Shundahai Farm

Raluca Mocanu and Ed Wazer

253 Maple Road

Storrs, CT 06268

(860) 429-0695

Who We Are and Our Philosophy

Greetings from Raluca and Ed at Shundahai Farm!

We are a small family farm of 5 acres established in 2009. We picked our name, Shundahai, from the Western Shoshone tribe, because we felt drawn to its meaning: “Peace and Harmony with all Creation.”  It captures the spirit in which we try to farm and live. Our goal, in farming, is soil health and soil fertility. That's where everything starts. Healthy, fertile soil produces healthy food, and healthy people. Achieving and maintaining soil health is a life-time endeavor. We're constantly trying to optimize mineral balance, promote biological activity, and improve other aspects of soil integrity. To do so, we try to immitate Nature, adopting gentle, sustainable farming practices. We do not use pesticides or any substances that could detriment soil health or the environment. We feel good that our children can eat peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, or whatever they feel drawn to, right out of our fields, without having to worry about any pesticides.

To affirm our beliefs, we have taken the Connecticut NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) Pledge, which clearly articulates our principles.  You can read the pledge at our farm, or at the CT NOFA website http://ctnofa.org.

We sell our vegetables through our CSA, which is now in its third year. In 2011, we grew more than 36 different vegetable crops (see our harvest chart). This year, we plan to expand the selection as well as quantity of what we grow.

In 2010 and 2011, our CSA was filled up. In a survey we did at the end of the 2010 season, 35 out of 38 respondents rated their overall experience of the CSA as "very satisfied", while 3 out of 38 rated as "satisfied". In the 2011 survey 59 out of 67 respondents rated "very satisfied" while 8 out of 67 rated as "satisfied". Nobody rated their overall experience as "very unsatisfied", "unsatisfied", or "so-so". We are grateful that we have been able to consistently provide quality vegetables to our CSA members.

This is the beautiful land that feeds us...

Why We Farm

Some of the reasons I decided to farm: to provide the healthiest food possible for my children, to learn to grow food in a sustainable way, to work for something that I believe is positive for the environment, to be with my children more, to be outside more.  - Ed

For me, farming arose as a natural extension of our lifestyle. I farm because I like to cook healthy, fresh food for my family. I farm because I love to be outside, close to the land, and need to feel connected to Nature.  I farm because I need to do work which I find meaningful, and I see that people are hungry for tasty, nutritious food. I farm because I am in awe of the mystery of Life. For years, I've been yearning to feel more connected to God, the mystery that cannot be told, and farming gives me that in a practical and tangible way.  Peace- Raluca

Some of our crops...

Please explore our farm further through the link below and the sidebar above:

Peace !