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Farm Happenings at Mhonpaj's Garden
Farm Happenings for July 4, 2020
Hello Happy July 4th weekend!
I just wanted to let you know that we changed the time to Thursday at 10 am for getting in your farm preferences because it will allow us to harvest. We also wanted to let you know that we are over the first few weeks usually CSA has less variety and now we are at the1 read more »
Farm Happenings for June 27, 2020
Hello Members!
We are excited to be showered with all the final product of what you have cooked and stewed over. Remember to Like us on Facebook. Thanks for sharing the Sage tea, hukeri and nappa kimchi, with salads and bean soup! Wow we have a chefs apart of our CSA. So excited to see what you are1 read more »
Whats Happening on the Farm June 20
Hello!It's a full swing in the season, We are getting the road put in, a well and getting additional cooler space! Busy season already. Thank you for the positive reviews of the fresh vegetables. Credits goes to May who spent time in the greenhouses to get the seedlings ready for growing. We are ge1 read more »
Farm Happenings for June 13, 2020
CSA Week 1
Hello CSA Members! Our family farm is excited to share great news with you. We are also doing Hmong herbs for the hospitals this year providing women in postpartum for healing benefits for years and basically its great and has antioxidants benefits. We have included in your shares so you1 read more »
About the farm
Mhonpaj’s Garden is a 9-acre certified organic vegetable farm owned by May Lee and her daughter Mhonpaj. With 5 acres in Stillwater and 4 acres in Marine on St. Crox, May and her family grow a variety of vegetables, bedding plants and herbs.
In 1980, May, her husband Chue, their children and May’s mother immigrated to the United States from Loas as refugees. They found work farming conventionally, but when May’s mother was diagnosed with cancer after working with pesticides in the United States, May knew she needed to start farming organically.
May’s daughter Mhonpaj was connected with the Minnesota Food Association (MFA) and learned about their New Immigrant Agriculture Program (now called the Farmer Education Program). The Lee’s were accepted into the three-year program, which gave them access to the MFA’s 60-acre certified organic incubator farm, Big River Farm, and connected them with a Hmong-speaking coordinator who helped them find resources and answer questions about organic farming. Together they resolved issues ranging from drip irrigation setup to product liability insurance to insect control.
In 2010, the Lee’s “graduated” from the MFA program and went on to become the first Hmong-owned certified-organic farm in Minnesota. May and her family now farm leased land along the St. Croix River.
In addition to farming, May spends lots of time educating other growers about organic practices through the MFA and as a Master Gardener volunteer for Ramsey County. She and her family also share their culinary heritage through cooking demonstrations and classes.
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In 1980, May, her husband Chue, their children and May’s mother immigrated to the United States from Loas as refugees. They found work farming conventionally, but when May’s mother was diagnosed with cancer after working with pesticides in the United States, May knew she needed to start farming organically.
May’s daughter Mhonpaj was connected with the Minnesota Food Association (MFA) and learned about their New Immigrant Agriculture Program (now called the Farmer Education Program). The Lee’s were accepted into the three-year program, which gave them access to the MFA’s 60-acre certified organic incubator farm, Big River Farm, and connected them with a Hmong-speaking coordinator who helped them find resources and answer questions about organic farming. Together they resolved issues ranging from drip irrigation setup to product liability insurance to insect control.
In 2010, the Lee’s “graduated” from the MFA program and went on to become the first Hmong-owned certified-organic farm in Minnesota. May and her family now farm leased land along the St. Croix River.
In addition to farming, May spends lots of time educating other growers about organic practices through the MFA and as a Master Gardener volunteer for Ramsey County. She and her family also share their culinary heritage through cooking demonstrations and classes.