A nonprofit organization called Deaf New Americans is expanding. The organization is geared to helping migrants and refugees with education, leadership and life skills. A huge part of the organization is its farm operated by deaf migrants.

“So here is the new farmland. It’s called Asha Laaya. This, we’ve got a little bit over 10 acres — 10 1/2 acres of land that we’re going to be able to use,” said Monu Chhetri, founder and CEO of Deaf New Americans.

Asha Laaya, or Farm of Hope, was founded in 2022. It’s a community for immigrants and asylum seekers to use their skills from their home countries to grow fresh produce used for cooking, but also as a source of income to sell at markets.

“When Asha Laaya was established, we were given a plot of land to use in another location. That was so successful, it helped us understand that we really needed a larger plot of land,” Chhetri said.

The new 10 1/2-acre plot will be used for projects that will target children of deaf adults, senior citizens and other refugees with disabilities.

Chhetri is from Nepal. She lived in a refugee camp for 19 years before coming to the United States. Planting seeds allows for other refugees like herself to have a place to grow.

“We call ourselves Deaf New Americans because often the word refugee is something that is looked down on, and we’re not treated the same when we have that label of refugee. As Deaf New Americans, it shows that we are committed to this country and that this is our home and that we have no plans to go back to our birth place,” Chhetri said.

She's thankful to have her husband, Jay, by her side to help with managing the farm.

“We work well with each other. We help each other. Sometimes, we agree. Sometimes, we disagree. But we discuss it as professional people and come up with good solutions,” Chhetri said.

Come April, they hope to have their first seed in the ground.