Washblog || Flooded Hmong Farmers Need Donations of Dahlia Tubers and Money

Flooded Hmong Farmers Need Donations of Dahlia Tubers and Money

By noemie maxwell
Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 12:59:40 PM PST
Section: Washington State Topic: Environmental issues

Is it time yet to end our political fixation on moral issues that will never resolved through politics -- and turn to addressing those physical realities of our world that politics can -- and urgently must -- address?

From a December 15, 2006 WSU press release: Recent flooding in the Snoqualmie valley has been devastating to the Hmong farming community. Very few of the Hmong farmers use the internet as a means of communication and information, so they had little notice of the flood and its anticipated levels and were especially hard hit. Connections within the greater farming community to access help are minimal, and the language barrier further alienates the Hmong. Many of the Hmong farmers are the flower vendors at the Pike Place Market and Community Farmers Markets in Seattle. Bulb and tuber losses at these flower farms are estimated to range from $1,000 to $50,000 per farm. You can help! See below the fold.

A new reality does seem to be emerging. King County's new 10-year floodplan, explicitly accounts for the anticipated impacts of climate change. Groups like Seattle-based Lagniappe Caravan, founded by displaced New Orleans residents, challenges the political conditions that allowed poor people in that city to be flooded while the levees of the rich held up very well. And a call to help flood-devastated Hmong farmers, from whom many of us have bought flowers at the Pike Place Market, is posted here on Washblog. Flooding is a political issue. What could be more political than questions of who owns and controls and safeguards our physical resources -- and how? Or how we come to terms with the multi-cultural society that we are, so that people like these Hmong farmers are not so isolated and so we can express our full cultural potential?

Pea vines for sale by a Hmong farmer in the Pike Place Market, Seattle. Photo from WSU Extension

Donate Money
Make checks payable to the `Hmong Farmer's Relief' (a 501(c)3 nonprofit: Hmong Eastside Association) All donations will be used to buy dahlia tubers.
WSU- King County Extension has agreed to receive donations on behalf of the Hmong Eastside Association. Checks can be sent to 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 120 Renton, WA 98055 Attn: Hmong Farmers Relief
Make a Direct Deposit Donation at any Bank of America branch in Washington. Make checks payable to the `Hmong Farmers Relief.'
Donate Dahlia Tubers at the following locations:
Starbucks in Carnation
21 Acres Farm in Woodinville; 13701 NE 171st St (immediately south of downtown Woodinville)
King County Extension office in Renton

Contact: Bee Cha
Phone: 206.205.3154
Email: bee.cha (at) metrokc.gov

< Do progressives rally for a real progressive ...or play the coward again? | Let the race for Pierce County executive begin >

Flooded Hmong Farmers Need Donations of Dahlia Tubers and Money | 4 comments (4 topical)

We love the Hmong peoples' flowers

They make the most exquisitely arranged bouquets of fresh and even dried flowers, which I've often seen at farmers' markets, and the prices for these beauties are very reasonable.

Thanks for posting this. We will give something to help the hard-working Hmong farmers.

by dinazina on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 06:56:55 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

Thank you, Dina! n/t by noemie maxwell, 12/19/2006 10:07:39 PM PST (none / 0)
Come to think of it my wedding bouquet by noemie maxwell, 12/19/2006 10:11:52 PM PST (none / 0)

Update 4/11/07 -- $ donated

From a press release today:

For Immediate Release
April 11, 2007
Washington State University and King County

Hmong Farmers Receive Community's Generosity

Renton, WA -April 11, 2007
Over $38,000 was distributed today to fifty-six Hmong farming families who's livelihoods were devastated in this years flooding in the Snoqualmie Valley. This in addition to multiple equipment repair events and 6,000 dahlia tubers that were distributed to Hmong farmers in the first week of March.

Thanks in large part to fund raising efforts made by Bee Cha of the WSU Small Farms Team, in conjunction with the Hmong Eastside Association, (a 501(c)3 nonprofit) WSU King County Extension, King County Agriculture Program and King County Agriculture Commission, money has been raised to help farmers get their fields replanted with tubers this spring. Hundreds of community members and businesses have responded to the call for help.

Donate your extra tubers this Saturday, 9a.m-12 p.m, April 14th! King County Agriculture Commission, along with participating nurseries (Swanson's, Molbak's, Angelo's, Furney's, Sky and Wells Medina) is hosting a dahlia tuber drop off event on April 14th. Bring your tubers or monetary donations to these nurseries between 9a.m. and noon to help those farmers still in need. Make checks payable to `Hmong Farmers Relief'. For details on this event, contact Bee Cha at 206.205.3154 or bee.cha@metrokc.gov or visit Dahlia Tuber Flyer.
On behalf the of the Hmong community, Bee Cha wishes to thank local nurseries and all those who have made a contribution to the Hmong Farmer's Relief project. This community support allows King County growers to continue farming and sustaining our local agriculture systems.

by noemie maxwell on Wed Apr 11, 2007 at 03:09:14 PM PST

* 4 none 0 *

Flooded Hmong Farmers Need Donations of Dahlia Tubers and Money | 4 comments (4 topical)

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