Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience consists of the college students, the individuals and families living on campus, students at the campus elementary school, campus employees, community members and the tribal members of the five ownership tribes. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Agroecology staff attended and presented at several regional workshops, including: Mltiple instances of the White Earth (Indigenous Farming conference) Seed Savers Workshop--ND Gardening Workshop ND Local Foods conference--Held annually Presentation of agroecology program at the FALCON conference. Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society (annually) Intertribal Agriculture Conference (2014, 2016) Various PD sessions through NDSU Extension, including gardening, high tunnels, and tree pruning. USDA ARS Annual Open House and Field Day; educational booths and sessions. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results through UTTC Facebook page, Land Grant website, newsletters, periodic radio programs and various in person education sessions with campus community. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Throughout the term of this grant, UTTC Land Grant has worked to expand its outreach through various initiatives and projects: Gardening Outreach: Continued growth and expansion of campus gardens and training programs. The Children's garden raised bed plots was moved to a more accessible location adjacent to the community garden, which improved management and participation. Forty youth were involved in the planting and care of this in the 2017 season; in programs ranging from planting, weeding, structures and harvesting. We expanded the use of the high tunnel progressively over the term of the grant, culiminating in the 2017 season of over 200 pounds of produce, primarily tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers that were used in various extension outreach programs with youth and adults. We expanded the community garden program overall; including orchard crops and processing with the haskap plants, new raised beds that had plants specifically for herb gardens and a design set up for mobility impaired gardeners to raise a multi-variety home garden without having to bend or dig. We had a variety of experiments and activities in the community garden over the years. The 2016 season culiminated in the addition of wood mulch from many aged trees around campus. The mulch was not broken down, so we added several additional raised beds to the plots, and used cover crop mixes on several areas to aid in the decomposition of the mulch and enrichment of the soil. We developed eeducational signs for different areas of the community garden, on the various plants and processes, to provide a static educational opportunity. We had a small 3 sisters garden plot, the cover crop plots, a wildflower plot, several varieties of squash, various varieties of pole and string beans. The education included 'failed' experiments as well, including a version of a surface/straw bale potato patch, that provided some opportunities to discuss plant health, water management, and gardening options on limited space. There are 3 specific educational activities during the 2017 growing season, including a square foot gardening workshop, a self pollination/seed management workshop, a soil fertility workshop, and several harvest workshops where students and families where encouraged to come to the garden and harvest ripe produce, while getting information about gardens, plant care and harvesting. There were multiple workshops utlizing the garden produce in fresh recipes; these were held in the Extension kitchen and the campus was invited. There were two canning workshops held, including one with fresh fruit from the orchard, and another on making salsa from garden produce. The culmination of the season was the preparation of the community garden plot and children's garden raised beds into a year-round growing and gleaning plan, in conjunction with the nutrition program. The activities associated with the agroecology grant were complemented by other horticultural efforts conducted through the tree campus program and the the Indigenous Corn Research trials, and new Optimal Garden research grant. Continued efforts at combining traditional knowledge and western science included the Arikara garden, the medicinal wheel garden, and continued rejuvenation of indigenous plants in the Dragonfly Garden plots.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience consists of the college students, the individuals and families living on campus, students at the campus elementary school, campus employees, community members and the tribal members of the five ownership tribes. Changes/Problems:Problems are few, but it is difficult to interest students in gardening as they have often not been exposed to this in their homes. We are hoping to encourage more students to get involved under the name of research projects, resulting in edible produce. