Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Target Audience was initially stated as members of the Tohono O'odham Nation, a rural reservation in Southern Arizona, who would seek training to become farmers and/or agriculture professionals. The program exceeded training, outreach, education, and collaboration goals. The "New Generation of Tohono O'odham Farmers" program offered intensive professional training to Tohono O'odham adults, summer internships to high school students, and workshops in schools and for the public in which participants ranged from elementary school to elderly. In Sum: - Total Individuals Reached: 12,830 with the following demographic characteristics: Native American 100% Economically Disadvantaged 85% Socially Disadvantaged 99% Avg. % Female 62.5% Total Currently Farming: 600 Tohono O'odham Changes/Problems: CHALLENGES Despite the many positive outcomes, some challenges have been identified and are being addressed as the project moves forward. The programs successes have been achieved, but lack of any available USDA BFR or OAO grants for FY 2013 (due to the lack of a new Farm Bill) does put incredible strain on the new farmers and on TOCA’s ability to build upon our success stories: Challenge #1: Difficulty changing the organizational culture of other programs, institutions or agencies to embrace an empowerment model of staffing, training and operating. Many of the tribe’s larger agricultural operations have never previously engaged in substantive levels of staff training and development. Workers have been hired and trained for specific tasks, rather than trained in a more comprehensive way that allows for professional development leading to farming individually. Shifting the organizational culture of such operations is a slow process. However, the success of the New Generation apprenticeship and internship activities has demonstrated the benefits of such an empowerment model and some progress has been made in spreading this approach more broadly. TOCA’s “train the trainer” model of mentoring/empowerment has demonstrated successes where approaches by other agencies have not. While the progress is slow, as a paradigm shift, it is contributing to a significant transformation in the agricultural economy and an increase in locally-farmed foods on the Tohono O’odham Nation. Challenge #2: Even when programs recognize the need for training and capacity building within their staff, managers/supervisors do not always have the skills necessary to shift from a supervisory role to a mentoring role. Running a farm and training farmers often require two different (but overlapping) skill sets. It is not enough to say to a farm manager, “Don’t just tell your workers to do a specific task, teach them to do it on their own.” Instead, managers and supervisors need to be taught how to teach. Providing guidance like “Explain the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of a task, not just the ‘what’ of a task,” can help them become skilled mentors to a New Generation of O’odham Farmers. One of the exciting ways in which this challenge has been overcome can been seen inhow the young people being trained in the program have taken up teaching, leading, and of ? growing. Unlike established professionals, who see the empowerment/mentoring model as different than the “learn-by-rote” form they have, farmers trained in the program see both the method and how to apply it with fresh eyes. For this reason, TOCA’s “train the trainer” approach has generated some immediate successes with our “get-up-and-go” interns and apprentices. Challenge #3: Increased programming (both in terms of number of participants and duration of programming) has increased stress on infrastructure. With larger numbers of apprentices and longer training programs for interns than were originally proposed, there have been increased stresses on the program infrastructure. For example, additional use of farm equipment means increased repair and maintenance costs; youth who participate in the new year-round Project Oidag need access to tools, computers to make flyers and watch webinars, etc. Moreover, the fact that apprentices/interns are being trained on heavy equipment such as tractors means that there is greater room for mistakes that damage the equipment and require higher levels of repair expenditures. Thus, the high levels of interest in and demand for this programming can place stresses on the organizational infrastructure. Creating a new generation of O’odham farmers requires more than simply providing people with training and then turning them loose to farm. Success requires support at all levels –from assistance gaining access to land to securing capital and equipment, from on-going technical support in their fields to help building and accessing markets. The success of the training program has led to the need to expand programming in other areas to support the success of new farmers within the Tohono O’odham Nation. Challenge #4: There is a lot to learn, progress is sometimes slower than anticipated, additional time and resources are needed for forming a solid and sustainable farming foundation in the community. There are a lot of programs that offer services to the O’odham communities; the communities use the services, consider them to be provided by “outsiders”, and when the program is finished, nothing remains to testify of its existence. TOCA is taking a different approach based on empowerment and sustainability, which often requires a wider scope of training, teaching and support than “mere” farming training, which in turn requires time (hence the extension of the apprenticeship program) and more resources. Our beginning farmers-to-be often lack basic skills that are not associated with farming per se (e.g. basic computer literacy). Also, since farming as a way of life disappeared for generations of parents and even grandparents long before our young apprentices and interns started on this path, they do not have many positive role models to look up to, and farmers and other experienced people are very few. Indeed, it has been a challenge to learn how to develop training programs that are uniquely suited to the O’odham culture, environmental factors (land,rain patterns), as well as to the food system