Create Common Good: the Farm

Create Common Good's farm and outreach program sits nestled just inside Surprise Valley which is just below the ridge line of the Boise Bench. The Boise Bench is a tremendous symbol and significant geographic trademark of Boise as it outlines and boundaries the ancient Great Snake River plains. As we approached our destination the sharp May sun poked over the Idaho mountains and onto the lush green of this area known as Surprise Valley. After recent days of rain and moisture the trees were vibrant with green and color, and colorfully outlining our drive. We pulled into the farm just as the crew started unloading with their shovels and tools. Two workers began pulling at a system of flexible irrigation pipe preparing to soak the dozens and dozens of newly planted produce rows. Tyler the director of farm sales, outreach and food operations waved us in as he directed some of the workers. We met him within the field lightly treading between the dirt rows and careful not to disturb the new sprouts. He explained to us the workers were foreign refugees mostly from Bhutan and one from the Congo. Create Common Good was established to employ local refugees as well as provided the job training to function in the American work environment. The on-the-job training provides newly immigrated refugees with english skills as well as professional etiquette while also delivering wages and food to support their family. As I saw the refugees work the field planting and working the soil with their shovels I noticed the traffic that drove by. I wondered if the people driving by had any idea of the tremendous story each one of them had. We were introduced to Devi, a Bhutanese refugee who escaped Bhutan only to endure the harsh conditions of a Nepalese refugee camp. His wife and children moved to Boise nearly 4 years ago to help start Common Good. Devi was experienced and educated in sustainable agrarian farming, received his masters by a University in India before the conflict in Bhutan forced his family to flee. Devi spoke modestly of his story, talking quietly while he patiently observed his crew tend the farmland. He knew a wide variety of organic agrarian methods. A compost pile sat in the back of the farm as he told me tricks of the trade that help keep their farm chemical and pesticide free. Devi and Tyler both walked me through the farm explaining the variety of vegetables and fruits they expected to harvest. Tyler also explained how they depended on a volunteer base to keep things moving smoothly. Devi told me that due to cuts in grants and funding they were unable to employ as many refugees as years before. Years prior they had nearly two dozen refugees employed by the farm, yet this year they could only afford six. Overall I learned a lot my first day with them. After meeting the entire crew and observing everything we loaded up and headed to the Kitchen.