say that many of HAFA farmers are comfortable enough around bees without protective gear. This shows that they are confident in tending the bees without harming them.

There’s a misconception about honeybees in the media and society. IMAG0305The bees we keep on the farm are a European species which are scientifically known as Apis mellifera ligustica. They are some of most gentle bees. These bees can tolerant northern climates and produce massive honey.

Many people ask why we keep bees on the farm. Our intention is to pollinate the fields and help restore the colonies because we are committed to preserving nature’s key species. The bee population has been decimated over many decades due to heavy use of chemicals, parasitic mites, loss of natural habitation and diseases. Without bees we would not be able to eat 1/3 of our diet. Not only us but other natural beings like deer, bats, birds, and insects that are all part of the ecosystem depend on pollination. What would the world look like if fruits and vegetables didn’t exist in our diet?

 

Hmong Tab Laj Farm: Two (and more) are better than one

Business development, Food Hub, HAFA Farmers, Land Access, Spring, Value-added products

Snapchat-117935716852987074 (1)In the mid-2000s, two school-aged children, a newborn baby, a fulltime job, lack of rest and farming on land an hour away from home pushed HAFA member, Song Moua, to the verge of ending her family farm business.

Song struggled to find a sense of balance with her family responsibilities and the farm business until her husband, Lenny Xiong, saw the importance of locally grown food and realized the farm business was more profitable than a fulltime job.

Now they both farm fulltime during the growing season, and their operation, Hmong Tab Laj Farm, brings them a sustainable livelihood doing the thing they are passionate about. Their kids are older and able to help out, and they’ve even leased 12-acres in Cottage Grove for another 10 years.

“We are happy to have this 10 year contract. It’s allowing us to increase our perennial production which Snapchat-7455770960143630091helps our income increase because we can sell more to the HAFA Alternative Markets Program.

And now Song and Lenny are able to focus on financial aspects of their farm business instead of worrying about land access. Other aspects of the business that Song and Lenny wish to focus on this year including focusing on profitable crops and investing in equipment that will make their farm run smoothly.

The husband and wife duo have taken their knowledge gained from HAFA trainings this year and re-evaluated their farm business. They calculated their cost of production for each crop and decided to cut 40% of their crop varieties due to lack of profitability while still maintaining a healthy variety.

Snapchat-3287739972440706651Their second goal is to prevent crop loss throughout the season.

“We hope to extend our selling season through the winter and sell frozen strawberries and rhubarb. We also want to make fermented leafy greens.”

The family hopes to also launch their first packaged product this year through HAFA’s newly launched Value-Added Program. The program allows families to use a commercial kitchen to process and package their vegetables and sell it in a different form allowing for an additional form of income.

“I am thankful my husband joined me in the farm business because we wouldn’t be as successful as we are right now without the commitment of the whole family.”