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Linda Hugelen, UTTC Agroecology Educator and Robert Fox, UTTC Agroecology Technician attended the following training/workshops/conferences related to leadership, food production and gardening research: Tribal Leaders Summit in Bismarck, North Dakota, September 8-10; Native American Agriculture Outreach Workshop, Mystic Lake Casino, Minnesota, September 28 - October 1; Food Sovereignty Summit in Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 25-30; Upper Midwest Indigenous Seed Keepers in Prior Lake, Minnesota, January 15 & 16; Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society (NPSAS) Winter Conference in Aberdeen, South Dakota, January 21-23; The Organic University and Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, February 24-27; Farming for the Bottom Line at National Energy Center of Excellence, Bismarck State College, Bismarck, North Dakota, March 1; Indigenous Farming Conference near Callaway, Minnesota, March 2-5; Fertile Ground II, Growing the Seeds of Native Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 2-4; Land Use and Management Practices to Enhance Water Quality Training, at UTTC, sponsored by North Dakota State University, Bismarck, North Dakota, June 28 & 29; Frank Kutka's gardens and research plots tour, rural Dickinson, North Dakota, August 2; and Robert Fox completed the Master Gardener Training through North Dakota State University Extension Service, and Linda Hugelen attended the 1st Annual Tribal Local Food Summit in New Town, North Dakota August 29. Webinars Attended: Field to Fork weekly series, March 9 thru April 27; Good Sense Food Safety Practices for Organic Diversified Farming, March 16; Organic Seed Growers Conference 2016; Compost Tea; Non-profit Status for Farmers and Ranchers; Organic Agriculture Research Symposium 2016 Live Broadcast; Wild Bee Monitoring...in Organic Farm Systems; Transition to Organic; Standards for Growing, Handling...Organic Produce; Growing Your Farm with Michael O'Gorman: 1) The Mathematics of Successful Vegetable Production, and 2) Crop Planning for Yield & Productivity UTTC Agroecology Department organized and hosted the following workshops and events: Planning for Pruning Trees and Shrubs with Joel Nichols, Community Forestry Specialist with NDSU North Dakota Forest Service, November 17; Tree / Shrub pruning demonstration with Joel Nichols, March 21; Tree / Shrub Pruning and Planning with Joel Nichols, April 26; 2nd Annual Tribal Local Foods Conference at UTTC, Bismarck, North Dakota, August 11 (sponsored by USDA Rural Development and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from this grant have been reported at all meetings and conferences Linda Hugelen and Robert Fox attended. This includes local, state-wide and regional meetings in the upper Midwest area. UTTC staff and students frequently visit the gardens and are told of the progress being made in each garden. Tours of the gardens and research plots for the public are requested and conducted frequently. The Land Grant staff provided approximately 20 small groups with a tour of our campus gardens and research plots which include harvesting and foraging produce, thereby encouraging gardening to all participants. We have a display showing and explaining gardens, gardening research, food preparation and preservation on campus available for viewing at UTTC and public functions. This display is used at least 20 times a year, including at the annual three-day United Tribes International Powwow, which is attended by indigenous people from throughout the nation. Robert Fox is a member of the UTTC Healthy Community Coalition on campus representing the UTTC Agroecology Department. He reports on activities and accomplishments under this grant. On March 2, Robert presented our gardening research projects to the North Dakota Legislature. Weekly workshops were held for UTTC staff and students and the public Tuesdays and Thursdays starting mid-April thru May. Topics included: Seed Starting Indoors, Repotting Plants, Different Gardening Methods, Planning your Garden; Companion Planting; Rotation Planting; Mulching and Weed Control; Marketing your Produce; On December 2 we hosted a Care of Houseplants and Planting workshop with Tom Kalb, Horticulturist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service presenting. May 9 - Planted Trees with TJES 4th graders May 13 - hired Gardening Assistant 10/13 NDSU Extension tour We have taste tests of produce from the variety trials in which we participate. We conducted taste tests of potatoes, beans, kale, cucumbers, tomatoes and corn. UTTC staff, students and visitors are invited to participate. Four different times Linda Hugelen presented on public radio stations. Linda also submits articles and photographs of gardens and produce for the United Tribes Newsletter. Linda Hugelen is on the Focus Group for the USDA ARS Great Plains Research Station, and UTTC establishes an informative booth at their Friends and Neighbors Field Day. One day a week for a month in the fall and a month in the spring Linda Hugelen works with the campus Theodore Jamerson Elementary School Junior Gardeners to work with the Kids Garden. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to demonstrate no-till organic gardens, using no chemicals for weed control, and using vegetative mulch to retain moisture and keep the soil temperature down. We will teach and demonstrate advanced gardening techniques such as companion planting, year-round gardening, succession plantings, and other techniques not yet commonly used in this area. We will be establishing new campus gardens on new soil, near the Environmental Science and Technology Center on campus in order to encourage students to use these gardens for various research projects. Older gardens will be rested and possibly retired.