Two people in Breslau, Ont. are proving age is just a number as they unite community, culture and cultivation. Mai Moua and May Lee, both 70-years-old, run a small farm called May’s Garden just east of Kitchener. At first glance, their corn crop may look similar to any other field found throughout Ontario. However, Lee’s daughter, Cua George, said their harvest involves years of tradition and is as unique as the people who grow it. “It’s important for the next generation to understand where we come from, but also the foods [that] come with it too,” George said. Moua and Lee told CTV News they are Hmong, a tribal culture from east and southeast Asia. They left Laos as refugees in the 1970s and eventually came to Waterloo Region. They are now retired and grow produce that can be hard to come by in Canada, such as Asian sticky corn.“They’re super excited to get a taste of what life was back then,” George explained. “So many [visitors] will come and they’ll be like, ‘This just reminds me of back home.’” The corn is a favourite of the pair. “I love corn,” Lee said. “I like to eat maybe one after another.” Asian sticky corn, which is also sometimes known as waxy corn, differs in taste and texture from what many Canadian farmers grow. The kernels can vary in colour from white and yellow to red, purple and black. Once it has been boiled for around 30 minutes, it develops a sticky layer. “I wouldn’t say it’s anything like the corn that we have here,” George explained. “It’s not as sweet as the corn here, but it has a nice sticky texture.” The unique offering also helps Moua and Lee grow their community. “My mom actually prepares corn from home to share with her customers, so that is really a nice, welcoming space for all of us to enjoy this corn together,” George said. It also helps Moua and Lee stay young at heart. “When I retired, I didn’t have anything to do,” Moua said. “I had to do gardening like this and exercise and things that made me feel comfortable and feel better and stronger.” “All kinds of vegetables make you happy,” Lee added. The duo also grow and sell African eggplant, bitter melon, stewed potato leaves, squash leaves, loofah melons and flowers. As the summer comes to end, so does sticky corn season. The crops will last for another week or so.
