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Your donation helps All Farmers in our active campaign to find and secure a permanent farm for refugee and immigrant farmers in Springfield.

Do you have land? We want to hear from you!

 

“We Are Farmers”

Farming is central to the identity of many refugees and immigrants. But what is a farmer without land? How does a farmer even afford land in the face of development pressure, structural racism, and limited family resources?

Land is a promise to this wave of refugees and future generations to be able to use their talents and skills, feed their communities, and define their food stories.

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FAQ’s:

+ Why is permanence important?

Site permanence means that communities benefit every year from the land. We aren't purchasing produce for marginalized families once, we are creating a renewable resource--access to land that will sustain families for generations and waves of migration to come.

With all of the loss that refugees have faced, site permanence brings a level of stability that some families haven't had for a generation, or more.

Permanence encourages the best stewardship of the land. When a community knows they can count on the land, they will invest the time, compost, and effort to ensure its viability for generations to come.

+ Where is the land?

We are currently evaluating parcels within a 20 minute drive of where the farmers live (Springfield).

+ What do farmers grow?

The short answer is that they a much wider variety than in your local grocery store! Farmers typically grow vegetables that match their culture's cuisine. About half of what farmers grow goes home to feed their families, after all.

In addition to tomatoes, collard greens, and potatoes, you can also find tukugre, long beans, mchicha, and jilo in many fields, and on the farmers' farm stands.

+ Why not just donate food?

Hunger is real. Food donations fill an immediate need, and thousands of families across the state are helped each year by food donations.

When All Farmers thinks about food access, we also think about culture, agency, and autonomy. Without the ability to grow food, refugee and immigrant communities have little autonomy or agency in determining their food access and choices. Many cultural foods are unavailable or may be low quality, making it difficult for families to maintain their food traditions.

Ensuring opportunities for all communities to farm is a cost-effective way to feed families in need, and allows communities greater control over their food supply.