Persevered

Thi Hoang grew up on a green tea farm in Vietnam, far from the market town, with her family feeding themselves from their own gardens and livestock. Despite that, “I didn’t like gardening,” Thi chuckled.

When she moved to Rochester 10 years ago to be with her husband, Thi quickly recognized the need to connect with the soil. The vegetables of her upbringing came at a steep price when they could be found. She connected with The Village Agricultural Cooperative and received land at one of their farms at the History Center of Olmsted County. The first couple of years were rough. “I didn’t know when to pick, when to weed, or how to manage the soil,” she reflected.

Thi persevered, and The Village brought resources that have allowed her to thrive. She learned to manage the soil and keep it healthy, with compost playing a major role in that. Her skill at growing flowers led to a need to expand her farming footprint. Farm business courses taught her to manage her budding small business, and The Village connected her with the markets to sell her beautiful bouquets.

Now flowers dominate Thi’s farm plots. With her young children she continues to grow vegetables for her family with enough to donate to food pantries, yet flowers have become her passion and business.  Through The Village they bloom in her farm plots at both the History Center and People of Hope Lutheran Church. Her bouquets sell quickly at the Rochester Farmers' Market on Saturdays at Grahm Park. She also sells through Clover Farmstands and independantly for individual boquest and special events. While working currently as a CNA at a nursing home, her flower sales provide Thi with resources to begin to study nursing.

Land to farm. Soil management. Composting. Business courses. Farmers at The Village benefit themselves, their families, and the whole community as they raise, sell, and share their abundance. Generous supporters, providing grants and gifts, make it all possible. Our community is stronger because of all this hard work. Thank you to all who support the Village’s mission to help communities to grow together.

Visit Thi's Website: https://mylittlegarden.us/ or Facebook Page

Sweet Bitter Leaf

The blood of a farmer flows through Vanasius Nyuchem's veins. Growing up in southern Cameroon he grew plantain and vegetables to provide funds for school. When the money for school ran out, he'd return to the farm to start the process again. The joy of educational achievement quickly soured amid the country's political violence. "When I think about it," Vanasius reflected with tears in his eyes, "I become traumatized."

Vanasius came to America to find safety, landing in Rochester to utilize his training as a Phlebotomy Technician. He came with nothing, sleeping on the floor, and longed for a connection to the land. "When you get in contact with the soil and skin," he shared , "It is good." He missed the greens that provided a staple of his West African diet.

That's when Vanasius connected with The Village Agricultural Cooperative (www.rochvillage.org) in Rochester. He received a plot of land at one of their local 'farms' at Rochester Covenant Church. "I like to eat something I grow by myself," he shared. "I know what I planted and I know what I did with it. I do organic farming." His diet soon included sweet bitter leaf, am extremely healthy green not well known in Minnesota but plentiful in Cameroon.

Initially Vanasius supplemented his own diet, but "when I saw that it was so much it started giving it away." Even as he sells some produce through the Village Global Farmer's Markets, much of what he grows goes to friends, neighbors, and the Rochester community through Channel One. His wife and children joined him in Rochester after their own immigration journey, allowing him to teach his children the joy of working the land. "That's how the angels in heaven are rejoicing to me."

Vanasius now farms part of a new 3 acre parcel provided to the Village by People of Hope Lutheran Church. Local churches and organizations share land for people like Vanas

ius to turn into productive cropland. Rochester, the state of Minnesota, and local agencies provide grants. Supporters provide funds. All that generosity enables The Village to allow families to grow, eat, share, and sell culturally appropriate foods, ensuring a local, healthy source of nutrition. People like Vanasius experience the impact. Thank you to all who have a hand in making it possible.