Nearly 20 years later, Boise garden program continues bridging gap for Idaho refugees
Global Gardens began in 2004 as a community garden project. Since then, it has helped refugees start their own businesses.
By: Mia Maldonado
Idaho Capital Sun
October 13, 2023
Excerpt:
Over the years, Abdi has grown her farm while also working a separate full time job and raising seven children in Boise. Despite her busy schedule, Abdi said she works two jobs so she can give her children a better life than her own.
“I grew up with a single mother, and we grew up very poor,” she said in an interview. “I want to be able to give my kids what I didn’t get when I was little. I want to push them to work hard and show them that the more hard-working you are, the better you will be in the future.”
While her farm business has become her main source of income, Abdi said her dream is to continue growing her farm.
“Everything I do on the farm is my favorite,” she said. “Having my customers, being in the fields, being in the sun — that’s my exercise,” she said, laughing. “I love being a female farmer. I love helping customers, and I love bringing fresh veggies to my house.”
Established in 2004, Global Gardens was created to make the transition of moving to a new country easier by giving agricultural opportunities to Idaho refugees.
Idaho Office of Refugees spokesperson Holly Beech told the Idaho Capital Sun that the program first began when the office saw refugees coming to Idaho with farming skills, but they did not have access to land.
“That was a gap that was filled by churches or the city or other partners saying, ‘we have land you can farm for free,’ and now these farmers have access to land,” she said. “It’s helping fill a gap and making sure those skills don’t go to waste. It also helps the local community because there’s a new source of fresh produce.”
