AALV: The Association of Africans Living in Vermont, Inc.

The local USDA Farm Service Agency has provided invaluable and excellent support to the New Farms for New Americans (NFNA) project this year.  In addition to running training sessions, linking farmers to land and marketing opportunities, providing business technical assistance and micro loans to farmers in the program, they have won donations, and $6,490.00 of funds to be put directly to the project. Thank you Farm Service Agency for your efforts to provide equal outreach and opportunity to all members of Vermont’s farming community!

AALV is also pleased to announce that New Farms for New Americans just won a significant award of funding from the US Department of Agriculture’s Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program (OASDFR).  You can read the announcement of the OASDFR awards here: http://www.AALV is also pleased to announce that New Farms for New Americans also just won a significant award of funding from the US Department of Agriculture’s Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program (OASDFR).  You can read the announcement of the OASDFR awards here: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2010%2F06%2F0310.xml.    //

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New Farms for New Americans farmers are vending at five local farmers markets each week.  We’ll also be selling at the new South Burlington Farmers Market.  Visiting the New Farms for New Americans stand at farmers market to say hello or purchase vegetables and prepared food is a great way to support the New Farms project. We love to see friendly faces.

Tuesdays: Old North End Farmers Market, 3:00-6:30

Wednesdays: Burlington South End Farmers Market 3:30-6:30 and New North End Farmers Market, 3:00-6:30

Thursdays: Winooski Farmers Market, 3:30-6:30

Saturdays: Williston Farmers Market, 10:00-1:00

One Sunday a Month: South Burlington Farmers Market at Healthy Living, August 23 and September 20 9:00-1:00

Pitchfork Farm and Arethusa Collective Farm hosted some visits from new American farmers in July.  The Intervale farmers showed the refugees some of how they run their farms and businesses.  We had commiserating conversations about the tomato and potato blight.  Thanks to the Intervale farmers for your warm hospitality and great example!

The New Farms for New Americans project has some new faces, and many are from Asia!  The Association of Africans Living in Vermont has opened its services to all refugees.   Therefore, this year 15 Bhutanese households are trying their hand at farming and food businesses in the United States, as part of the New Farms for New Americans Project.

Most Bhutanese in Vermont were formally refugees in Nepal.  The Bhutanese were resettled in Vermont, as well as many other location in the U.S., less than a year ago.  All of the New Farmers have extensive agricultural experience and we are excited to see what they are able to do here.  Wish them well with their new business enterprises!

New Farms for New Americans is back with 50 refugee farmers. These farmers are from Somalia, Congo, Burundi and Bhutan. They grow organic vegetables on individual plots and sell at five local farmers markets. Local businesses are also planning on buying from the project, inculding Magnolia Bistro, the Ice House Restaurant, American Flatbread, Healthy Living and City Market.

New Farms for New Americans farmers are looking forward to bringing fresh, organic food home to their families and earning money.  It looks to be a great year!