Whether she's Nana, Nonna, Abuela, Lola, Ba, or Nainai—one thing remains true: she's a force of nature. These women have navigated hardships and kept family secrets, especially in the kitchen, passing down recipes that are rare to find outside the home.

While the full series officially launches in 2025, we’re offering a preview and farm fundraiser event on December 14, 2024, showcasing incredible women who honor their cultural heritage through food.

A NOTE FROM CHEF LANDO:

“My Food-As-Medicine journey began when my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer, despite never having smoked a cigarette in her life. Even though I grew up on a farm, cooking as early as I can remember, and was immersed in a Chinese/Vietnamese upbringing with many holistic and cultural practices, which the Western world has recently adopted and is increasingly embracing, the dots all connected with the power of food and mindset with my mom's diagnosis. With this knowledge, my family and I were able to extend her two-month diagnosis to two years.

Currently, only 9% of farms in the United States are run by women. The agriculture industry has been dominated by monoculture and pesticides, which are destroying the planet and human health. Women have been dismissed and overshadowed for so long. It's time we had more feminine energy on how to run food, agriculture, and healthcare systems so that we can not only take care of nature but also nurture it. Nurture is the strong point of the feminine spirit. So, in a sense, Mother's Day is a very special day - a time to connect and nurture. I mean, after all, it is called Mother Earth. Love Your Mother.”

PLEASE HELP US MAKE NEU MUNE FARMSTEAD the model of true sustainability by supporting our journey through sponsorship opportunities.

Neu Mune Farmstead has garnered generous support from Dr. Bronner's, one of the world's leading natural soap makers! Fully championing our mission, David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's, visited our farmstead and within moments committed to sponsoring the Learning Center Greenhouse in their name. This sponsorship serves as a catalyst for transformative growth and innovation, setting the stage for a brighter, more sustainable future.

METAFLORASIS! PROJECT ON NEU MUNE FARM

The Metaflorasis! art project is my endeavor to connect and build a community with strangers out there in the internet world, letting you all know that you are heard. My goal is to grow the word’s largest field of flowers, all dedicated and built by you.

For over 12 years, I have served as a food-as-medicine chef, crafting meals for those dealing with chronic illnesses, seniors, cancer, diabetes, gut and thyroid issues, and postpartum moms. My experiences have taught me that while nutrition and fitness are undeniably vital for true well-being, the essence of healing extends far beyond that. It involves embracing the depth of people's pain—the scars of broken homes, the cries of economic hardship, roots of low self-esteem, the shadows of familial loss, and more unresolved emotions. This demands compassion, listening, and acknowledging the multifaceted nature of our struggles. That's why, with my entire life savings, I purchased this 19-acre property in San Diego County as a place to unite people through art, nature and education.

So, I aspire to dedicate this field of flowers to every soul—those born into the world, those who've bid it farewell, and everyone navigating the delicate path in between. It's a symbolic gesture to foster connection, a reminder that despite our diverse journeys, we are all interconnected. Your pain is acknowledged, and through this collective effort, we can transform our shared struggles into something beautiful.

I kindly invite you all to be part of the Metaflorasis project that will be completed by Spring 2025. There are various ways you can actively participate and contribute on this webpage, sponsor a flowering plant for as little as $5 for your own or dedicate it to someone—bringing us all closer to creating something beautiful together.

With mad, mad love,
La!La! Lando