We came to farming through environmental education and an interest in raising food in sustainable ways to serve our community. We are one generation removed from farming as we both had mothers who were raised on small family farms in the Midwest but did not farm themselves. As we delve deeper into farming and understanding the many stories that brought us to this work and land, our priorities have grown as farmers. We have always been dedicated to community, habitat preservation, healthy food, and soil health. Our priorities have grown to include social justice around food and farming as we continue to learn and understand that we have come to this land through privileges not understood early on in our career, but better understood now. We envision a landscape and farmscape that reflects the full diversity of our communities. We envision a farming ecosystem that grants equal access to land, to resources, and to education. We envision a farm system that acknowledges the contributions and innovations of all peoples. We envision communities that understand the problematic history of wealth, agriculture, and oppression in our country, but work together to build communities and agricultural systems that build up and empower all peoples. This vision demands humility, continued education, conscious owning of our privilege, and dedication to changing the dominant narrative that leaves our communities with only a partial story of who we are and where we have been so that we can move toward where we want to be.
How can I learn more?
We continue to have many teachers on our path to working toward justice in the food system. Below are resources that have educated us and continue to educate us as well as Minneasota-based organizations that are supporting food justice in their communities. We invite you to learn more and support these organizations if you feel so moved.
Catholic Charities Food Shelf – St. Cloud
Hmong American Farmers Association
North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NaTIFS)
