Meet Anthony Munene, a Kenyan who has been living in the United States for the last 14 years. In the small New Hampshire city of Andover is Anthony’s farm, which rests on the slopes overlooking Blackwater River. Two Mountain Farm has an impressive history, with its first agricultural use dating back to 1769 but after Anthony took over the reins, he knew it was time for a new farm business plan. He feels blessed to be part of the land’s continuing story but will quickly tell you that farm ownership is no small feat for refugees and immigrants who enter this country. 

His background has always included working with small farms, even before he came to the U.S. Once here, he was part of an organization in Rhode Island called ORIS (Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success) and experienced firsthand the many barriers that prevent New Americans from not only growing food from their own cultures but any food at all.

The Biggest Barriers

“I have faced so many challenges and especially the challenges around farm access. It’s a nightmare,” Anthony describes. Land access, or the ability to lease or purchase land on which to farm, is one of the biggest issues for New Americans in agriculture. 

However, Anthony considers finding the right information and resources a close second. “Then number three was the credit because if you are trying to own a property, if you’re trying to borrow a loan, you need credit,” he explains. But immigrants typically don’t have any because they’ve been in the country for such a short time.

In other cases, it’s the community itself that stands in the way. Anthony has seen many cases where immigrant farmers were able to lease land only to be shuffled to a different location, sometimes even on a yearly basis. In other cases, community groups strongly opposed tracts of land being owned and worked by New Americans, making it impossible to run a business.

Finding a Path

Fortunately for Anthony, he was able to settle in at Two Mountain Farm by working with an organization that pairs potential farmers with owners ready to pass on their land. “I got a very good neighborhood, which was very supportive,” he says. The previous landowner lived with him on the property for three years during the transition and even worked with Anthony financially to make the property purchase feasible. He says, “Having a supportive community is one step to make your life much better when you are in this food security business.”

With ownership secured, Anthony felt ready to create a new farm business plan. “I met with Hannah Grimes, and we went through the business model of how to develop a business plan for a farm,” he says. As part of Farm Business Lab, Anthony was able to make rapid structural progress.

“I thought it was a very good program where people can put up their small business in front of everyone and experts and get help,” he describes. In particular, he left feeling much better versed in the financial side of things. “The training helped me to organize my farm business, through QuickBooks, through records,” he says.

Beyond the Books

In addition to the learning experience, Hannah Grimes also helped Anthony secure a $2,000 stipend through the Cheshire County Conservation District, as well as access to additional grant funds. This allowed him to purchase software, machinery, and other essentials that enable him to offer his ecologically grown flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs via CSA and a regional farmer’s market.

While farming seems deeply rooted in Anthony, he admits, “It’s so easy to give up, I mean go work in a factory, go work for someone. But growing food—it’s a passion.” Sustainable growing and growing ethnic foods are both priorities for Anthony, who has certainly asked himself over the last few years why there have to be so many challenges.

“But along the way, there are always some people who are willing to help and some organizations willing to support your cause,” he notes. He hopes places like Hannah Grimes will continue to increase their outreach to beginning farmers in the process of developing a new farm business  of their own. “So they can know where to go and who can help them and where the resources are,” he says.

Written by Caroline Tremblay, founder of Owl & Pen.