Native Garden: Service Learning Project
This project explores the historical and cultural significance of gardening among the Dakota and Anishinaabe peoples. It highlights the impact of colonization and modernization on traditional food systems, emphasizing the shift from subsistence to commodity-based systems. Current health issues like obesity and diabetes are linked to these changes. By incorporating indigenous techniques and heritage seeds, this initiative aims to promote sustainable gardening practices that restore community health and well-being, fostering a connection to culture and the land.
Native Garden: Service Learning Project
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Presentation Transcript
Native Garden:Service Learning Project Naomi, Alissa, and Deon
Historical Perspective • Pre-Columbian • Thousands of native cultures spread across North America • In our region, the Dakota and the Anishinaabe people didn’t garden– they were nomadic • Borrowed older gardening techniques from other native cultures (Three Sisters)
Culture • Two main: Anishenaabe and Dakota • White settlers destroyed nomadic culture • Disease • Fencing • Invasive Species • Reservations • Assimilation: Boarding Schools • Capitalist Society vs. Subsistence
Food Systems Then • Survival • Commodity food • Emergence of Gardening
Food Systems Now • Food produced off the reservation • Red Lake: Only one grocery store, rest are convenience store (no fresh food) • Health degradation • Diabetes • Heart ailments • Obesity • Gardening now seen as healing these issues
Design • Consider this… • Interests of all groups involved • Soil type • Slope of land/water runoff • Existing plants • Water access • Number of people working in garden • Intercropping • Aesthetics
Seeds • At the indigenous gardening conference, we learned about the importance of seeds • Heritage seeds • Organic seeds • Cultural significance • Cross pollination
Three Sisters • Corn, squash, beans • Originated in the Southwest
Inventory Corn Squash Beans Cone-flower Hyssop Sage Mountain mint Milkweed Asters Strawberries Rhubarb Spinach Melons Onions Radish Carrots Lettuce Cucumbers Sunflower shoots Tomatoes
Resources • Land- West Central Research and Outreach Center • Tools- share and add to the Student Organic Gardening Club’s tools • Seeds- corn is from Winona LaDuke • Rest of seeds from Seed Savers
Brain Trust • Morris Healthy Eating • Mary Jo Forbord and company • WCROC • Francis Bettelyoun • Dennis Johnson • Indigenous Gardening Conference
Strategies • Good communication between all parties is key. • Staying flexible throughout learning process • Gardening log • Commitment • Long and short term
Short-term Implementation • Tilling • Dig a pit for composting pulled weeds • Planting seeds • Green mulch of organic straw from Mary Jo’s farm will be placed down • Maintain garden • Weeding, watering, trellis as needed • Winterization • Planting winter rye
Long-term Implementation • No-till • Plant seeds • More perennials; berries, fruit trees, etc. • Green mulch • Maintain garden • Winterization • Extra layer of green mulch
Long-term Structures • Animals • Bees and chickens • Greenhouse • Tool shed • Tools, seed library, root cellar • Picnic tables
Challenges • Planting • Planning • Choosing seeds • Design • Growing • Weather • Pests • Human resources • Jobs
Challenges • Harvesting • People’s commitment • Storage • Unseen catastrophes (cows) • Distribution
Community Outreach • Gardening Partners • Education • In-season Events • Post-season Events • Use of Produce
Conclusion • The main thing that we learned during this project is how much we still need to learn. • Learning by doing is vital. • The process is just as important as the produce. • “Native-ness” of plants
