Canaan Greens Farm

Canaan Greens Farm located in Northfield, Minnesota and is owned and operated by Esther Ondeiki, Samuel Nyarige, and their family. The farm uses organic farming methods to grow vegetables, including beans, melons, leafy greens, peppers, sweet potatoes, and traditional Kenyan crops (chinsaga, managu, okra, white corn). 

Esther grew up farming with her family in Kenya. The tradition of farming was a central part of her family culture. It ensured that her family was well fed, allowed her parents to make money to pay for school fees, and served as a way to connect with the body and land. Farming is a beloved practice in Kenya that she is dedicated to continuing in Minnesota. 

When Esther first moved to the United States from Kenya, she met people growing traditional crops and noticed people using high amounts of fertilizer and chemicals in their production. She did not want to eat food that had been grown with synthetic chemical inputs, so she decided to start growing food for herself and her family. 

Esther and Samuel started growing at Sharing Our Roots, a commons-based farm, in 2021, after having been growing at a nearby farm that did not have irrigation. As Esther and Samuel gained access to more land and shared farming infrastructure, they began producing more than what they needed for their family and started selling to people in her community – their new customers. Every year since, their market has expanded. Canaan Greens Farm is now selling at farmers markets in the Twin Cities, to small wholesale accounts, and directly to customers in their community. 

At the farm, Esther and Samuel’s sons and family members are often working alongside them in the summertime. Eventually, their family would like to have their own land where they can build a house and steward the land.