New Resources Available for Refugee Farmers in New York

Are you working with refugees in agriculture? This past year, the Cornell Small Farms Program developed new resources for refugee farmers and the agricultural service providers who support refugee communities.

A key barrier refugee beginning farmers encounter when seeking resources is language. In Central NY, one of the largest refugee farming communities speaks “Karen,” a language spoken in Burma and Thailand. The project partnered with several native Karen speakers to dub a video about growing transplants. In the video, Liz Martin and Matthew Glenn, owners of Muddy Fingers Farm in Hector, NY, describe how to make a simple potting mix, hand sow flats and create soil blocks.

To encourage networking and resource sharing, the Project also developed a directory of farm service provider organizations in New York State who work with refugee populations. Descriptions of each organization and services offered are embedded in the map.

To learn more about this project, titled “Advancing Agricultural Support and Training for Refugee Farmers in Central New York”, and funded by the USDA 2501 Grant program, please visit our project page.

Kacey Deamer

Kacey is the Communications Manager for the Cornell Small Farms Program. In this role, she manages all storytelling and outreach across the program’s website, social media, e-newsletter, magazine and more. Kacey has worked in communications and journalism for more than a decade, with a primary focus on science and sustainability.
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