Meet Eh Moo

Behind each veg box, there is a dedicated team of staff working hard in all-weather to make it happen. Eh Moo is one of our senior farmhands and he is an essential part of our week-to-week operations.eh moo

Eh Moo was born in the forest that hugs the Thai-Myanmar border, amongst a family who had been displaced by violence in their home village in the Kareni state: Myanmar. He spent his early childhood with his family moving from place to place along the border, constantly running from the violence that surrounded them before the establishment of the UNHCR Karenni refugee camp in Thailand. This camp became his home for 17 years. In 2007 Eh Moo and his family where granted Australian residency. They ended up in Wollongong, and Eh Moo began studying at Warrawong High School, followed by tertiary studies in Community Services at Wollongong TAFE. This was how he came to Green Connect, as a work placement student helping our staff to become work ready.

All of Green Connects staff are responsible, respectful, and hard-working, and Eh Moo is no exception. But what makes Eh Moo such a valuable part of our team is his insight and observation skills linked with his passion for people and planet.

“Working at GC makes me feel good about myself, I am very grateful that I work at GC. I used to feel very stressed and lonely not able to find a job, but since working at GC it has helped my emotional wellbeing by giving me a hope and future and I now feel part of the community.” – Eh Moo

Eh moo’s specific responsibility on the farm is to monitor and care for our crops in the first four weeks of their lives – when they are at their most vulnerable. He has become a master at identifying when a plant is at risk of falling prey to a pest or disease, when a plant is having hydration issues, or when it is having a reaction to the structure or nutritional composition of the soil. With all his experience growing up cultivating food in the refugee camp, he is able to remedy these problems early in the plant’s life – giving the veggies a fighting chance to make it into your box! Eh Moo’s interpersonal skills are also hugely valuable as we host such a diverse group of staff and volunteers and as our team grows, Eh Moo is beginning to lead and mentor newer farm staff.

Eh Moo is a proud father and a very proud Australian: “I spent 17 years in refugee camp. People who were born in the camp were neither recognized as Thai or Burmese citizens. So until I got my Australian citizenship I was country-less. I am so proud to be an Australian citizen”

He is also proudly Karenni, and dreams of one day traveling back to his homeland to help teach sustainable farming practices among the refugee camps that still populate the Thai – Myanmar border.

“In the future my goal is to go over to Myanmar to work with my Karenni people and teach them how to grow food in a sustainable way that is good for the environment, to compost and take care of the earth, while not wasting anything. I want to employ young Karenni people to give them a hope and a future.” 

In your box:

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What’s that in my box: You can fry, steam, boil, shred or roast Bok choy and so it makes for a versatile addition to any meal! Storing this veg is also fairly easy as it lasts up to a week in the fridge but is best eaten fresh. The reason: fresher vegetables pack more nutrients and with Bok choy’s high vitamin C content, you’re looking at healthier hair, skin, and a boost to your immune system. This might be the last of Bok choy for a while as we come to the end of the cool season.
For more information on how to store & cook any of our vegetables, visit: https://draxe.com/ and type in the veggie you’re looking for.

You can find all of our recipes here!