infrastructure and expectations within the larger social context. Challenge #5: The lack of a Farm Bill in 2013 severely undermines all of our work. To sustain small farmers for FY 2014 will be a major challenge while local farm-to-institution infrastructure is being developed. For the original BFR proposal, TOCA’s 2010 logic model of new farmer development included developing additional supports for new farmers (e.g., building markets for their products in the schools), and TOCA has sought funding for expanding these supports beyond the activities that are a part of the BFR grant. We have been successful, but lack of USDA funding options for FY 2014 for beginning farmers programs means that a serious shortfall exists for the coming year. TOCA has helped farmers sell over 15,000 lbs of dried beans in the past year to restaurants on the reservation and across Arizona. TOCA has enabled farmers to sell fresh produce directly to local schools and supported farmers’ expansion of sales at a new Farmers’ Market in Sells, AZ. We have also worked on increasing institutional sales. For years, TOCA has been working to create guaranteed “farm to school food service provider” markets for small farmers on the Tohono O’odham Nation. This has been a slow process, and resources are needed during the interim to fully implement and institutionalize sales of native farm produce to local schools. With the stalled Farm Bill, the sequester, and the federal government “shutdown,” BFR grant monies are ending at exactly the wrong time for our program. As 2014 begins, the lack of the Farm Bill can be identified as as substantially hindering the prospects of small farmers on the Tohono O’odham Nation. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? "New Generation of O'odham Farmers" Workshops and Training Programs Produced In year three of the BFR program, there were a total of 568 workshops developed and implemented, 50 farm trips coordinated, and 22 farm “swaps” held. In addition, several outreach and large public events were held to increase the knowledge in agriculture. As noted above, deliverables for a total of seven separate training and educational programs were developed, including five handbooks/curricula. A brand new training program for gardening/farming was developed by the youth program, with a handbook/curriculum. A new school gardening program for the community was developed. A new school gardening program for youth was developed. - Advanced/Intensive Workshops For Farmers, Farmer Trainees & Advanced Gardeners This was aimed at gardeners and community members with some preexisting knowledge from the workshops we conducted in 2011 and 2012, as well as at existing farm workers (working at Tohono O’odham Community Action, San Xavier Co-op Farm, Tohono O’odham Farming Authority, Tohono O’odham Community College Agricultural Extension), new New Generation of O’odham Farmers agricultural apprentices, new New Generation of O’odham Farmers agricultural interns (Project Oidag), the Cowlic Learning Center and Teaching Farm Coordinator, Tohono O’odham Community Action farm manager and Tohono O’odham Community College agricultural interns. In addition, Project Oidag developed their own GROW (Growing To Renew Our World) teaching module aimed at involving other youth into agriculture. In total, we developed and implemented 70 new workshops: fruit trees; soil and seed starting; nontraditional vegetable planting for winter; non-traditional vegetable planting for spring; traditional summer crops; flood irrigation methods; composting; pest control; irrigation systems; land leveling (2-day intensive); basic tractor skills and safety; organic/sustainable agriculture and traditional methods. We also held intensive business planning workshop series (4-part) for small farmers, and Navigating EQIP workshop. Workshops were held respectively at the TohonoO’odham Community College, Project Oidag’s Community Garden at IndianHealth Services Complex in Sells, AZ, Cowlic Learning Center, San Xavier Coop Farm, NRCS in Sells, Tucson Indian Center, University of Arizona American Research and Training Center, San Simon Health Center, and San Miguel Community Center. On average 15 people attended, of whom 5 were youth, with a total of 1050 participants, of whom 100% were socially disadvantaged, 85% limited resource, 400 farm workers, about 40% female, 20 currently farming. - Leadership Development Workshops The fourth stream was aimed at the same audience, and attempted to tackle skills we found often lacking in farm workers. We developed and conducted a total of 50 workshops under the title Leadership Development, which covered basic writing and communication skills, public speaking, basic financial literacy, basic O’odham language, priority setting, and food system, law and policy overview. We also developed a new Food Justice module, with a curriculum available upon request. 15 youth and 10 adults attended on average, with a total of 1250 participants, of whom 100% were socially disadvantaged, 85% limited resource, 100 farm workers, 60 % female, 20 currently farming. 100% of participants in all four streams reported a change in knowledge as well as a change in attitude – specifically towards farming, traditional agriculture, culture and foods. - Farm field trips and “swaps” We coordinated a total of 50 farm/garden field trips (to 5 farms on the reservation, 5 off the reservation and four school garden/community gardens in Gila River Crossing, Sacaton, Tucson and Ajo) We performed a total of 22 farm and work “swaps”: 6 work exchanges with the San Xavier Co-op Farm, 2 with the Tohono O’odham Community College Agriculture Extension, 3 with O’odham farmer Bill Weyes, one with Crooked Sky Farms, Phoenix, and 10 with Menlo Family Farms, Tucson. On average 10 people attended, with a total of 770 participants, of whom 90% were socially disadvantaged, 85% limited resource, 100 farm workers, 30% female, 20 currently farming. 100% of participants reported a change in knowledge as well as change in attitude – specifically towards teamwork and understanding farming in detail. - Youth Ag Day 2013: In cooperation with Tohono O’odham Farm and Food Working Group, we designed, developed and implemented the third annual event dedicated to youth and agriculture – Youth Ag Day, and implemented 6 workshops specifically for the event geared towards middle school students and younger, and 4 geared towards high school students. The event was held at the San Xavier Coop Farm in Tucson. 