Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this project are the members of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska located on the Winnebago Indian Reservation in northeast Nebraska and the students, staff, and faculty of Little Priest Tribal College (LPTC). Partnerships were formed with the Winnebago Senior Center, WIC Program, St. Augustine Indian Mission, Summer Youth Program, and the Wolves Den (LPTC campus cafeteria) to accomplish the goals of the project. The project is transgenerational and programs attract seniors as well as well as youth. Changes/Problems:The following are protocols that should be implemented to enhance the reporting process: Centralized documentation of all workshops and training conducted and/or attended including specific objectives as they relate to the grant and number of participants; Organization of expenses from each workshop provided and/or attended; Create a formal assessment of objectives for project to assure that the project meets the goals listed in the proposal. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The following training and professional development opportunities were provided to CGG interns and Youth gardeners: CGG interns participated in the Midwest Organic Farming Conference in Lacrosse, WI Apple tree pruning training was conducted by Tony Heistercamp of Eden Valley Apple Orchard; The CGG Coordinator and an intern completed the Master Gardener Certification course in Sioux City, IA. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The community gardens, Farmer's Market, and Youth Gardener program have increased the visibility of the Common Ground Gardens program within the Winnebago community and on the LPTC campus. Program visibility was enhanced by the addition of a successful community garden in the middle the Winnebago commnity. 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 following accomplishments were reached as a result of the grant award: At least 3 community gardens and up to 52 individual gardens were installed in the Winebago community and provided fresh produce for community members; Compost bins were built on the LPTC campus; A recycling initiative was started in the LPTC campus; A Farmer's Market was conducted in the fall of each grant year; A hoop house provided year-round produce for the LPTC campus as solar and wind resources were used to provide minimal growth conditions for cold-tolerant plants; The Tribal apple orchard was maintained for production; Various workshops on food preservation, seed collection, and planting were conducted; Youth Gardeners and Common Ground Gardens (CGG) interns gained experience in the preparation, planting, maintenance, and harvesting or various fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audience is the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska andLittle Priest Tribal College students, staffand faculty. Transgenerational activities have sucessfully allowed CGG to help move the community towards ever increasing community involvment in sustainable agriculutture within the community. This year CGG restored the long neglected tribal apple orchard to get it into operation and producing apples. CGG alsoobtained permission from the Village Board of Winnebago to plant a community garden in Veterans Park. This plot was able to accommodate a large three-sister garden (corn/beans/squash) planted in the traditional fashion. The remainder of the field was sub divided and offered to 18 different individuals to plant and tend as they wished.The visibility and success of this garden in the middle of the village has really catapulted the interest in home gardening throughout the community. Additioanlly,a local tribal member was contracted to do large scale tilling forten home gardens and an additional 52 smaller home gardens were planted this year. Summer brought the return of the Youth Garden Interns for the third year. Many were returning from previous years. Youth attended workshops offered by CSAED on plant life cycle, beginners to horticulture, and tool safety. In addition to helping maintain the many gardens throughout the community, the youth gardeners helped homebound elders with gardening and yard work. Common Ground Gardenssigned an MOU with St. Augustine Indian Mission to help support their outdoor classroom initiative andformed partnerships with The Winnebago Senior Citizens Center, WIC program and The Wolves Den, (LPTC’s on campus cafeteria) to provide fresh produce free of cost. In August the harvest processstarted. CSAED/CGG offered a Washa workshop which is a traditional corn process for the Ho-Chunk people so that the corn may be offered to various community projects etc. CSAED/CGG is currently running “our food” preservation series of workshops which includes canning and freezing of tomatoes, jams, apples, corn etc. The Little Priest Tribal College/Common Ground Gardens Farmers’ Market also was reestablished. CGG also helps spearhead therecycling efforts on campus to help support the greeninitiative. Changes/Problems: In May USDA Grant Coordinator Tambrey Groves resigned and Ms. Shanae Sechrist was hired in her position. Late May cold and snow delayed some tilling of community gardens and required that some be replanted. Both of these challenges caused minor delays, but on the whole the year was very successful. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The CGG interns were able to return again to the Midwest Organic Farming Conference in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. Tony Heistercamp, the proprietor of Eden Valley Apple Orchard in Akron, IA taught the interns the proper way to prune the trees in the tribes apple orchard and the bountiful crop is proof of the success of that endeavor. the youth gardnerslearned plant life cycle, horticulture, and tool safety. CGG also started a recycling initiative at the Annual Winnebago Homecoming Celebration and it was very successful over the course of the four-day weekend collecting plastic bottles, aluminum cans and some cardboard boxes. In August we started the harvest process. CSAED/CGG offered a Washa workshop which is a traditional corn process for the Ho-Chunk people so that the corn may be offered to various community projects etc. CSAED/CGG is currently running “our food” preservation series of workshops which includes canning and freezing of tomatoes, jams, apples, corn etc. This was run in conjunction with the re-established Little Priest Tribal College/Common Ground Gardens Farmers’ Market so that they may offer some canned goods for purchase there. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The increase in the number of community home gardens has grown each year of the grant.This past year 52 home gardens were planted. The Veterans Garden plot was able to accommodate a large three-sister garden (corn/beans/squash) planted in the traditional fashion. The remainder of the field was sub divided and offered to 18 different individuals to plant and tend as they wished. The visibility and success of this garden in the middle of the village has really catapulted the interest in home gardening throughout the community. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In the future of Common Ground Gardens we hope to expand the orchard. Develop a larger traditional three-sister garden. We also anticipate an expansion in Veterans Park Community Garden this year to include larger community participation. The EduCare complex which will house Head Start and Little Hill Childcare is in its final phases of construction. CSEAD/CGG is forming a relationship with the program and we will be offering a kitchen garden and outdoor learning gardens for the children. We will also be installing a garden for the WIC program as well as The Diabetes Program within the community. We will be working in conjunction with the Whirling Thunder Wellness Center to offer plots of the community garden to provide them with fresh produce for the kids’ café program they offer during the summer to feed the youth. We are looking forward to a successful 2013-2014 season! And anticipate the interest and impetus to continue to grow in the community to sustain the community gardens long into the future promoting a sense of pride in the community and better health and wellness for the Tribe.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
All of our goals have been accomplished in various ways. This year CGG restored the long neglected tribal apple orchard to get it into operation and producing apples. CGG also obtained permission from the Village Board of Winnebago to plant a community garden in Veterans Park. This plot was able to accommodate a large three-sister garden (corn/beans/squash) planted in the traditional fashion. The remainder of the field was sub divided and offered to 18 different individuals to plant and tend as they wished. The visibility and success of this garden in the middle of the village has really catapulted the interest in home gardening throughout the community. Additioanlly, a local tribal member was contracted to do large scale tilling for ten home gardens and an additional 52 smaller home gardens were planted this year. Summer brought the return of the Youth Garden Interns for the third year. Many were returning from previous years. Youth attended workshops offered by CSAED on plant life cycle, beginners to horticulture, and tool safety. In addition to helping maintain the many gardens throughout the community, the youth gardeners helped homebound elders with gardening and yard work. Common Ground Gardens signed an MOU with St. Augustine Indian Mission to help support their outdoor classroom initiative and formed partnerships with The Winnebago Senior Citizens Center, WIC program and The Wolves Den, (LPTC’s on campus cafeteria) to provide fresh produce free of cost. In August the harvest process started. CSAED/CGG offered a Washa workshop which is a traditional corn process for the Ho-Chunk people so that the corn may be offered to various community projects etc. CSAED/CGG is currently running “our food” preservation series of workshops which includes canning and freezing of tomatoes, jams, apples, corn etc. The Little Priest Tribal College/Common Ground Gardens Farmers’ Market also was reestablished. CGG also helps spearhead the recycling efforts on campus to help support the green initiative.