By Scout Nelson
This Friday, meet Naima Dhore, owner of Naima's Farm LLC in Dalbo, Minnesota. Her journey into farming wasn't quick, but it was driven by a deep love for the outdoors and her family. Her fond childhood memories, centered around local food production, became a foundation for her desire to pursue farming. Today, Naima grows a variety of crops alongside her husband, Fagas.
Naima moved to Minnesota from North Carolina over 20 years ago, initially growing microgreens in her apartment. Her interest in agriculture expanded when she joined a community garden and later participated in a farm incubator program, gaining valuable knowledge about local farming. This experience helped her realize that she wanted to embrace a slower, rural lifestyle, so she moved her family from the city to rural Minnesota, aiming to provide her children with firsthand experience in food production.
“Growing up we had a garden with fruits and vegetables,” she said. “We would go to the market every day to get fresh food, and we always cooked together as a family and shared meals as a community,” she said.
With determination, Naima reached out to the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), securing a farm ownership loan that helped her purchase her farm. She appreciates the patience and support she received from FSA staff throughout the process.
In 2024, Naima’s Farm LLC began its first season, producing millet and vegetables. She supplies her produce to food hubs and community-based food shelves in the Twin Cities. Naima plans to expand her farm to include fruit trees, grains, and flowers in the future.
Beyond her own farm, Naima also runs a community urban farm in the Twin Cities and helps support new farmers through programs like the Emerging Farmers Working Group. She encourages beginning farmers to reach out for support, emphasizing that farming is possible with hard work, patience, and community collaboration.
Naima’s story inspires others to pursue their farming dreams, showing that persistence and community support can turn visions into reality.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sisoje
Categories: Minnesota, General