Back to farm profile
Farm Happenings at Mhonpaj's Garden
Farm Happenings for October 2, 2021
Thank you members! Thank you. We could not have survived this year without your support. We are done for 2021 but now onto 2022. My wife and I will be sitting down to discuss 2021 growing season to talk about the goods, the needs and the future for our farm. We hope to make a decision on what Mhonp1 read more »
Farm Happenings for September 25, 2021
This is the last week for most members. There is one more Saturday pick up at Millcity and we close out the CSA for the year. Just a reminder, that we will try our best to keep the availability going for farmstand so members can keep ordering for the rest of the season. We will still make an effort1 read more »
Farm Happenings for September 18, 2021
My sincere apologies to all members who experience an inconvenience this last delivery. We had a snowball of challenges that we had to tackle as they come at us. It was nice to get a few day of great weather and we are back on track.
New this week are winter squashes, brussels sprouts and fin1 read more »
Farm Happenings for September 11, 2021
TIGER EYE Beans are back for a one time offering! An heirloom dry bean that has a nutty taste with a creamy, potato-like texture. Amber or gold with dark red or maroon swirls. I love it in soups and chilis.
We want to take a moment to thank everyone who came out to support our Rollz2Go launch1 read more »
Farm Happenings for September 4, 2021
We're excited to let you all know that Mhonpaj and I will be launching our new business, Rollz2Go. It is a food concession business providing eggrolls and spring rolls. Please join us at Millcity Farmer's Market this Saturday as we launch. We've been brainstorming what we could do with our produce1 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.
Go to farm profile
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.