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My nearly 4-year-old daughter and I run a small dairy goat farm, while I work for 3 small rural community newspapers- and now I have taken on a campaign for State House on top of it all.
We come from a family of strong, Thai women. Women who have risen from living below the poverty line, to own and run their own successful rice farms, trucking companies, and who’ve gone on to raise strong, independent daughters and sons. My mom is an amazing gardener, and loves nature and being outdoors. She taught me so many things about growing and raising our own food, and how to properly harvest, prepare, and store it.
She taught me to be strong and independent.
Growing up being half-Thai was an interesting experience. No one ever really knew what to think of me. I was often asked (and still am) “What are you?” to which I replied, “Human.” Or sometimes, “American.” I’ve been asked repeatedly if I can read, and even told multiple times I speak “really good for a foreigner.” I even remember people saying they were suprised to find out I was intelligent- because of what I looked like!?!
My father was in the Air Force, so we moved around a lot- every 2 years. I was born in Tampa, Florida on MacDill AFB, then we moved to Utah, Guam, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Hawaii, and Maryland. We traveled a lot in between, too- Korea, Japan, Mexico… anyhow, the point is that it was a wonderful way to experience and be a part of many different cultures- a great way to learn about the world and the people in it. I found so many accepting and wonderful friends along the way- many of whom I am still in touch with these days. I am thankful to have grown up in a multi-racial family, even with the discrimination I’ve experienced, as it developed a strength and awareness of racism and the need to stand up and speak out against injustice.
When we lived in Texas and Oklahoma, I learned a lot about horses, cows, and ranching. In Illinois I learned about corn, raising, pigs, sheep, and goats- and spent more time with horses. In Hawaii, I learned about permaculture (permanent agriculture) and methods of raising food that works alongside, and enhances natural systems, and minimizes or eliminates waste.
I moved to Alaska, for a temporary wildlife rehabilitation job with the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Center. That 6 month temp job turned into a 10 year Alaskan experience where and learned so much more about living off the land.
Locals and Alaskan native elders took me under their care and showed me how to hunt, fish, and gather wild foods. I learned to preserve venison, moose, salmon and halibut by smoking and drying it. We made salmonberry and fireweed jelly, and dandelion mead.
Local dairy farmers (goats and cattle) showed me the ropes, and I worked part time, mornings and evenings, helping deliver calves and kids, hand milking in below zero temps, and learning the ins and outs of dairy farming. I befriended some Alaskan homesteaders, living up in the mountains- and would make twice monthly trips to visit them. They taught me about putting up the harvest- canning, dehydrating, etc., for the winter months. They showed me how to make goat cheese, and to grow and use my own sourdough starter. We had a great time, talking about our lives, sharing stories, and cooking and baking together.
I loved sharing meals with all of these different communities, these families. Listening to their struggles and triumphs. Comforting each other other through tragedies and celebrating milestones.
Eventually, I began my own small farm and garden in Meadow Lakes, Alaska- living in a 16’ x 20’ cabin, with no running water and a small wood stove for heat. I worked as a veterinary technician during the day, a firefighter on nights and weekends, and in between I helped as an advocate at a women’s shelter. That’s all a story for another day.
Anyhow, it all led me back to Florida- Southwest Florida- where my grandparents, parents, and lifelong friends live. I moved to Lehigh Acres and found an affordable little ranchette in LaBelle to start a dairy goat farm.
We have ponies, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and ducks. I teach bread and cheese making classes, canning classes, and a mustang gentling program for youth and veterans - well, I did before the pandemic.
It’s a good life. A busy, but really good life.
I’ll be writing more about my community and the reasons I have chosen to run for office- but for now, the sourdough loaf I’m baking is almost ready to pull from the oven and my sweet, toddler (currently covered in orange blossom honey 🍯 😂) needs a bath, and I have deadlines for Lake Okeechobee News and the Caloosa Belle looming.
please feel free to visit my website:
FORNEARFORFLORIDA.COM
or if you can donate to keep my campaign going, as I battle an NRA backed Republican- please click here: SEND DANIKA TO TALLAHASSEE!