Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is comprised of Choctaw Nation tribal members, who have an interest in growing and producing traditional Choctaw food. For a couple of centuries after European arrival, Choctaw communities were among the top food producers in what is now the United States, exporting agricultural knowledge and products to European colonies as well as other Tribes. Through the colonization process and Trail of Tears, much of our traditional foods and food knowledge were lost. The lower quality diet that replaced the traditional Choctaw diet is connected with a growing increase in obesity, diabetes, stroke, and cancer in the community. The Growing Hope Program has beeninstrumental in engaging and revitalizing our traditional agriculture as a means for improving quality of life. Changes/Problems:Due to challenges with utilities, the Choctaw Nation was not able to construct the greenhouse during FY 2017. There were also delays in hiring the Greenhouse Assistant. These issues pushed the project back a year. In FY 2018, Choctaw Nation Agricultural Outreach Department, the entity managing the NIFA grant, was dissolved.Ian Thompson, of the Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation Department, was formally listed as Grant Director in September 2019. Dr. Thompson had been involved in the Growing Hope initiative since before its formal inception. Work began immediately to submit a Change of Scope Request to more closely align Growing Hope with the mission and capabilities ofthe Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation Department. During this period, Choctaw Nation was unable to make contact with NIFA for an extended period of time. On June 2, 2020, NIFA approved Choctaw Nation's Change of Scope Requestalong witha request to extend the granting period by a year. The focus of the Growing Hope Program pivoted somewhatfrom broad economic development to one of cultural revitalization by providing Choctaw community members with the heritage seeds and knowledge to revitalize portions of the Indigenous Choctaw foodway and to bring traditional, healthy food dishes back to the family dinner table. Over a several-year period, all of the staff positions at OklahomaState University (OSU) that had worked on this NIFA grant moved to other institutions. Although valuable assistance was provided in some areas, OSU did not complete work under the subaward, including monitoring for the final three years of the granting period. This impacted the completion of two of the grant objectives. To aid the program, OSU did assemble a report of their recommendations forhow Choctaw growers might use existing facilities to create value-added products from the heritage cultivars offered by Growing Hope. During FY2020,COVID19 presented serious challenges to the Growing Hope Program. To protect Tribal members, Choctaw Nation Cultural Services discontinued all non-emergency, in-person activities from March to mid-June 2020. Growing Hope had developed a system for distributing seeds to interested community members that revolved around large Tribal gatherings. The disease striking right at the start of planting season, followed by a partial shutdown of the entire Tribal government, made it impossible to switch to a mail-based seed distribution system in time for the 2020 planting season. During the months that in-person work activities were shut down, Growing Hope and Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation staff planted and maintained the main garden at Tvshkahumma and two community gardens by special permission. Following the physical return to work, Growing Hope's only staff person (then) contracted COVID19 and was out for an extended period. This made it impossible to fill the new Growing Hope staff positions until the end of the growing season. Growing Hope adapted to a remote format. However, a continued hiatus of in-person gatherings in FY21 impacted planned in-person trainings, including classes on cooking Choctaw heritage cultivars in thecommunity and OSU's Market Gardening classes, which Choctaw community growers were going to participate in through Growing Hope. At the end of thegrant, funds were returned to NIFAas a result of the initial project delay, planned expenditures being limited due to COVID19, an 11-month turnaround on the scope change request, and OSU not completing its subaward work. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In FY2018, germination and planting demonstrations were given for 270 tribal youth at the summer Choctaw Youth Wildlife Camp. Additionally, Growing Hope staff conceived, planned and coordinated with the USDA-NRCS, Oklahoma State University, and National Agriculture Statistics Service for the June 10th Vegetable Growing/Heirloom Crop Workshop. Twenty-five tribal and non-tribal members attended. In FY2019, aformal training on how to grow Choctaw heirloom crops was held for program participants on 8/31/19 at the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Labor Day Festival. Although attended by only 6 growers, the outdoor garden, green house, and informational tables were open and on display through the entire Festival, which drew over 100,000 people. In FY2020,in-person trainings had to be canceled due to COVID protocols. In FY 2021,Growing Hope hosted 179 Choctaw Youth Wildlife Camp participants in 12 sessions over 4 days. Training included a background of Choctaw oral histories involving the plants raised by Growing Hope, a history of the specific Choctaw crop varieites, a greenhouse and garden tour, and taste-testing. The planned Labor Day training had to be canceled. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In FY 2019, twenty-twocommunity presentations were given on the Growing Hope Initiative at Choctaw Nation events within Oklahoma, reaching 2,367 people. Eight tours of the greenhouse were given, reaching an additional 120 people. The story of the Growing Hope initiative, including information about how to participate in the program, was incorporated into broader presentations/classes about Indigenous Choctaw food given at 15 different locations in six states, reaching an additional audience of 1,356 people (most but not all of them, tribal members). Demonstrations and cooking events were held at a number of community venues including for the staff of the Roots Kitchen at the Choctaw Nation Tribal Headquarters. In FY2020, facing COVID-related challenges, Growing Hope started to expand methods of reaching Choctaw community members remotely, including Facebook posts about the Growing Hope garden atthe Wheelock Academy Historic Site; 52posts reached 6,142 people. In FY2021,The Growing Hope Gardens at Wheelock Academy Historic Site, and particularly the Choctaw cultural Center, which opened in 2021, were toured on a daily basis. In addition to the on-site Growing Hope garden, the Choctaw Cultural Center includes a permanent text panel on the Growing Hope Program. Additionally, tthree separate dioramas in the permanent exhibits feature cultivar varieties grown by Growing Hope and interpret traditional Chotaw agriculture. Fifty-two Facebook posts about the Growing Hope garden at Wheelock reached 8,692 people. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
- Please note that some of the goals listed on this form appear to be from an earlier scope of work than the one which was approved by NIFA on June 2, 2020. The Growing Hope Program was founded on work done inyears previously by Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation Departmental staff - collecting and preserving seeds for Choctaw heritage cultivars and helping the community revitalize the Choctaw traditional foodway. NIFA funding helped to formalize these efforts into the Growing Hope Program and to build capacity and infrastructure needed for Growing Hope to become a permanent Tribal program at the end of the NIFA grantperiod. The Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation Department had collected and grown out seeds for a number of Choctaw heritage cultivars that were incorporated into the Growing Hope Program at thetime of the grant's inception. During the tenure of the NIFA Grant, the Growing Hope Program added the seeds for the following additional Choctaw cultivars to its seed bank: Spotted Cane Basket Bean, Cutworm Bean, Antlers Bean, Chukfi Peas, Choctaw popcorn, an archaeological variety of bottle gourd from the Choctaw homeland, and a bottle gourd variety from the 1811 Choctaw agency site in Jackson, MS. With the exception of the Chukfi Pea, all of these Choctaw varieties were critically threatened, with the known seeds for each variety then numbering between 10 and a few dozen. To date,seeds for the Antlers Bean and Choctaw popcorn have not successfully germinated. Seeds for the rest of these varieties were grown out to prevent extinction and to ultimately produce enough seeds to share with interested Tribal growers through the program. At the beginning of the grant period, the GrowingHope Program had approximately 200 seeds of Tanchi Tohbi corn (a Choctaw/Chickasaw heritage variety of flour corn). In 2021, approximately 700 ears were harvested from Growing Hope Gardens. At the beginning of the grant period, Growing Hope had 1 pint of Smith Pea seeds. In 2021, 3 gallons of Smith Pea seed were harvested from Growing Hope Gardens. At the beginning of the grant period, Growing Hope had 2 pints of Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash seeds. The 2021 harvest for is variety is not complete at the time of this writing, but over the course of the program, the amount of harvested seeds has expanded many fold. Approximately 100 Chukfi peas seeds were obtained by the Growing Hope Program in 2020. In 2021, 1 3/4 gallons of Chukfi Pea seed were harvested from Growing Hope Gardens. In 2020, seeds of Cutworm Beans and Spotted Cain Basket Beans (5 and 6 seeds, respectively) were obtained by the Growing Hope Program. The 2021 harvest produced 129 and 268 seeds for these varieties, respectively. In addition to these cultivated crops, the Growing Hope gardens also grew out wild lambsquarter (genotype from the Choctaw reservation), American groundnut (genotype from the Choctaw homeland), Rabbit Eye Blueberries (genotype from the Choctaw homeland) maypops (genotype from the Choctaw reservation), and Perique tobacco (a Choctaw heritage variety). In FY2018, Growing Hope built a greenhouse measuring 41ft x 7ft x 8ft at the Tushkahuma Capitol Grounds. Subsequently, a Three Sisters Garden (120ft x 75ft), a field pea garden (20ft x 12ft), a trellised area for growing fruit-bearing bushes (10ft x 12ft), and two smaller protected areas for growing beans were constructed on-site. In FY2020 a community gardenmeasuring 20ft x 60ft wasset up at Wheelock Academy Historic Site (Millerton, OK). The same year, a raised bed garden was set up at the Choctaw Cultural Center in Durant, OK. In FY21, this was expanded to a full 20ft x 60ft garden. All of these gardens are used for expanding the seed bank for Choctaw heritage cultivars and for educational opportunities for the Choctaw community. The surplus of seeds produced at the Growing Hope Gardens have beengiven out to Choctaw community growers each year since FY2018. Initially, most of the seed-sharing took place at information tables set up at Choctaw community events. In FY2019, small packets of Choctaw heritage seeds were given out to 2,357 Choctaw people at these events. With COVID, Choctaw Nation's community events stopped. Seeds could only be shared with 126 Choctaw growers in FY2020. In the spring of FY2021, Growing Hope sent out seed applications in the Tribal newspaper. Tribal members were able to request packets of up to three varieties of Choctaw heritage seeds. 