Oak Foundation 124d ago

In the Piedmont region of North Carolina, eight acres of farmland provide opportunties for refugee communities to access land, education, and new opportunities. Called the Transplanting Traditions Community Farm (TTCF), this is a powerful cultural space for elders to recreate home, and the next generation to rediscover their roots through mentorship and training. The farm’s Education programme helps refugee farmers adapt their deep knowledge and skills to North Carolina’s crops and climate, while improving their English and learning how to run thriving businesses. To date, the farmers have grown over 600,000lbs of produce and generated more than USD 2 million in income by cultivating and selling an organic mix of local vegetables, flowers, and traditional Southeast Asian produce. This helps families to become more financially resilient and move towards working full-time in a job they love. Produce from TTCF is sold in local farmers markets, and via Community Supported Agriculture initiatives, where subscribers receive a weekly veg box full of fresh, organic produce. More farmers are taking leadership roles in the organisation, supported by its Farmer Manager pathway, and the Youth programme has seen one of its co-founders – Ree Ree Wei – return to the organisation as executive director. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, Ree Ree moved to the US with her family in 2006. By 2009, her parents were TTCF farmers. “I remember seeing them come home, their hands dirt-streaked and their spirits renewed,” Ree Ree says. “I knew then that farming was more than just a way to grow food. After graduation, I returned. I’m proud to be uplifting the TTCF mission to radically transform how we eat, live, and make decisions as a community.” Oak Foundation supports Transplanting Traditions through our Special Interest Programme, which connects with a diverse range of partners around the world. Find out more here: https://oakfnd.org/programmes/special-interest/ and here: https://www.transplantingtraditions.org/