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The established gardens on campus were planted and maintained, and harvesting is ongoing. Gardens include the High Tunnel, which again is prolific. The Cafeteria Herb Garden and Cafeteria Raised Bed provide herbs and produce used for staff and students who eat at the UTTC cafeteria. Five students and/or staff members have individual garden plots either as traditional gardens, or as raised bed gardens. The previously named 'Traditional Garden' was divided into two gardens: the Arikara garden, planted by Robert Fox with heirloom Arikara seeds; and the Tree Nursery, for evergreen tree seedlings to grow until large enough to be placed throughout campus. Both these gardens were mulched early on with last year's hay, and they are very productive. The Kitchen Garden provides a variety of produce for staff, students and visitors walking by as they can forage cherry tomatoes. This garden is planted specifically for Nutrition and Food Service classes use in the fall. Students harvest produce, often for the first time in their life. This often leads to students becoming beginning gardeners on campus. Since July, 2016 we have harvested approximately 320 pounds of produce that has been shared with staff, students, visitors and our cafeteria. The elementary school students planted their 'Kid's Garden' with the help of their teachers and UTTC Agroecology staff. New demonstration garden projects along the Walking Trail include a paper bag garden and a soil bag garden. The UTTC campus attracts many visitors, and most of the gardens are highly visible along the walking trail. The Dragonfly Fruit Orchard was one of the sites for a pruning workshop held in late winter. The pruned trees include apricot, cherry, plum, pear, and apple trees. The Graduates Tree Orchard trees were also pruned and produced cherries and apples. The weather cooperated and there is a bumper crop of fruit. The Nutrition Educators held food preservation workshops as produce ripened. The public was invited and the workshops were well attended. UTTC was selected to host and organize the 2nd Annual Tribal Local Foods Conference. Held August 11, this conference was well attended by tribal members from North Dakota and South Dakota. Harvested produce from UTTC gardens was served and available for taking home. The Dragonfly Research Plots are thriving with maize (heirloom corn), under an AFRI grant. We purchased a food mill and make corn bread with maize we have grown for taste tests when we give presentations about this project. The research plots are one of the most popular stops on campus tours. As members of the Upper Midwest Indigenous Seed Keepers, we are growing a winter squash that is the 7th generation from seeds found in a clay pot in Wisconsin. The original seeds are estimated to be 800 years old. We are hosting a meeting for this group on September 15 and 16, and the public, including tribal members and reservation residents are invited to attend. Several tours have been conducted of all the gardens and orchards. The Nutrition Educators continue to hold workshops on healthy cooking and food preservation using the produce we raised. We organized an Arbor Day Celebration held on April 6 during which UTTC was awarded the first Tree Campus USA status to a tribal college by the Arbor Day Foundation. As the haskap (honeyberry) orchard was threatened with grass invading, we applied weed barrier fabric between the rows and covered that with cedar chips. We plan to expand this orchard in order to supply an adequate quantity of berries for use by the nutrition educators and food preparation classes. We applied for and were awarded an America the Beautiful Tree Planting grant which will be used in part to establish a hazelnut orchard. One new goal is to increase nut-producing shrub and tree varieties on campus to demonstrate the wide variety of produce available for growing by individuals. Two variety trials were conducted in participation with the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society (NPSAS) Farm Breeding Club: 10 varieties each of cucumbers and carrots. 600 onion seedlings, left over from distributing for variety trials, were donated by North Dakota State University (NDSU) and planted in areas near the research plots for use by the campus cafeteria and for donating to students, staff and food banks. A taste test has been conducted for the cucumbers. The carrot taste test will be held in the near future. A proposal for a tree planting in the spring of 2017 was submitted and a $10,000 grant was awarded from the America the Beautiful Community Forestry program which is administered by the NDSU North Dakota Forest Service in cooperation with the US Forest Service. Funds will be used to purchase 50 seedlings for a hazelnut orchard, and other trees and shrubs on the campus. Linda Hugelen, UTTC Agroecology Educator and Robert Fox, UTTC Agroecology Technician, gave presentations about the gardening projects and ongoing research at UTTC at several conferences including: Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society Winter Conference in Aberdeen, South Dakota; Indigenous Farming Conference near Callaway, Minnesota; Upper Midwest Indigenous Seed Keepers meeting held in Prior Lake, Minnesota.
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Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The Agroecology Extension team along with Extension nutrition educators provides hands-on learning to youth, college students, college staff and the extended community. The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) elementary school serves 150 to 200 students annually. The students and their families either live on the campus or attend classes on the campus. The students and their families participate in wintertime planting activities and science experiments. As the growing season begins they are involved in the entire growing process. College students, 90% Native American (about 500 per semester) and college staff (about 350) are included in agroecology activities. Additional participants have included agriculture program staff from other Tribal Colleges, participants in sustainable agriculture projects and NDSU Extension staff working in tribal communities. Changes/Problems:Staffing issues continue to be a challenge. It took six months to recruit a new agroecology extension educator. That delay meant the summer growing season arrived before the new educator had time to prepare for the projects. Student workers are a challenge and a blessing. Very few have any previous experience with gardening or agroecology. Program adjustments to be made prior to summer 2016 include simplifying processes and expectations so the field work isn't as labor intensive. