'A new life:' North Carolina soil provides food, life, work to refugee farmers from Asia

The story of many Asian Americans starts with immigration – and for some families, it begins with fleeing war in their home country and resettling in North Carolina.

In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, WRAL's Renee Chou shows us how an Orange County farm is helping refugees from Burma make their home here.

Sunshine and dirt is Sirr Sirr Thart's happy place -- working farmland the way she did in her homeland of Burma.

"In my home country, I used to farm and then when I came here, I feel very happy to be able to grow food that I used to grow in my home country," Thart said. "It makes me happy."

Thart is growing Asian vegetables like roselle greens, lemongrass and Thai basil right alongside Southern staples like spinach and strawberries. Her work helps diversify food options in the local co-ops; just like her experiences help diversity her own community.

Nearly 80 different crops are grown on the Transplanting Traditions Community Farm.

"We started with one acre, and now we're at eight acres," laughs Ree Ree Wei, executive director of Transplanting Traditions. She understands the specific struggles refugees face on a personal level: She was born in Thailand and lived in a refugee camp for more than 8 years before eventually making her way to Orange County, NC.

"Coming to this country, not knowing the language, not knowing the culture," she says. "It's like a totally new life."

The Triangle Land Conservancy began leasing land to the nonprofit in 2009, and soon after a surge of refugees arrived in Orange County. The group works with 25 families.

"We do our part as a nonprofit to recruit customers for them, to get them contacting restaurants and make relationships with them," says Wei.

The produce goes to farmers markets and restaurants in Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Durham. People can also pay a fee to get a weekly box of the fresh vegetables.

The produce Thart and the other farmers grow also helps feed their own families – and Transplanting Traditions helps the farmers grow their business.

The support is multi-generational. The nonprofit also provides tutoring and summer camps for the kids.

Wei says the community support yields success.

"I'm the first in my family to go to college," Wei said.

Her parents still work on the farm, and her little nephew is growing up here.

Thart also says the organization has helped her flourish and grow.

"I feel at home, to be able to settle my family here in Orange County," Thart said.

Mei says they'd like to expand as they put down roots, but they're running out of land. The more they grow, the more they can help refugees bloom where they're planted.

Transplanting Traditions is celebrating AAPI Heritage Month by hosting an open house on May 20, allowing people to visit the farm for a day of food, games and fun. It's a ticketed event. Proceeds will help support its programs.