100 people attended, of whom 65% were youth, from Indian Oasis Baboquivari Unified School District and Ha:san Preparatory and Leadership School, Tucson, of whom 95% were O’odham, 90% were socially disadvantaged, 75% limited resource, 6 farm workers, 60% female, 2 currently farming. 95% of participants reported a change in knowledge as well as change in attitude – specifically towards farming, traditional agriculture, culture and foods. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Beyond presentations and workshops, results have been disseminated in numerous ways, including print and online: Details of 2012/2013 Education and Awareness Outputs/Deliverables: PRINT: 1. EDUCATIONAL PRINT: New Programs & Curricula (developed & implemented - available upon request): Seven separate training and education programs developed, including five handbooks/curricula. These include a Food Justice Curriculum (FFA/BHS), a New Generation of O’odham Farmers Training Handbook, an O’odham School Garden Curriculum, and an Agriculture Community Activities and Workshops Handbook. 2. NATIONAL PRINT: _Native Foodways Magazine_ and online presence www.nativefoodways.org and magazine Facebook page): 10,000 copies distributed in Native communities. USDA programs were highlighted as resources and programs across "Indian Country" that had benefitted from USDA and/or OAO support were featured, including the "New Generation" training program. 3. STATE-WIDE PRINT: Newspaper Arizona Daily Star (Aug 2013): “A solution: Sowing the future for tribal youth- O’odham Farm Effort is a Link to Healthier Eating and Culture” _Arizona Daily Star _article on TOCA’s BFR program as a solution to poverty: http://azstarnet.com/news/ local/a-solution-sowing-the-future-for-tribal-youth/article_248e2a30-05b7-50ddb431-5e4d902e325f.html 4. LOCAL PRINT New Ed/Awareness Print Resources (text/print): Farmers’ Market Newsletter (15 issues), TOCA Newsletter (1 issue), Papago Runner articles (5), program brochures (3), and 30 flyers/promotion of events posters. (Most fliers and the Farmers’ Newsletters reprinted on Facebook pages of TOCA, Project Oidag, and Desert Rain cafe. Links are listed below.) ONLINE A/V: 1. TRAINER/TRAINEE New Ed/Awareness Videos (avail. online): A. Dec 2012 Why Hunger video : http://vimeo.com/48821460 ) B. Nov 2012 “Squash Cycle Video” (trainee student video) - TOCA/Pan Left (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnKcL93zi3g C. Fall 2012 “O'odham Corn -Tohono O'odham Youth” (trainee student video) - TOCA/Pan Left (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTQssl- Ukus&list=PLE9E9C508E90822B0&index=21) D. Fall 2012 “Attack of the Junk Food Zombies -Tohono O'odham Youth” (trainee student video) - TOCA/Pan Left (http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Sly_VnCWfMw&list=PLE9E9C508E90822B0) E. Spring 2013 Video from 2nd Annual Tohono O’odham Youth Agriculture Day (http:// vimeo.com/75107279) F. Summer 2013 KOHN Bahidaj Camp trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=8SrsHbDjhzE&feature=c4-overview&list=UUaJOqsApSGUGzruKBuNb0hA) and full Bahidaj film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3gPKEXXAgM 2. NATIONAL ONLINE A/V A. Nov. 21, 2013 USDA Google+ Hangout on Local and Regional Food Systems and #MyFarmBill - TOCA co-founder Tristan Reader part of 45-minute USDA discussion: (http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=pnBI5VYRhOU) - N.B. event took place after grant period ended. 3. NATIONAL ONLINE - TEXT & PHOTOS A. American Indian Institute had an article on TOCA's BFR "New Generation" program and Traditional Foods in its “Wellness in Native America” blog - available online (since Sept 2012): americanindianinstitute.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/toca/ B. New TOCA-related Facebook Pages: i. TOCA- Tohono O’odham Community Action (www.tocaonline.org) ii. Project Oidag (co-farming/co-gardening youth program): (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Oidag/147395625341798) iii. Desert Rain Cafe (farm produce bought/sold): (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Desert-Rain-Cafe/229578393737714?fref=ts) iv. Native Foodways magazine: nativefoodways.org, the website of TOCA’s new national magazine, Native Foodways, and the magazine’s Facebook page, have become lively sites for discussions of how native farmers put native food sovereignty into action: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Native-Foodways-Magazine/507626735953002?fref=ts 4. WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS (For schools and public -not the structured trainings for farmers, farmer trainees, and intensive gardeners) - Alternative School Gardening Series – “Big Brothers and Sisters in the Garden”Project Oidag, a youth-designed and youth-run internship program designed and implemented a 16-part gardening mentoring programming with the Sells AlternativeSchool, mentoring students ages 14-27 in installing and maintaining their own garden on the school campus while teaching the O’odham culture and history. They worked with on average 20 students, with a total of 360 participants, of whom 100% were socially disadvantaged, 95% limited resource, 0 farm workers, about 65% female, 0 currently farming. These sessions were held from September 2012 through May 2013. - Community Gardening and Agricultural Workshops: In cooperation with Tohono O’odham Farm and Food Working Group, Cowlic Learning Center, Indian Health Services, Tohono O’odham Community College, Head Start, Healthy O’odham Promotion Program, Natural Resources and Conservation Services, Tohono O’odham Recreation Centers, Cultural Center and Museum, TO Senior Services and Indian Oasis Baboquivari Unified School District, we developed and implemented four new series of gardening and agricultural workshops, conducting a total of 388 workshops. - School-site Workshops The first stream was aimed at students and their parents and guardians at Head Start, Elementary and Middle School in Sells, San Simon, Santa Rosa, San Xavier and