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: CGG Coordinator attended Master Gardener course in Sioux City, Ia. Farmer's Market took place every Thurs May-Sept. Re-established compost pickup from Winnebago Public School. First of winter harvest crops were planted in hoop house. . Brought Winona LaDuke to campus for a speaking engagement. Electrical line was run from maintenance bldg. to CGG shed to run a heater in hoophouse. Energy comes from solar panels on the new maintenance bldg. Started building collaborative efforts with gardeners in Walthill and Macy. Recycling project is getting more community attention. Assigned one garden intern to organize the recycling project. CGG staff recruited garden partners and tilling services began on the 30th. Made a visit to the orchard. Drew up a proposal to the college president, the board & tribal council about our program managing the orchard. Met with EPD-Environmental Protection Dept. There is an interest in working with CGG on plant identification to develop a list of endangered, at-risk, culturally sensitive plants that may need attention & protection. Met with Tribal Education director about supporting our summer youth garden project by financially supporting 10 more youth ages 14-18 and 10 youth ages 10-13. Recruited youth from WPS to assist in creating garden boxes for Senior Center. Tilling services completed on the 18th, 18 sites tilled, staff recruited MOU participants. Prepared Summer Youth Gardener applications and distributed them to the local schools. Hired Youth Mentor and developed a work schedule for youth gardeners. This year's youth gardening project positively affected 50 youth total as compared to 20 last year. Breakdown: 10 youth aged 14-18=CSAED; 30 youth aged 10-13 and 10 youth aged 14-18=Tribal Education program. CGG took youth to the farmer's market. Fencing was purchased and put up around two garden sites to keep deer out. CGG Coordinator resigned her position on July 28th. Continued to work community gardens and vegetables in hoop house. Continued discussions on recycling project with interns to determine how to continue & expand the campus recycling project started. CGG received final approval to move forward with the Orchard Restoration Project. Continued with ads for new Grant Coordinator and proceeded with interviewing suitable candidates for the position. 3 were interviewed and on 09/29/12 the position was offered to Tambrey Groves. Tambrey holds an Associates Degree in Horticulture with a special emphasis on local plants of the Loess Hills. She also adjunct taught horticulture & related landscape design classes at WITCC in Sioux City, until the demise of that program. Tambrey brings with her much enthusiasm and positive ideas to keep the program building the community as intended. Lead Gardener & interns continued working the community gardens, and also began the process of putting them to sleep for the winter. Monthly workshops included seed saving, making elderberry cough syrup, indigenous foods pot-luck, canning applesauce, 3-days of meat and veggie smoking, learning GPS, GMOs, pesticides and IPM, hanging baskets, wildcrafting homemade medicine. PARTICIPANTS: In September 2011 hired a Lead Gardener(BRAEHN) and one intern (CSAED)In November 2011, CGG Coordinator attended Master Gardener Classes and received Master Gardener Intern Status, and must put in 40 volunteer hours in gardening. We were unsuccessful in attempting to build a collaborative effort with local HoChunk Elders, however, with the new CGG coordinator those efforts will be renewed. With the implementation and continued interest in the recycling and composting efforts, and intern was hired in July 2012 specifically to focus on this area and continue to build and educate the college and community on the importance of reclcying. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our primary target audience is the people of the Winnebago Community, and those in the immediate surrounding communities. We continue with monthly workshops aimed at involving the community and educating them on the importance and the affects that the CGG project will have on each of them as far as health and fitness is concerned. Workshops are informal and focused on healthy eating, with an activity and future goal set out to continue to build on previous workshops and projects around the community. We are expanding our outreach to include local schools and getting children more involved, as this is where what we are educating the community on will be noticed the most - in what the children bring with them as they grow and learn. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Impacts same as previous year. All CGG programs have continued to expand. The number of youth gardeners, the amount of garden space, monetary support from the tribe, strengthening of community relations in Winnebago as well as neighboring villages showing support from the community at all levels and in all age groups. Sixty youth gardeners worked with the CGG student interns during 2012 summer. Many of the youth had been interns during one or both of the previous summers and choose to return. All the youth gained knowledge in work ethic, identification of and proper use of garden tools and equipment, plant identification, basic carpentry, and the value of fresh food. The opportunity for youth to experience gardening in a structured manner allows for transference of knowledge between peers as well as trans-generationally. CGG has become a resource to local groups and businesses providing information related to starting garden projects. The farmer's market provided an opportunity for local community members to sell their produce and other crafts while providing