May Lee owns and operates Mhonpaj’s Garden and is Farm Mentor at Big River Farms, a program of The Food Group

May Lee’s story as an organic farmer begins with the story of her mother. For years, May Lee’s mother worked on a U.S. farm that exposed her daily to harmful chemical pesticides. Eventually, her mother developed cancer linked to pesticide poisoning. As May Lee watched, her mother grew ill and passed away. This great sadness in May Lee’s life made her aware of the dangers that conventional farming practices have on people’s health and the environment. After her mother’s death, May Lee resolved to make changes in her own life. When she heard about Big River Farms’ education program, she applied and made the move from conventional, industrialized farming to organic farming. Now, she mentors others in sustainable agriculture and, along with her family, runs an independent farming operation at Big River Farms called Mhonpaj’s Garden (named after one of her five daughters).

Historically, farming was part of life in Laos where May was born. She grew up surrounded by corn fields, rice fields, and rice paddies. As the second child and oldest daughter of a large family, May lived the farming life. She continued in this traditional lifestyle as a young wife and mother. In 1980, May’s family was among the many groups of refugees who left Laos for Thailand in the wake of the United State’s withdrawal from Vietnam. By this time, May was married and had two children. Her family spent a year in Thailand before resettling in the United States. Everything, says May, was unfamiliar here and sometimes shocking.

May, an outgoing and sociable person, appreciates the opportunities she’s had at Big River Farms to share ideas and work cooperatively with her neighbors. As our Farmer Mentor, she puts a lot of effort into helping other farmers learn new skills and acquire knowledge about maximizing health and safety in organic food production.

When asked, May admits a part of her still lives in Laos. In many ways, she is a resident of two countries. She loves her adopted home: “People are honest here,” she says. She feels her children are fortunate, and that they have been given a good education and many opportunities. But, she admits, she still misses the buffalo and rice paddies of Laos. We’re so grateful for all of May’s farming knowledge and skills! 

Click here to learn more about May’s Farm, Mhonpaj’s Garden.

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Working with our community partners, The Food Group buys, gleans, grows, and processes fresh produce.

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The Food Group believes in food equity. They believe in culturally specific foods. They believe in meeting people where they are at. And most of all, they believe in dignity.

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Over 20% of Black households and 19% of Latinx households report food insecurity, compared to 10% of white households.

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We’re a nonprofit working at the intersection of equity and access to fresh, sustainable foods. From farming to distribution, we provide fresh food across MN and WI.

The Food Group is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. EIN 41-1246504 Contributions are tax-deductible to the full amount provided by the law.

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