Tucson, as well as other interested community members. This stream was developed and implemented in cooperation with 2 FoodCorps service members and a traditional storyteller/singer. Workshops and presentations were held three times/week in the Elementary School garden, and four times/week at the Middle School Garden in Sells, from August 2012 through August 2013. In addition, individual workshops and presentations were held in the Head Start centers andschools on and off the TO Nation that service Tohono O’odham kids, with an average of one workshop/week. The curriculum/handbook is a work in progress, and is available upon request. A total of 330 hands-on workshops were conducted, with on average 20 children and 5 adults, with a total of 8250 participants, of whom 95% were socially disadvantaged, at least 75% limited resource, 20 farmworkers, about 70% female, 30 currently farming. - Elders-site Workshops In cooperation with Senior Services, AmeriCorp service members, Cowlic Learning Center and Project Oidag interns, 12 community hands-on workshops covering basic garden care were developed as a second stream. The workshops of were held on a monthly basis at the TO Senior Services garden in Sells. On average 25 adults attended, of whom 15 were seniors, with a total of 300 participants, of whom 100% were socially disadvantaged, 85% limited resource,10 farm workers, about 80% female, 10 currently farming. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The "New Generation of O'odham Farmers" Training Program exceeded our stated goals exponentially, reaching far more Tohono O'odham tribal members through training, education/awareness, outreach, and economic development.The "New Generation of O'odham Farmers" training program has the goal of long-term, sustainable revitalization of the collaboration in this rural Native American community. For this reason, a very positive development in 2012/2013 has been how our Farmer Trainees are taking ownership of the apprenticeship and internship programs. TOCA's empowerment philosophy encourages self determination and changes emerged from TOCA's responsiveness to trainees' goals and needs. We can expect high rates of long-term successful, economically-sustainable agricultural businesses and small farms on the Tohono O'odham Nation. ACCOMPLISHMENTS - New Generation of O’odham Farmers Agriculture Apprenticeship: POST-TRAINING JOB SUCCESS: The Apprenticeship was the most intensive and smallest of the "New Generation" programs. Graduates of the program have all gone on to work in agricultural areas. The summer-intern training -- designed for high school students -- became a program in its own right, the youth-initiated Project Oidag, and has generated enthusiasm at schools for agricultural careers. DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION: "NEW GENERATION" TRAINING PROGRAM: The training program was designed to include education and training in agricultural basics, science, farm equipment, conservation practices and sustainable agricultural methods, as well as personal development skills such as public speaking and formal writing. In addition, a strong emphasis is given to O’odham history, food system and culture. The apprentices alternated between TOCA’s Cowlic Learning Center and Teaching Farm and the non-flood-irrigated Papago Farms. Apprentices attended at least one workshop, field trip or work swap every weeks. They also closely mentored Project Oidag interns, working with them on and off the farm. They worked on developing the IOBUSD school gardens, Senior Services garden, and Project Oidag community garden. They also are a driving force behind Youth Ag Day, and Harvest Festival. They also installed 5 new gardens/fields for community members.Under the mentoring of Cowlic Learning Center, they gave farm tours to visitors, approximately one per week. In cooperation with TO Credit and Finance Department, we designed a series of courses on financial literacy, marketing and small-scale farm accounting, which resulted in 8 sessions held in the spring and summer of 2013. In coordination with Cowlic Learning Center and Project Oidag, farm apprentices started a regular weekly farmers market, and held several fresh food sales on top of that. A weekly farm meeting was held with TOCA staff in order to follow up on their progress and obstacles, and help design their future learning opportunities. The apprentices and graduates also initiated traditional seed-saving program, whereby traditional crops seeds are collected, grown, shared and preserved among the participants, along with the sharingof work and knowledge. Previous apprentices and graduates to this day continue close relationships with the each other and the mentors, and share experiences, tips and vision for a healthier future of our community. EVALUATION OF SKILLS COMPETENCY/AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE: In the program evaluations, which were conducted at the end of the apprenticeship programs in 2012 and 2013 respectively, 100% of the graduates stated that they would want to have their own farm one day, or work on some tribal or other farm. The baseline collected indicated that at the start of the program, they did not have even basic agricultural knowledge and job training, and doubted that farming could be a viable way of making a living on the TO Nation (beyond a summer job on a tribal farm). After the conclusion of the program, their self-evaluation as well as evaluation by their mentors indicated an incredible gain in knowledge, skills as well as confidence and familiarity with farming and O’odham culture, and 100% graduates see themselves as seeking a permanent employment on a farm or starting their own. ACCOMPLISHMENTS - Summer Youth Internship (Project Oidag): In the summer of 2012, we implemented a 7-week summer youth agriculture internship program, led by Cowlic Learning Center Coordinator. The program employed 8 young of O’odham as full-time paid interns to work on Cowlic Learning Center and Training Farm fields, Papago Farms, Project Oidag Community Garden, Senior Services garden,IOBUSD gardens, and backyard gardens. We related agricultural projects with learning about traditional and modern agricultural practices, food preparation, and Tohono O’odham traditional way of life through daily tasks, reflections, workshops and field trips designed in cooperation with the Tohono O’odham Farm and Food Group partners (including field trips to San Xavier Co-op Farm, Healthy O’odham Promotion Program and Himdag Ki: Cultural Center and Museum) and working other community projects such as, for example, a three-day saguaro fruit harvest. The interns also attended and presented at three Native youth focused conferences, i.e. Gila River Youth Conference, Young Men’s Gathering, San Xavier, and Unity Conference, Phoenix. At the conclusion, we held a graduation event which was attended by 65 people (TOCA staff, family members and friends, community), held at the Himdag Ki: Cultural Center and Museum in Topawa. A handbook for the program was developed and finished, along with a complete Youth Crew Leaders Training curriculum.