the youth gardeners with marketing experience. The indigenous food workshop sparked renewed interest in culture-sharing and story-telling related to tribal heritage through food as each participant shared knowledge and expertise about the preparation and origin of their dish. Monthly workshops have proven to serve as an informal training medium for faculty, staff and students to gain knowledge in areas that are outside their academic realm. Year-round food production in the hoop house is possible through growing of cold-tolerant crops and minimal heat in the coldest months from the solar and wind resources on campus. By reaching out to other communities, CGG is expanding fresh food production, providing these foods to a broader population, and encouraging more participation in our farmer's market. Staff training in areas related to master gardening education increases the collective knowledge base that we can share with our community growers. Collaborative efforts with other college programs, community members groups, and tribal agencies, has enhanced the ability of the collective goals of sustainable food production and provides real opportunities for everyone involved to gain broader knowledge base of food production and cultural understanding and respect.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Student garden interns recieved training in composting methods, seed starting, managing and monitoring plant producion. They also were given the opportunity to facilitate tours of campus garden project and present brief presentations to campus and community. Monthly workshops were provided for student garden interns and the community at large focusing on areas related to sustainable food production, preservation, gathering, and cooking. Youth gardeners were recruited from local schools and hands-on instruction sessions were provided to enhance their knowledge in areas related to growing food. With student garden interns as mentors, youth provided services in relation to seed starting, planting, weeding, pruning, food preservation, composting, and the creation of a youth garden in which they were responsible for during their experience on campus. PARTICIPANTS: A project coordinator and two student interns worked together to implement goals of the program by collaborating with local organizations to create community gardens and provide monthly workshops focusing on various areas related to sustainable food production and lifestyle. Workshops included wildcrafting, canning, smoking meat, composting, seed starting, and many others. Collaboration with other entities includes HyVee Food Store in South Sioux City, local Winnebago schools and businesses, Wellness center, Hochunk Inc., Senior Center, local experts and community individuals, LPTC programs such as TCUP/STEM Green Initiatives, and the Science Department. Through these types of collaborations, Common Ground Gardens was able to acquire a solar panel and pellet stove to heat our hoophouse for food production during the colder months and have access to materials needed for successful composting efforts. Through the Sustainable Energy course offered by LPTC, Common Ground Gardens participated by providing tours of the hoophouse and garden sites to students in the class. Common Ground Gardens has become a resource to local groups and businesses in providing information related to starting garden projects. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include Common Ground Gardens student interns, local public school students, local businesses, and the LPTC and local community at large. Through monthly workshops, garden tours, farmers markets, local presentations, and daily or weekly contact with partners, a large group of people are made aware of our efforts and contributions to our community. Through the summer youth garden program, twenty youth between the ages of 10 and 18 were provided with hands-on opportunities in the area of gardening. The Film, DIRT and other similar films were provided as well as presentations by local experts in various related areas to enhance their knowledge base around food production and all it entails. Through mentorship, youth gained experience in gardening by building and planting their own youth garden and providing community service to other community and individual garden sites. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Common Ground Gardens assisted three community gardens and nine individual gardens with soil amendments and seeds. Compost bins were built on campus and another built at a community garden site with a hands-on demonstration on creating compost. Produce from these garden sites included tomatoes, squash, peppers, onions, corn, lettuce, radish, spinach, arugula, and watermelon. A Farmers Market was implemented for the last half of the summer where youth gardeners assisted in harvesting produce from community and individual gardens and providing it to customers. Twenty local youth recruited for our summer youth garden program successfully completed the program with increased knowledge in organic food production and work ethic. A summer youth garden program evaluation was completed by students, their parents, and the college community indicating a very successful summer program.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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