2013 Come to the Table Conference – Piedmont/Central Region
February 19, 2013, UNCG
Link to the schedule at the RAFIUSA site
Link to Yes! Weekly review of the event
• Farming Opportunities for Immigrants and Refugees
The Piedmont has large communities of recent immigrants and refugees, many of who come from agricultural backgrounds and have expertise in farming, community health and organizing. Leanr about local grassroots projects that help these communities navigate some of the obstacles here in food production and marketing.
• Measures of success
How much energy and enthusiasm we generate; how many questions remain unanswered; how many connections are made; how many people stick around afterward; how many projects are launched down the road as a result of our gathering today.
Presenters
Kelly Owensby Transplanting Traditions
Der Xiong NC State Cooperative Extension
Astrid Lumbu Congolina Farm
Kwol (Angie) Ksa, Dr H Wier Siu Women’s Learning Group
Andrew Young, Facilitator
Facilitator Reflection
There are many refugee and immigrant farmers in the Piedmont who are eager to share. As our panelists reported, they are at different stages of investment and involvement. Whenever farm people get together they share a universal enthusiasm for growing things and a keen interest in knowing how to do a better job of it. Farming is hard work and those who appreciate the skills and craftsmanship of refugee and immigrant farmers are more often than not other farmers.
What impressed me by Kelly Owensby's presentation was her method of listening to Karen farmers, relative newcomers to the region, and to change and adopt training materials according to what farmers were telling them. Americans and Karen seemed to be learning together and because they started off on an equal footing, the project seems destined for success. A few days later I spoke to a Karen leader in Greensboro who had visited the site and was very impressed — a good confirmation.
Der Xiong reminds us that the Hmong community, like the Hispanic community, plays a significant role in our state’s agriculture. Although they live just west of the Triad, many Hmong students call UNCG their “home” university. Because they are well organized and have the direct assistance of NCAT, other refugee and immigrant groups can learn from the example of the Hmong people.
Astrid Lumbu is a well-educated urbanite who has turned her time and energy to Congolina Farm, located just a few minutes north of Greensboro. One of the pleasures of our conference time was the meeting of African and Asian farmers who were both growing plants that had originated in the Americas — sweet potatoes, for example — and their ability to share ideas and techniques. So Astrid, Der and Kwol Ksa found themselves in a lively discussion about ways of growing cassava (manioc).
Angie Kwol Ksa is a founder of a neighborhood refugee women’s group, a community health worker, and a Saturday assistant to Daniel Woodham’s CSA farmer's market table. With time running out, she graciously allowed me to speak quickly and summarize the efforts of the Women's Learning Group, which combines backyard gardens, health, nutrition, and literacy. This is a broad, inclusive, cultural approach that doesn't separate agriculture and farming out as a specialized job but rather sees it as a continuous part of women’s lives.
Angie Kwol Ksa
Dr H Wier Siu
Khin H
Farming, agriculture, food production and gardening for refugees and immigrants are ways to break social, cultural, and linguistic isolation — key contributors to material and spiritual poverty.
February 19, 2013, UNCG
Link to the schedule at the RAFIUSA site
Link to Yes! Weekly review of the event
• Farming Opportunities for Immigrants and Refugees
The Piedmont has large communities of recent immigrants and refugees, many of who come from agricultural backgrounds and have expertise in farming, community health and organizing. Leanr about local grassroots projects that help these communities navigate some of the obstacles here in food production and marketing.
• Measures of success
How much energy and enthusiasm we generate; how many questions remain unanswered; how many connections are made; how many people stick around afterward; how many projects are launched down the road as a result of our gathering today.
Presenters
Kelly Owensby Transplanting Traditions
Der Xiong NC State Cooperative Extension
Astrid Lumbu Congolina Farm
Kwol (Angie) Ksa, Dr H Wier Siu Women’s Learning Group
Andrew Young, Facilitator
Facilitator Reflection
There are many refugee and immigrant farmers in the Piedmont who are eager to share. As our panelists reported, they are at different stages of investment and involvement. Whenever farm people get together they share a universal enthusiasm for growing things and a keen interest in knowing how to do a better job of it. Farming is hard work and those who appreciate the skills and craftsmanship of refugee and immigrant farmers are more often than not other farmers.
What impressed me by Kelly Owensby's presentation was her method of listening to Karen farmers, relative newcomers to the region, and to change and adopt training materials according to what farmers were telling them. Americans and Karen seemed to be learning together and because they started off on an equal footing, the project seems destined for success. A few days later I spoke to a Karen leader in Greensboro who had visited the site and was very impressed — a good confirmation.
Der Xiong reminds us that the Hmong community, like the Hispanic community, plays a significant role in our state’s agriculture. Although they live just west of the Triad, many Hmong students call UNCG their “home” university. Because they are well organized and have the direct assistance of NCAT, other refugee and immigrant groups can learn from the example of the Hmong people.
Astrid Lumbu is a well-educated urbanite who has turned her time and energy to Congolina Farm, located just a few minutes north of Greensboro. One of the pleasures of our conference time was the meeting of African and Asian farmers who were both growing plants that had originated in the Americas — sweet potatoes, for example — and their ability to share ideas and techniques. So Astrid, Der and Kwol Ksa found themselves in a lively discussion about ways of growing cassava (manioc).
Angie Kwol Ksa is a founder of a neighborhood refugee women’s group, a community health worker, and a Saturday assistant to Daniel Woodham’s CSA farmer's market table. With time running out, she graciously allowed me to speak quickly and summarize the efforts of the Women's Learning Group, which combines backyard gardens, health, nutrition, and literacy. This is a broad, inclusive, cultural approach that doesn't separate agriculture and farming out as a specialized job but rather sees it as a continuous part of women’s lives.
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| Astrid Lumbu meets Lek Siu from Bonner Center |
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| Der Xiong and Astrid share farm ideas with Daniel Woodham of Goat Lady CSA |
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| Michelle Eley of NCAT meets Kwol Ksa |
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| Farming Opportunities for Immigrants and Refugees |
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Slide show: Women’s Learning GroupAngie Kwol Ksa
Dr H Wier Siu
Khin H
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| The Women’s Learning Group |
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| Neighborhood and community-based |
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| Volunteer and Reading Connections tutors |
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| 20+ women form the core group |
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| Easy walking distance |
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| Kinesthetic learning... |
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| With beans |
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| Imagined market items for sale |
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| Theory... |
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| To practice |
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| Suspension of disbelief... (Who would want to buy our food?) |
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| On the job training |
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| New cultural norm |
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| Income generated from sales; seeing is believing |
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| Typical container gardens |
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| Backyard gardens that need better soil and compost |
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| Dirt delivery |
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| Intersection of community, agriculture, and health: Dr Siu with first-time expectant mother |
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| Rain barrels for $5. |
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| A community solution: they cut down on expensive water bills |
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| Intersection of food gardens, nutrition, and economics |
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| Foodie Tour |
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| Neighborhood gardens: what's growing |
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| From garden to table |
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| Formal instructions: How to make spring rolls |
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| Intersection of food culture and life |
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| Tomato harvest at NCAT demo farm and delivery to dozens of families |
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| Butter nut squash harvest |
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| Rice harvest |
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| Trellised squash |
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| Perilla |
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| Cassava |
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| Thai eggplant |
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| Water spinach |
Farming, agriculture, food production and gardening for refugees and immigrants are ways to break social, cultural, and linguistic isolation — key contributors to material and spiritual poverty.