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Native Foodways Magazine: Celebrating Food, Culture, and Community
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: OUTPUTS SUMMARY: A.Training: In year two of the BFR program, there were a total of 72 workshops developed and implemented, 7 farm trips coordinated, and 20 farm "swaps" held. In addition, two large public events were held to increase the knowledge in agriculture. 3 separate training programs were further developed and trainees took ownership of their program. Total participation exceeded original goals by a factor of 15, with more than 1300 participants across all classes, workshops, and on-site trainings. B.Deliverables: 1. Five 2012 National Recognition/Agriculture Awards; 2. Six New Audio/Video Presentations; 3. Three New Training Program Curricula; 4. Sixty-eight New Promotion/Outreach Print Materials; 5. Six New Online Presentations; 6. Ninety-two new posts on 3 key websites; 7. Seventy-two workshops include expanded public events, internships, apprenticeships, and intensive trainings PARTICIPANTS: LIST OF WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS PRODUCED (including participant numbers and demographics (KEY: SD= Socially Disadvantaged, LR= Limited Resources): 1. WORKSHOPS/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (100% SD, 75%-100% LR) a. Speaker Series in BUSD FFA classes -12 new workshops/presentations, conducted 40 sessions; avg. 17 students, total 680 participants, 60% female. b. BUSD Alternative School Gardening Series-Project Oidag, a youth-run internship program; designed and implemented a 12-part gardening program, mentoring 22 students ages 14-22 in installing and maintaining their own garden; avg. 18 students, total 216, 65% female. 2. COMMUNITY GARDENING AND AGRICULTURAL WORKSHOPS (4 Streams): We developed and implemented four new "streams", conducting a total of 47 workshops. 100% of participants in all four streams reported a change in knowledge as well as a change in attitude toward agriculture. a. School-site Workshops- 20 hands-on workshops were conducted, avg. 5 children and 12 adults, with a total of 340 participants (6 farm workers, about 70% female, 4 currently farming. ) b. Elders-site Workshops- On average 15 adults attended, of whom 5 were seniors, with a total of 120 participants(6 farm workers, about 80% female, 4 currently farming.) c. Advanced/Intensive Workshops- For gardeners and community members with pre-existing knowledge from the workshops we conducted before. In total, we developed and implemented 11 new workshops, including irrigation systems, land leveling (2-day intensive), basic tractor skills and safety. Avg. 15 people attended, of whom 5 were youth, total of 120 participants (50 farm workers, about 10% female, 2 currently farming.) d. Leadership Development Workshops- The fourth stream was aimed at the same audience, and attempted to tackle skills we found often lacking in farm workers. We developed and conducted a total of 8 workshops under the title Leadership Development. 4 youth and 6 adults attended on average, with a total of 80 participants(50 farm workers, 20% female, 2 currently farming.) 3. FARM FIELD TRIPS AND "SWAPS": We coordinated a total of 7 farm field trips (to 4 farms on the reservation, 3 off the reservation.) We performed a total of 20 farm and work "swaps": 6 work exchanges. 4. YOUTH AG DAY: In cooperation with Tohono O'odham Farm and Food Group, we designed, developed and implemented the second annual event dedicated to youth and agriculture - Youth Ag Day, and implemented 8 workshops specifically for the event geared towards middle school students and younger, and 4 geared towards high school students. 65 people attended, of whom 90% were youth, from high schools (100% were O'odham, 90% SD, 75% LR) 6 farm workers, 60% female, 2 currently farming.) 5. HARVEST FESTIVAL AND JUNIOR RODEO: A 3 day community event organized by and held at Cowlic Learning Center, including 5 agricultural workshops and a farmers market. 550 people attended over 3 days, of whom about 50% were under the age of 25, and of whom 95% were O'odham, 85% SD, 75% LR, 6 farm workers, 60% female, 2 currently farming. TARGET AUDIENCES: "NEW GENERATION" APPRENTICES: 100% of participants in New Generation Apprenticeship program recognized that the more they learn through work and education, the more knowledge and skills they want. Therefore the training program was extended from 12 months to 18 months, and more workshops, farm swaps and trainings were scheduled. If at beginning of the program, 0% of the apprentices had considered farming as a viable career and way of life, at fifteen months of training 100% of participants expressed a strong desire to enter farming as a full-time career. "PROJECT OIDAG" SUMMER INTERNS: We further developed and implemented a 7-week summer youth agriculture internship program for youth age 16-25. We hired 8 young O'odham as full-time paid summer interns. 100% of our summer interns were socially disadvantaged, 100% with limited resource, 3 out of 8 were female, none had ever gardened or farmed. NEW GENERATION/PROJECT OIDAG INTERNS - FULL YEAR (YOUTH-INITIATED PROGRAM): After the Summer 2011 Summer Internship, former interns designed and launched Project Oidag (garden). This is a fully youth-based and youth-run program, empowering O'odham youth to grow food, be active in their communities and stand strong in being Oodham. In the period from September 2011 through May 2012, the program hired 1 full-time Coordinator, 1 full-time intern and 5 part-time interns, a total of 7 youth aged 16-25 (of whom 3 female). 