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Farm Happenings at Mhonpaj's Garden
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 »
Farm Happenings for August 28, 2021
Hello Members!
This is Mhonpaj Lee this year is one of the most busiest season for us. Mhonpaj real estate as she is preparing other farmers to buy land and farm. We are also packing CSA. School is comming soon and we are prepping for our squash will hopefully come in soon. This season is so unpred1 read more »
Farm Happenings for August 21, 2021
The season is blowing by so quick, we can not believe it is mid August already. A few vegetables to look forward to in the next few weeks are watermelons, sweet peppers and hot peppers. If hot peppers are not your thing, don't worry. We will still have plenty of other vegetables to choose from, so1 read more »
Farm Happenings for August 14, 2021
A much needed rainfall!
We spent the last few days scheduling around the rain to continue to weed, care for our plants and succession plant what we could for these last two months of this season. It is crazy how fast the end of the growing season is approaching.
This week we feature Carrots,1 read more »
Farm Happenings for August 7, 2021
Hello Friends! This week exciting is corn and hierloom tomatoes we got it to come in this week.
I just wanted to share Phanat and my story. We were also featured on the podcast with MN350 to create more food hubs in the Twincities and a legislation for the Headwaters Bill to create awareness1 read more »
Farm Happenings for July 31, 2021
We apologize for getting out the customization. This week we had Lakewinds Co op visited us and we recorded a podcast for passing a bill on podcast on integrating more food hubs in the Twin Cities with MN350 on a legislation called Headwaters Bill.
We will be sharing the podcast and the final1 read more »
Farm Happenings for July 17, 2021
Good Evening loyal CSA members!
The season is comming along and we are at the peak of our season vegetables are coming in. Here are some friendly advice if you find yourself with a little extra vegetables, if its leafy greens just blanche and freeze in ziploc bags or if they are fruits simply1 read more »
Farm Happenings for July 10, 2021
Hello All Members,
It's raining today. Hope you all had a wonderful July 4th. Please make note that you can swap items out and replace or double up on items if you don't want a certain vegetables. Feel free to call me at 651.278.1009. I will also figure out how Harvie can allow you access for reci1 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.