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Three staff members attended the two-day North Dakota Farmers Market and Gardening Association Annual Meeting that included workshops about fruit, vegetable and herb planting, production, harvest and marketing. This workshop was conducive to establishing new networking relationships.Two Agroecology staff members and the VISTA volunteer attended the three-day 12th Annual Indigenous Farming Conference in Callaway, Minnesota, coordinated by the White Earth Land Recovery Project which included sessions on organically growing gardens and medicines, regional community and small farm organic gardening, food sovereignty issues and a seed savers exchange. Two staff members prepared and maintained an informational booth at the annual North Dakota Garden Expo, approximately 300 packets ofgarden seeds were distributed to persons visiting our booth.Information disseminated includedbrochures on gardening and a healthy lifestyle; posters showing raised beds, community gardens, campus orchards and research plots. Visitors to the booth were inquisitive about the projects pictured and asked many questions. We promoted the UTTC Land Grant Agroecology program as well as the Food and Nutrition programs. We organized a 'UTTC Tree Committee' consisting of campus employees and students, as well as community members and other professionals to address the need for removal of dead and dying trees that are more than 100 years old, and pruning limbs that present a threat to people. The committee requested a campus tree assessment survey be completed by the North Dakota Forest Service. The assessment has been completed and results will be presented in the fall of 2015. Agroecology staff and summer interns assisted with the survey, and an Environmental Science student assisted with the mapping of the trees. Identification of trees was learned, as well as methods for assessing tree health. UTTC Land Grant department hosted an AmeriCorps National Civilian Conservation Corp (NCCC) team of nine young adults for 10 days to clear shrubs and debris from the walking trail and assist with garden maintenance. Agroecology team members worked with the NCCC team to identify plants and weeds, and to teach harvesting techniques; traditional games; traditional foods and food preparation. Interacting with Native American staff and students was mutually beneficial. An article featuring the NCCC team was in the Bismarck Tribune and they were featured by a local television and radio station. Frank Kutka, plant breeding researcher with the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society, provides training and assistance to staff, student interns, and volunteers with the corn research project, including corn planting and harvesting techniques, as well as plot management. He provides informational, interactive monthly webinars on corn breeding and general research methods. In addition to staff from UTTC Agroecology, participants in the webinars are staff from the Three Affiliated Tribes, Spirit Lake Nation, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and Rocky Boy Reservation in Montana. His webinars are recorded and archived for future use. Frank Kutka was the guest presenter at a corn pollination workshop organized by the Agroecology staff and held at the UTTC Research Plots in July, 2015. Twenty-seven people attended the event, representing communities throughout North Dakota. Fort Berthold Community College sent several students, and an instructor came from Turtle Mountain Community College. A corn taste test was conducted prior to the corn pollination workshop, using a recipe for mini muffins in which the only different ingredient was the variety of corn. Four varieties of heirloom corn were ground by Agroecology student interns and used in the muffin batter. Mandan Bride was the variety that received the most votes for taste and texture. This entire workshop was a well-received event in which the larger North Dakota tribal and non-native community was engaged. Tribal members who attended asked for assistance in planning a similar workshop to be held in the future.The VISTA volunteer, Agroecology student interns and Land Grant staff attended and learned from this workshop. A spring semester work study student was hired, and continued work through the summer semester. Having no previous experience with, or knowledge of gardening, but being willing and able, he has acquired not only a working knowledge of soil preparation, composting, planting seeds and plants, weeding and watering, caring for perennials such as asparagus and rhubarb, and sustainable agriculture practices, but also working with a researcher and research projects such as variety trials and corn breeding. He assisted with teaching the elementary school students gardening techniques. He took the lead in working with summer work study students in maintaining garden plots. The Agroecology Technician attended the Intertribal Agriculture Council meeting held in 2014 in Las Vegas and was able to meet several people who were interested in our programs.Topics included small farms, sustainability and food production. Land Grantteam membersattendacademic meetings during which each employee or department gives an update on their activities, projects and programs. This provides an opportunity to partner with faculty members and other departments. The Agroecology Extension Educator attended four gardening workshops hosted by the North Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Program. These workshops were not only educational, but also a networking opportunity. Several people became interested in the UTTC gardens and trail as a result. The Agroecology Extension Educator joined the Customer Focus Group of the ARS Great Plains Station located in Mandan, North Dakota. The Land Grant team set up an informational booth at the ARS Field Day to increase awareness of the tribal college and the kinds of programs and resources available. