In 2015, the Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection (CRIC) celebrated the first successful growing season of the Cache Valley Refugee Garden. CRIC works to serve over 300 refugees in Cache Valley, many of whom have been forced to relocate due to conflicts in Northeast Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The garden was established as a means of empowering refugees through agriculture. Garden director Julie Sheen [1] says that quality of life increases when people have the ability to grow their own food. Projects like the refugee garden are more than just an earth-friendly gesture; they are statements on social justice.

The garden is located an acre of privately owned land; about 1/8 of the lot is currently under cultivation. Russell Ray, the landowner, wanted to make the land useful, so he donates use of the land on a yearly basis. In 2015, five Burmese families utilized the garden, and CRIC hopes to see an increase in the number of refugees using it in the coming seasons. In the future, Sheen would like to see more education on growing crops in Utah and expansion of the program to include immigrant families. Ideally, refugees would garden alongside community members, but as it stands now, the garden space is reserved for refugees alone. CRIC holds one to two community volunteer days per month to work on infrastructure.   

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Julie Sheen, CRIC Refugee Garden Coordinator.

[1] J. Sheen, personal communication, 24 March 2016.