Help Moua Farm recover from Severe Storm Damage

We are Ge and Meng Moua, Hmong farmers in Sacramento County who grow organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Our 10-acre farm is a family-run operation, with our seven adult children helping sell our produce at farmers markets from Sacramento to the Bay Area.

We came to the US as refugees from Laos after the Vietnam War. I (Ge) learned to farm from my parents, carrying on a tradition that had been passed down for generations in my small village in the mountains of Laos. I farm because food is the most important thing in the world, no matter who you are. For me, food is medicine. Because I really believe in the power of plants, when I started growing things I looked at vegetables as herbal medicine. Now I grow food to take care of people and keep them healthy. I also believe farmers are the most vital part of a community, and without farming we have no community.

There are many barriers for Hmong farmers like myself… access to land, water, irrigation, insurance, and all the infrastructure needed to farm. Meng and I slowly improved the farm to be successful, but during the winter of 2023, the storms flooded my fields and destroyed my equipment - and now after rebuilding, in early February 2024, a big rain and wind storm destroyed the greenhouse we installed nine months ago, and our new home that we just received.

The storm rolled through and our tunnel greenhouse and the crops planted inside were completely unsalvageable. The wind pulled out the end walls and the center poles collapsed, the wind was so strong it ripped the concrete feet out of the ground. We worked so hard to build this greenhouse with the help of the NRCS, and it was going to support us in becoming more successful farmers.

At the start of 2024, our new modular home was delivered after many months of waiting. Due to the weather, the home was not secured to the foundation and was sitting on the delivery trailer. The storm then blew the modular home over, completely destroying it. Although the home company claims they will hopefully cover the cost to replace the home, it has been a very stressful and difficult process to get it replaced. The longer we must wait for our home, the more financial and emotional stress we must endure.

All of these challenges coincided with a very tough time for our family. Unfortunately, our daughter-in-law developed severe health issues during her pregnancy and our new grandson was just born early at 24 weeks. We are now supporting our son and daughter-in-law during their weeks recovering in the hospital, while also caring for their 1 year old daughter.

With every year we have hope that farming will be easier and our infrastructure will make the farm more successful. Every year there is a new climate hardship we must overcome. We need financial support to rebuild our greenhouse stronger, and recover from this emotionally and financially difficult time.

With the support of our partners at Kitchen Table Advisors, we ask for your donation to support our family and continue our farming business.

We are so grateful for your help. Thank you!