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Agroecology team attended a Field Day Event on Standing Rock Indian Reservation on the topic of Renewal at Standing Rock--Land, Cattle, Beef, and People. The Team also attended a Standing Rock Food Sovereignty meeting. These events were conducive to discussing our projects, what we have learned and what we plan to do in the future. The team also collaborates with the Standing Rock NDSU Extension Educators to share expertise and resources that benefit both communities. The Land Grant Department team; including extension, research and education staff meets frequently to network and present updates on projects and ongoing activities.The team collaborates on projects and represents the total team when working in the communities we serve. Over 800 elementarystudents participated in the 2015 MarketPlace for Kids event hosted by UTTC. Self-guided trail users were able to see the gardens and get ideas on establishing their own garden.Students participated in a variety of Extension activities and cultural activities. Extension educators particpate in radio talk shows and contribute news articles to United Tribes News (UTN). Community celebrations are opportunities to share educational resources with communities of interest. During November 2014 community representatives joined us for a 20 years of 1994 status open house. During August 2015a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the newly completed portion of the UTTC Walking Trail that connects to the Bismarck-Burleigh trail system. The NCCC team, Land Grant staff, UTTC employees and several dignitaries from North Dakota attended the event and learned of features along the trail. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Many attractive informational signs will be made and placed along the trail and throughout campus identifying native plants and animals, garden plants, different gardening methods, invasive and noxious weeds, beneficial plants, wildlife and game animals, etc. with an explanation of historic and current uses and preservation methods. This will not only inform campus residents, employees and students, but also members of the Bismarck community who use the walking trail. Guided trail and walking research garden tours will be available. Self-guided nature trail brochures will be updated, printed and made available for trail. Not only will plants and features be identified, but short explanations will be added. The Agroecologyteam will continue collaborating with other Tribal Colleges and reservation community members to enhance food sovereignty and foodsecurity programs efforts. Field trips will be organized to demonstrate sustainable harvesting of native plants for food and medicine. Intended participants include not only UTTC elementary school and college students, but also employees. Also, tribal members living on or off reservations will be encouraged to participate. We plan to connect with the NDSU Extension Horticulturist to collaborate with Master Gardener and Junior Gardener training and volunteer projects. We hope to establish volunteer projects addressing; fruit orchard maintenance, children's gardening, herb garden development, raised bed gardening methods, and research. Create an outdoor learning environment for our youth, elementary and college students, and college community that enhance knowledge of Agroecology and how it relates to sustainability and food sovereignty. Work toward instituting an outdoor classroom facility complete with three-season restroom facilities. Submit articles to college and local newspapers, the UTTC website, and use tribal social networking to showcase our events and activities. The Agroecology Technician will continue to assist other colleges in the region with their gardening and research efforts; give tours of the campus and gardens; teach cultural and other topics in classes as needed; and continue the development of food sovereignty projects that are replicated by tribal community members.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Extension Garden Collaborations; Collaboration with UTTC Facilities Department and the nearby Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS)has led to the establishment of prairie restoration landscape plantings. Additional native grass plants have been established throughout the campus. A solor powered irrigation systemwas funded by the ND Department of Agriculture and the USDA Specialty Crop grant program.The UTTC Environmental Science Department donated an 8 x 12 greenhouse to the Agroecology Department to use for hydroponics gardening. Community Gardens:Thirteen staff members planted Individual garden plots.Weed control and rabbit damage have been discouraging for thesefirst time gardeners. The agroecology team is considering raised beds as a strategy for summer 2016. Hoop House Gardening: Fiftyelementary students each planted a tomato plant in raised beds in the Hoop House during a Marketplace for Kids event; staff planted 50 plants of a variety of peppers including chili, green, yellow, habanero and jalapeno; 2 each of cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew melon, cucumber, 4 eggplants, and a variety of herbs. Tocollaborate withNorth Dakota State University and Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society vegetable variety trials, additional