100% of program participants are socially disadvantaged, 100% limited resource, 0 farm workers, 42% female, 0 currently farming. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: 1. Incredible expansion of local participation in agricultural training has meant that we have had to extend, intensify, and expand our partnerships and collaborations. 1275 individuals participated in workshops, trainings, large public events, and community/school events during the report period. 2. Summer Youth Ag Intern initiative to create "Project Oidag" and turn a summer program into an ongoing program has helped our program on all levels, including giving apprentices teenagers they can mentor, increasing the number of farmers market and farmstand sales, and expanding community and school participation in agricultural revitalization. We have sought (and got) additional funding to support Project Oidag Crew Training and Year-long Ag. Internships for the enterprising young people, ages 14-25. 3. Apprentices The "New Generation of O'odham Farmers" training program is focused on long-term, sustainable revitalization of the local agricultural economy. For this reason, a very positive development in 2012 has been how our Farmer Trainees are taking ownership of the apprenticeship and internship programs. TOCA's empowerment philosophy encourages self-determination and changes adopted this year emerge from TOCA's responsiveness to trainees' goals and needs. We believe this will produce higher rates of long-term successful, economically-sustainable agricultural businesses and small farms on the Tohono O'odham Nation. We originally developed a year-long, full-time paid agricultural apprenticeship program, led by Tohono O'odham Community Action farm manager Noland Johnson in cooperation with the new Cowlic Learning Center and Teaching Farm Coordinator Anthony Francisco. In the spring of 2012 apprentices and trainers held a series of self-evaluation meetings. Together we came to the conclusion that the apprentices seek our program to provide expanded training for in several fields, including business management, and grant and loan writing. The apprentices also stated that they wanted to be trusted with specific farm-related projects (e.g. water irrigation system installation, farmers market organization and set-up) in order to further develop their farming and leadership skills. We therefore extended the apprenticeship for 6 more months.
Impacts
OUTCOMES/IMPACTS SUMMARY: **** Working together, program staff, partner organizations, apprentices, interns and community members have continued to make dramatic progress toward reaching our goal of growing a New Generation of O'odham Farmers. The second year of the program has seen tremendous progress in meeting our program goals, including the following outcomes: **** -Outcome 1: Community recognition, professional recognition, and national recognition of how "A New Generation of Oodham Farmers" can serve a model for other Native American communities, including farm visits and inquiries from the Jicarilla Apache, Seminole, Hopi, Dine and Paiute tribes; -Outcome 2: Dramatic change in the attitudes toward farming and agricultural careers by training programs participants in particular and in the community at large, in tandem with availability of local farming potential; -Outcome 3: The program has successfully been creating a new generation of community leaders by connecting agricultural training with leadership development, capacity building and strong culturally-based programming; -Outcome 4: Expanded infrastructure and capacity for a local food system that can grow, process and distribute the traditional foods needed to combat epidemic levels of diabetes and promote wellness; -Outcome 5: Creation of both direct employment as well as supporting future economic development for unemployed community members; -Outcome 6: Creation of a tiered mentoring model - a co-farming/co-gardening model; -Outcome 7: Connecting Beginning Farmer Training with Broader Food System Redevelopment;
Publications
- - Desert Rain Cafe 2012, 1 markets/value-added products page: TOCA's Desert Rain Cafe helps market TOCA's BFR locally-farmed produce, including a monthly "guest chef" event in which notable chefs prepare cuisine using our harvested ingredients: 31 new posts in 2012 and 407 likes (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Desert-Rain-Cafe/229578393737714fref= ts);
- KOHN 2012, 2 New Audio Presentation:- 2 radio shows, on Traditional Oodham Foods and New Generation of Oodham Farmers, produced and broadcasted on the tribal radio station KOHN;
- School Garden Newlsetter 2012, 3 issues of Indian Oasis Baboquivari Unified School District Extended Day/School Garden Newsletter; The Runner, 2012, 3 newspaper articles in _The Runner_(local monthly Tohono Oodham newspaper);
- PUBLICATIONS SUMMARY 2012:
- - Project Oidag 2012, 4 PhotoVoice presentations prepared Summer Youth Interns (available online on Project Oidag Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Oidag/147395625341798);
- - Imagine No Hunger 2012, 1 video -Introduction to TOCA's BFR-New Generation-Project Oidag program in the "Imagine There's No Hunger" video produced by Why Hunger/Hard Rock Cafe (http://vimeo.com/48821460 );
- - Why Hunger 2012, 1 video - Project Oidag's Amy Juan interview (http://www.youtube.com/watchv=dLRSev0BYlU&feature=channel&list=UL);
- - American Indian Institute 2012, 1 online article on TOCA's BFR "New Generation" program in the by the American Indian Institute (available online: americanindianinstitute.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/toca/ );
- - TOCA 2012, 1 website for Tohono Oodham Community Action - 27 new posts in 2012:(http://www.tocaonline.org/ Native_Farming.html);
- - Project Oidag 2012, 1 Facebook page for Project Oidag with 34 new posts in 2012 and 132 likes: (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Oidag/147395625341798);
