Yohane Nt irundegna, originally from Burundi, is both the oldest and the fittest New Farms for New Americans (NFNA) participant. He’s on occasion been been seen running—not walking—around his farm with his wheelbarrows of sod and compost.
Currently, Yohane and his wife Yosofina independently manage and cultivate a ¼ acre farm at the Intervale. They grow dry corn, tomatoes, machicha (an African green) and dry beans for their extended family.
Yohane and his wife also sell their dry beans to Bluebird Tavern. This cash crop gives them enough money to invest-in and maintain their ¼ acre farm every year.
Yohane’s only source of disposable income is social security. The huge quantity of food he brings home from his farm, supported by the sales of beans to Bluebird Tavern, significantly raises his family’s standard of living and health. Please consider supporting Yohane by patronizing Bluebird Tavern and New Farms for New Americans. If you would like to learn more about how to support Yohane and other New American urban farmers please contact New Farms for New Americans Program Specialist: Alisha Laramee (802) 343-7007; alaramee.nfna@gmail.com
Mrs. Malande is the energetic woman you may have met at the New North End Farmers Market or the Winooski Farmers Market. She is the mother of seven brilliant children, and also the proprietor of Fatuma Samosa and Farm. Mrs. Malande come to the U.S. in 2004 as a Somali Bantu refugee after eight years in a refugee camp in Kenya.
Mrs. Malande is an outstanding beneficiary of AALV’s New Farms for New Americans (NFNA) program. She participated at the second level for three years, receiving free land, technical assistance and support at farmers markets. During this time she won the Holly D. Miller Award from the Vermont Women’s Foundation for her entrepreneurial success.
This year Mrs. Malande is at level three of NFNA, meaning she is financially self-sufficient except for some limited cost share support for capital supplies. She also receives continuing technical assistance from NFNA. Fatuma, we have not doubt, will have a growing business for years to come. She has built her English language skills to a very high level and puts so much hard work into her farm, cooking and sales. The money she earns goes straight to supporting her children and their basic needs. What a role model! Please consider supporting her at farmers market, or have her cater your event. Please also let us know if you would like a tour of her ½ acre farm at the Intervale, as she would be very happy to show you around.
NFNA contact: Alisha (802) 343-7007. Alaramee.nfna@gmail.com
Alisha Laramee
At the end of July Josie Weldon, the current Program Specialist of New Farms for New Americans will be leaving AALV. Josie has been instrumental in the birth and growth of NFNA over the past five years and without her guidance and vision, the program would not where it is today. Josie has affected the lives of many in the refugee community and her unwavering commitment will be missed on the farm. From everyone at NFNA, we wish Josie the best in her next tenure.
Alisha Laramee will replace Josie the first of August. Alisha most recently taught classes on immigration and migration at CCV and writing at UVM. She formerly worked for the Vermont Migrant Education Program, serving migrant farm workers on Vermont’s dairy farms. She has been a co-collaborator on research related to food and migration, as well as food justice in Vermont. She has lived and worked in Africa, Central and South American and Europe and hopes to bring her knowledge of refugee studies and migration to develop NFNA in the years to come.
NFNA farmers planted Rice at the Ethan Allen Homestead today. This is a test year for this site. If it goes well, they would love to expand their rice operation in the future- at the Ethan Allen Homestead and elsewhere. All those farmers pictured were rice growers in their home countries- with around five acres of rice each. Planting rice here in Vermont was a joyous occasion for them.
Thanks to reporter Patti Brown for a great story on our community for the New York Times.
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AALV’s New Farms for New Americans is adding 40 new members to its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share program. It’s $4o0 for food for four persons, including local, organically grown vegetables and treats of African and Asian prepared food. Pick up locations are Tuesdays lunch hour at First Congregational Church, or evenings at Old North End Farmers Markets. Finally, a new pick up location will be Thursdays at the O’Brian Community Center in Winooski. All profits go to our hardworking New Farms for New Americans farmers. It is the “best CSA ever!” according to 2011 CSA member and UVM professor Pablo Bose. We are looking forward meeting our new members. Please sign up today!
Oct. 30- mark your calendar. Old friends and new- those who love sustainable carpentry- or want to learn more about New Farms for New Americans. 10:00 we will start the raising of our timber frame wash station at the Ethan Allen in Burlington. Raising will be led by Jacob Muslin who designed and did carpentry for the structure, but we need your help. Enjoy New American food while you are there! If you would like to RSVP, or get more information- please contact Josie at josieweldon.aalv@yahoo.com or 343-7007
Great piece about the refugee agricultural movement across the country, including AALV’s New Farms for New Americans Project: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/us/refugees-in-united-states-take-up-farming.html?ref=agriculture
Timber Framing Workshops
Come attend! Finished product will be New Farms for New Americans timber frame wash station.
Also, All invited to come and visit! contact: josieweldon.aalv@yahoo.com
