Iowa is home to thousands of refugee families, many of who come to the US with very little. A local organization based in the metro is working to change that by helping some become entrepreneurs. Lutheran Services in Iowa runs a grant-funded program called Global Greens. The program allows refugees who were once farmers in their home country the ability to apply for the program, which connects them with a plot of land. “As people go through our training program and they graduate, we work with them to move onto their own land where they rent or purchase farms in the Des Moines area,” said Daniel Bowser, a supervisor with LSI’s Immigrant and Refugee Community Services.The team with Global Greens also helps refugee families with their English during that time. “We have to start with a 50×50 plot. Then, gradually we go up,” said Tika Bhandari, one of the farmers with the program. “Now I am in a quarter-acre plot.”Tika Bhandari’s family moved to the US in 2008 from Bhutan, a country in South Asia. “My dad and mom were farmers,” Bhandari said. “Coming here, my dad saw this big land and he wanted that land.” Due to costs and a language barrier, Bhandari’s family thought owning farmland of their own was unattainable. After linking up with Global Greens, however, it became possible. Now, Bhandari is one of many people a part of the program also take part in the Global Greens Farmers Market or have a business of their own selling their crops. “We support about 30 business owners who are kind of doing it as a side hustle to make a few thousand dollars on the side,” Bower said. “Two people are full-time.” Additionally, around 200 people take part in the community garden in West Des Moines. Many of those crops are sold at the farmer’s market. The market is at 3200 University Avenue in Des Moines. The market has helped many families with SNAP benefits through the Double Up Food Bucks program. “Folks who are using their food stamps, they can have their money doubled,” Bowser said. “They can buy even more organically grown vegetables.” More from Kayla James:
Iowa is home to thousands of refugee families, many of who come to the US with very little. A local organization based in the metro is working to change that by helping some become entrepreneurs.
Lutheran Services in Iowa runs a grant-funded program called Global Greens. The program allows refugees who were once farmers in their home country the ability to apply for the program, which connects them with a plot of land.
“As people go through our training program and they graduate, we work with them to move onto their own land where they rent or purchase farms in the Des Moines area,” said Daniel Bowser, a supervisor with LSI’s Immigrant and Refugee Community Services.
The team with Global Greens also helps refugee families with their English during that time.
“We have to start with a 50×50 plot. Then, gradually we go up,” said Tika Bhandari, one of the farmers with the program. “Now I am in a quarter-acre plot.”
Tika Bhandari’s family moved to the US in 2008 from Bhutan, a country in South Asia.
“My dad and mom were farmers,” Bhandari said. “Coming here, my dad saw this big land and he wanted that land.”
Due to costs and a language barrier, Bhandari’s family thought owning farmland of their own was unattainable. After linking up with Global Greens, however, it became possible. Now, Bhandari is one of many people a part of the program also take part in the Global Greens Farmers Market or have a business of their own selling their crops.
“We support about 30 business owners who are kind of doing it as a side hustle to make a few thousand dollars on the side,” Bower said. “Two people are full-time.”
Additionally, around 200 people take part in the community garden in West Des Moines. Many of those crops are sold at the farmer’s market.
The market is at 3200 University Avenue in Des Moines. The market has helped many families with SNAP benefits through the Double Up Food Bucks program.
“Folks who are using their food stamps, they can have their money doubled,” Bowser said. “They can buy even more organically grown vegetables.”
More from Kayla James:
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