raised beds were built and added. Variety trials include two varieties each of tomatoes, cilantro and runner beans. The plan is to extend the growing season plants in the hoop house at least until December, without additional inputs such as heat or light. Participating staff, students and volunteers were able to learn new skills and realize that gardening can be done in different ways. Seed packets were sent home with students who participated in the planting to encourage them to plant their own garden. Dragonfly Garden: The rose demonstrationplots plantedfour years ago need to be reworked due to low survival ratesfor the rose bushes.The prairie rose is the only variety that readily survives on the NorthernGreat Plains. This experiment with Canadian roseswas labor intensive. The plots will be used for experiments with other plant materials and food production. One of the plots has already been planted by a member of the Sahnish (Arikara) people, using historic plant varieties and planting methods. Fruit Orchard: plum, apple, peach and pear fruit trees are about 4 years old and have produced small quantities of fruit. During March and April 2016 NDSU master gardeners will beasked to assist with tree pruning and maintenance to increase production. Research Plots: 80 varieties of corn grown in 2014 as part of the USDA/NIFA/AFRI 'Planting for Sustainability and Seed Sovereignty Grant' were allowed to air dry in a controlled indoor environment. The kernels were then removed from the cob using an antique hand sheller and student volunteers. Measurements of moisture content and weight were recorded for each of the 240 samples, and then the combined samples per variety. Data was recorded and sent to the lead researcher. 50 varieties of historical tribal corn were planted in the spring. Traditional Plantings: include sweetgrass, a ceremonial plant, that we hope to grow on the campus. A rain garden may provide enough moisture for the grass which is usually harvested along river banks. Plants used in the medicine wheel and walking trail plants are to provide a visual and hands-on opportunity to learn about plants that are native to the reservations and used for food or medicine. UTTC Kids Garden: TJES spring semester students cleaned up last year's plant residue and planted cool season crops; older students helped pick out and plant landscape plants near the elementary school. Summer school students planted additional plants in the garden.The students also performed community service by picking up litter around the Kids Garden, the elementary school, and the preschool area. They were also taught what litter is recyclable. UTTC Cafeteria Gardens: A campus restoration project, the Cafeteria Herb Gardenprovided students and employees with hands-on trainingto convert a 3'x30' space from a thistle patch to an herb and vegetable garden. The site was used for a zucchini plant breeding research project with Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society. Several herbs were planted as companion plants.The cafeteria staff has beeninvolved in the project andhave been using the fresh produce in cafeteria meals. A raised bed is located near the cafeteria entrance. Grape, pear and cherry tomatoes are enjoyed by anyone comig to the cafeteria. Campus Beautification: Hands-on experiences with landscape plantings and food producing plant materials is themethod used to increase knowledge of plants and plant production (including traditional plants) and the identification and irradication of noxious weeds. Agroecology team members work with maintenance workers to increase their knowledge and skills so they are better able to maintain the campus community. Student workers and volunteers are recruited to learn as they help establish and maintain campus projects. Kitchen Garden: is located at the entry to the Nutrition and Foodservice vocational kitchen. The produce is used during Extension classes and Culinary Arts and Foodservice classes. It is designed to provide an example of local food resources/food sovereignty. Foodservice students learn planting methods, mulching techniques, harvesting and preservation methods.Annually the Nutrition and Foodservice graduates plant a fruit tree in honor of theirgraduation. Additional food producingtrees and shrubs are located around the campus toprovide visual, hands-on experiences with local food production methods. The plants include apples, plums, pears, raspberries, currents, buffalo berries, elderberries, Juneberries and others. Aromatic sumac were planted near the UTTC Art Museum, they will be used in traditional art projects. Traditional "Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa" Garden: has been planted and maintained on the campus for 25 years by one family. The Land Grantagroecologyprogram is trying to maintain that gardenas an example of good soil stewardship and good gardening methods.Located along the walking trail, and near a ceremonial site, this garden is culturally appropriate and demonstrates scientifically based, sustainable food production. The Agroecology Extension Educator and Technician continue to work with Land Grant extension, equity, and endowment programs to provide vocational and community outreach with garden to table programming, garden planning, seed starting, planting, sustainable maintenance, food preservation and safety, nutrition, research, traditional food harvest, and cultural methods.These gardens provide diverse opportunity in learning plant growth and development with traditional and contemporary foods. Knowledge of food sovereignty and food security has improved on campus; the campus cafeteria takes pride in using the produce; and employees may pick produce for their own use.
Publications
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