The Triangle is home to many peoples and cultures, and this is reflected in the wide variety of local farms and the diversity of crops they grow. Here is a spotlight of two local farms (in Orange and Wake counties) where Karen (ka-REN) farmers (an ethic minority from Burma) grow both food and community.
Karen Community Farm at Oaky Grove
Located on the historic Oaky Grove Farm in eastern Wake County, the Karen Community Farm is a non-profit community farm supporting Karen (ka-REN) refugees, an ethic minority from Burma. KCFOG provides land access, education, and community support to the Karen community in the Raleigh area.
Looking for opportunities to support KCFOG? Here are 3 ways for you to get involved:
Farm Stand Sundays: On every Sunday until the end of October, you can visit KCFOG for their Sunday Farm Stand from 2 PM – 6 PM. KCFOG farmers sell their organically grown produce and homemade Karen food out of their new Bamboo house. Come see the farm and talk to the farmers about how to prepare all of their delicious food! Cash and Venmo are accepted!
Location: 5800 Turnipseed Rd, Wendell, NC 27557
After the Farm Stand is over, there are still opportunities to buy farm fresh produce! Htoo Saw and Kee Lar will be making produce bags each week for $20 each. Veggies like lettuce, kale, broccoli, choi sum, radishes, sweet potatoes and more are planned for the winter. If you would like to purchase produce bags, let the KCFOG team know at [email protected] and they will email you on a week-to-week basis and you can confirm if you would like a bag and one will be made for you to pick up.
There is a limit of 10 bags per week, so space is limited!
Kree’s Flowers is offering a Flower CSA starting April 2024! Sign up to pick up a local fresh bouquet of flowers each week starting April 26th. For more information and to sign up click here.
If you’d like to learn more about KCFOG, visit their website here. You can also find them on Instagram and Facebook!
Transplanting Traditions Community Farm
Transplanting Traditions supports food sovereignty in the refugee community through access to land, education and opportunities for refugee farmers to address community food insecurity and the barriers they face in reaching their dreams of farming. The farm provides a cultural community space for refugee adults and youth to come together, recreate home and build healthy communities, and continue agricultural traditions in the Piedmont of N.C.
Looking for opportunities to support TTCF? Here are 3 ways for you to get involved:
Produce at local Farmers Markets: TTCF farmers sell their produce at the Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays from 3 PM to 6PM from April to November, and at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays from 3 PM to 6PM from April to November, and year-round on Saturdays from 9 AM to 12 PM from November to March and 7 AM to 12PM from April to October.
Locations: Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market – Outside University Place, 201 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Carrboro Farmers’ Market – 301 West Main St. (right next to the Carrboro Town Hall), Carrboro, NC, 27510
Join the TTCF CSA: Being a member means you are not only supporting local, sustainable agriculture but also a refugee farm family. Click this link to sign up.
Special events and volunteering: Keep an eye out on TTCF social media and their website for special events and chances to volunteer.
If you’d like to learn more about TTCF, visit their website here. You can also find them on Instagram and Facebook!