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Refer to detailed report provided to BFR Program staff. 1. Materials - Workshop and event flyers/brochures: 17 - 8 PhotoVoice presentations (on Project Oidag Facebook) - 1 website: http://www.tocaonline.org/Native_Farming.html - 1 Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Oidag/147395625341798 2. Workshops and training programs produced (including demographics) 22 workshops were developed, 6 farm trips, and 13 farm "swaps". A total of 3 training programs were developed. Workshops/Professional Development Agriculture, Food and Himdag Speaker Series for Future Farmers of America at Baboquivari High School: 8 workshops, 40 sessions, a total of 680 participants, of which 100% were socially disadvantaged, at least 90% limited resource, about 55% female. Spring 2011 Gardening and Agricultural Workshops: 6 workshops, in cooperation with Tohono O'odham Farm and Food Group. On average 25 to 30 people attended, with a total of 165, of which 95% were socially disadvantaged, 7 farm workers, about 25% female, 5 currently farming, 1 less than one year. 100% of participants reported of change in knowledge as well as change in attitude, specifically towards farming, traditional agriculture, culture and foods. Farm field trips and "swaps": A total of 150 people participated, of which 95% were socially disadvantaged, 7 farm workers, about 45% female. Youth Ag Day: a new annual event, 8 workshops, 100 people attended, of which 60% were children and youth, 95% were O'odham, 90% were socially disadvantaged, 75% limited resource, 6 farm workers, about 55% female, 4 currently farming, 1 less than one year. Training Programs New Generation of O'odham Farmers Agriculture Apprenticeship: A year-long, full-time paid apprenticeship program, partnering with 14 other organizations on and off the Tohono O'odham Nation. We hired 6 apprentices (3 originally planned) as of May 4, and as of August 31, 2011, all were still with TOCA. 100% of New Generation of O'odham Farmers agriculture apprentices were socially disadvantaged, 100% with limited resources, 3 farm workers, no female. New Generation of O'odham Farmers Summer Youth Internship: Employed 8 youth for 8 weeks. 100% of our summer interns were socially disadvantaged, 100% with limited resource, 3 out of 8 were female, none gardened or farmed at home. New Generation Youth Internships/Project Oidag: Hired 2 youth in April, 1 quit after 4 weeks. As of August 1, 1 (new) one year full time youth agriculture intern (Project Oidag intern) was employed, and 5 one year part-time Project Oidag interns were employed. The interns are ages 15 to 18, of which 100% are socially disadvantaged, 100 %limited resource, and 50% female. Cowlic Learning Center and Teaching Farm: Installed 10,000 feet of fencing, revitalized the original 5 acre field, and added 1 more field (approx. 1 acre). Pond irrigation system was improved. A shade structure was installed and a water tank (50,000 gallons) was installed. PARTICIPANTS: 1. In cooperation with Indian Oasis Baboquivari FFA teacher, Sells office of USDA NRCS, NRCS Plants Material Center, and Indian Health Services, we developed 8 workshops, and conducted 40 sessions, with on average 17 students, with a total of 680 participants, of which 100% were socially disadvantaged, at least 75% limited resource, 0 farm workers, about 55% female, 0 currently farming. 2. We developed a year-long, full-time paid agricultural apprenticeship program, led by Tohono O'odham Community Action farm manager Noland Johnson in cooperation with the new Cowlic Learning Center and Teaching Farm Coordinator Anthony Francisco. In their training, we partner with 14 other organizations on and off the Tohono O'odham Nation, including the Tohono O'odham Tribal College and Agriculture Extension, University of Arizona, USDA NRCS, and 4 farmers (of which only 2 are on the reservation, and only one is O'odham). 3. 100% of New Generation of O'odham Farmers agriculture apprentices were socially disadvantaged, 100% with limited resources, 3 were farm workers, no female, and 0 were currently farming. 4. 100% of our summer interns were socially disadvantaged, 100% with limited resource, 3 out of 8 were female, 2 interns involved with a school garden in Tucson, and 3 with the Future Farmers of America program at the Indian Oasis Baboquivari High School, but nobody ever gardened or farmed at home. 5. We developed 6 gardening and agricultural workshops for the existent farm workers (Tohono O'odham Community Action, San Xavier Co-op Farm, Tohono O'odham Farming Authority), new New Generation of O'odham Farmers agricultural apprentices, new New Generation of O'odham Farmers agricultural interns, new Cowlic Learning Center and Teaching Farm Coordinator, Tohono O'odham Community Action farm manager, We coordinated a total of 6 farm field trips (to 3 farms on the reservation, 3 off the reservation.) We performed a total of 13 farm and work "swaps": 6 work exchanges with the San Xavier Co-op Farm (green house training, transplanting, black mulch laying; good agricultural practices and good food handling practices; non-traditional summer crops harvest and preparation for the market), 2 with the Tohono O'odham Community College Agriculture Extension (tractor training; traditional ak-chin field preparation), one training with Tohono O'odham Farming Authority (GPS tractor equipment), and 4 mentoring sessions with an O'odham farmer Bill Weyes were held on the Cowlic Learning Center farm and Teaching Farm for New Generation of O'odham Farmers agriculture apprentices. 6. We designed, developed and implemented what has become an annual event dedicated to youth and agriculture - Youth Ag Day, and developed 8 workshops specifically for the event, 4 geared towards middle school students and younger, and 4 geared towards high school students. 