Global Greens reconnects former refugee farmers with the land as they build their new life in the U.S. Through Global Greens, farmers access space to grow food, learn more about U.S. agriculture, and start their own business by selling produce at our Global Greens International Market and in our CSA.
Shop local. Eat global.
Program Partially Funded by United Way of Central Iowa
Program Specifics
Beginning Farmer Training
For individuals interested in starting small farming businesses, we provide land access, business development assistance, and technical support at Global Greens Farm. Global Greens Farm is a 8.5 incubator farm located at and in partnership with Valley Community Center in West Des Moines. Since the program began, Global Greens farmers’ total gross sales are more than three quarters of a million dollars.
We also offer continued support for program graduates who now rent farms in the Des Moines Metro.
Urban Gardens
Thanks to partnerships with the City of Des Moines, volunteers, and private landowners, we can connect former refugee families to small garden plots near their homes.
If you are interested in providing space for a garden, we would love to talk with you! Please contact Lynette.Thornton@lsiowa.org for more information.
Community Supported Agriculture
Pick up a basket of our farmers’ freshest produce every week when you join the Global Greens Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
Farmers Market
Buy fresh local veggies and meet our farmers at the weekly Global Greens International Market!
1907 Carpenter Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50311
May – October
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. every Saturday
You can also find us online at the Iowa Food Coop!
The Iowa Food Coop operates as an online farmers’ market, offering convenient year-round access to hundreds of food and non-food products directly from Iowa farmers and artisans.
Bizimana spent years in a Tanzanian refugee camp after fleeing his home country of Burundi, and he dreamed of one day continuing his family’s legacy of farming.
When his family was relocated to Iowa, he joined LSI’s Global Greens program. He now grows his favorite foods from Burundi while building his own business.