100 people attended, of which 60% were children and youth, from all 11 districts of the Nation, as well as from surrounding towns of Eloy, Ajo and Tucson, of which 95% were O'odham, 90% were socially disadvantaged, 75% limited resource, 6 farm workers, about 55% female, 4 currently farming, 1 less than one year. TARGET AUDIENCES: Audience 1: Currently unemployed/unemployable adults. Two major barriers exist to employment on the Tohono O'odham Nation. First, there are very few jobs; under 1/3 of the workforce is currently employed with fewer than 10% of all jobs being in the private sector. At the same time, there are many barriers to securing those jobs by those seeking employment; levels of educational attainment are very low, there are very high levels of past substance abuse and related criminal records; job training opportunities are few. In the short-term, the New Generation of O'odham Farmers has both created direct employment opportunities through the creation of new jobs - both for trainers/program staff and (more importantly) for apprentices and interns. Of the apprentices in this first year, 100% had not had full-time employment at any point during the previous three years and 100% were unemployed at the time they entered the apprenticeship program. In the long-term, the impacts of the training are much more significant and sustainable. Farming is a potential career for community members previously considered "unemployable." The New Generation apprentices demonstrate this trend: None of the apprentices have attended college; 67% have non-violent criminal records that would disqualify them for many of the jobs the are available on the Tohono O'odham Nation (mostly with the tribal or federal governments); these criminal records are 100% related to past substance abuse. With the independent nature of farming - supported by training and infrastructure improvements - such "unemployable" people are developing the capacity to build agricultural careers through this program. Audience 2: Tribal Youth 100% of our summer interns were socially disadvantaged, 100% with limited resource, 3 out of 8 were female, 2 interns involved with a school garden in Tucson, and 3 with the Future Farmers of America program at the Indian Oasis Baboquivari High School, but nobody ever gardened or farmed at home. Audience 3: Community Members The per capita income on the Tohono O'odham Nation is the lowest among all reservations in the United States. The tribal government has reported that the per capita income was $8,100 in 2008, only slightly higher than the 2000 Census figure of $6,998 for annual income. Unemployment: In 2010, the Arizona Department of Commerce reported an unemployment rate of 35.5% on the Tohono O'odham Nation, in comparison to 9.5% across Arizona during the same time period of economic recession. This figure is up, according to the tribal government, which reported that unemployment on the Tohono O'odham Nation was 26% in 2008. The Arizona Department of Commerce reports that, in 2004, employment was 24% lower on the reservation than the Arizona state average, with only 363 per 1,000 Tohono O'odham residents employed. Families in Poverty: The 2000 Census reported median family income is $21,223 (compared with $50,046 nationally). As a result, 41.7% of all Tohono O'odham households and 50.6% of those households with children live at the federally-defined poverty level (compared to the U.S. averages of 9.2% and 13.6% respectively). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Refer to detailed report provided to BFR Program staff. 1: Higher than expected and increasing demand for and investment in agricultural training within the Tohono O'odham community. Due to high demand, we created 100% more apprenticeship positions (i.e., 2x) than the number originally proposed. Only 50% Apprenticeship and 36% of Internship applicants were accepted, showing high demand. 2: Change in attitudes toward farming careers. At the time of their application to the apprenticeship program, 0% of the apprentices had considered farming as a viable career and way of life. At the end of the first four months of training, 82.5% of participants expressed a strong desire to enter farming as a full-time career. 3: Creating new generation of leaders by connecting agricultural training with leadership development. The substantive inclusion of leadership development, empowerment and capacity building has already demonstrated its ability to create powerful community change. 4: Expanded infrastructure for a local food system to provide traditional foods needed to combat epidemic levels of diabetes. More than half of Tohono O'odham adults and children as young as seven have Type 2 Diabetes. 76% of 6th-8th graders are overweight/obese. There is a need to build a local food system that can provide the healthy, traditional foods that combat diabetes. The program increased the total amount of flood-water (ak chin) fields available for crop production by 50%. 5: Increased discourse about connection between food, culture and agriculture. Farming is once again being seen as a viable economic and career option. Given that 1) fewer than 1/3 of the tribe's workforce is employed, and 2) the Tohono O'odham Nation has more than 20,000 acres of unused farmland (with an additional 100,000+ acres that the NRCS has classified as "prime farmland"), this shift in perspective is critical. Training a new generation of farmers is one key to utilizing an existing community resource (i.e., underutilized farmland) to address a critical challenge (i.e., unemployment.). 6: Creation of both employment and economic development for community members who would be otherwise unemployable. Of the apprentices in this first year, 100% had not had full-time employment at any point during the previous three years and 100% were unemployed at the time they entered the program. Long-term, farming is a potential career for community members previously considered "unemployable." Current apprentices demonstrate this trend: 0% have attended college; 67% have non-violent criminal records that would disqualify them for many of the jobs. The independent nature of farming gives such "unemployable" people the capacity to build agricultural careers. 7: Connecting Beginning Farmer Training with Food System Redevelopment. Success of new farmers requires much more than training. It requires a complex set of supports and opportunities ranging from help obtaining land and start-up capital to the development of local markets. With a focus on broad and deep food system redevelopment, we have been able to connect the training program with the redevelopment of a local food system.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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