834 seed applications were filled before supplies ran out for the year. Over the period of NIFA funding, Oklahoma State conducted research trials on disease resistance and optimal plant spacing for Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash that led to to a published paper. A NASA-funded study on Choctaw cultivars resulted in a student poster. At the time ofthis writing, other studies on involving Choctaw Heritage Cultivars supplied by Growing Hope are in the planning stages. Based upon cumulative experience, Growing Hope compiled best practices for planting and harvesting each of the varieties that the Program has grown out. Small booklets were put together for each variety of seed that will be mailed out by Growing Hope in the spring of 2022 when filling seed applications. Each booklet contains information about planting that variety and about maintaining and harvesting its produce, a picture of that variety at maturity, and a recipe for an Indigenous Choctaw food dish that incorporates produce/seeds/roots from that plant as an ingredient. The Choctaw Food book, published in 2019, provides a holistic treatment of the traditional Choctaw foodway. It is used as an educational resource by Growing Hope staff in sharing knowledge with the community (see sections below for education and outreach statistics) Growing Hope has worked with Tribal member-growers to begin expanding the market for Choctaw heritage produce. In FY2020 and FY2021, a full-time Choctaw grower produced commercial crops of Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash. These were sold at an on-farm store and at the Durant Farmers' Market. Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash is also a daily menu offering at the Choctaw Cultural Center restaurant. At the end of the grant period, OSU compiled recommendations for Choctaw growers interested in creating value-added products from Choctaw heritage produce for sale at Choctaw Nation facilities. After the granting period ended, Growing Hope transitioned into a permanent program within the Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation Department, with two full-time staff and up to five additional seasonal staff.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Shrefler, Jim, Charles Webber, Robert Havener amd Ted Newell
2021 Choctaw Squash Planting Density Trial. pp. 28-30. Vegetable trial Report. Department of Horticulture and landscape Architecture Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resoures, Oklahoma Sate University.
Note- The research reported in this article was not funded by USDA, but through this trial researchers contributed to the goals of Growing Hope.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Shy Brooklyn, Charlea leonard, and Leah Dudley
2021 Variation in the Stomata and Roots of the Three Sisters. East Central University. Poster.
Note- This project was funded by NASA, but evaluated Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash, contributing to Growing Hope.
- Type:
Books
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Thompson, Ian
2019 Choctaw Food: Remembering the Land, Rekindling Ancient Knowledge. Choctaw Print, Durant.
Note- This book was not funded through NIFA, but is value-added to the Growing Hope project. The information in the book has been incorporated into Growing Hope education ourtreach to the target audience. The book describes the Growing Hope Program and acknowledges the USDA's support of that program.
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is comprised of Choctaw Nation tribal members, who havean interest in growing and producing traditional Choctaw food. For a couple of centuries afterEuropean arrival, Choctaw communities were among the top food producers in what is now the United States, exporting agricultural knowledge and products to European colonies as well as other tribes. Through the colonization process and Trail of Tears, much of our traditional foods and food knowledge were lost. The lower quality diet that replaced the traditional Choctaw diet is connected with a growing increase in obesity, diabetes, stroke, and cancer in the community. The Growing Hope Program is instrumental in engaging and revitalizing ourtraditional agriculture as a means for improving quality of life. Changes/Problems:In FY20, half of the Program's Choctaw Popcorn seed was planted to increase the amount in hopes of obtaining enough seed to share with tribal growers in FY21. Sadly, noneof the seed germinated, likely as a result of the source being several decades old. Unfortunately, in 2020, serious difficulties were encountered in meeting the objectives of the grant as a result of COVID19. To protect Tribal members, Choctaw Nation Cultural Services discontinued all non-emergency, in-person activities from March to mid-June 2020. Growing Hope had developed a system for distributing seeds to interested community members that relied on face-to-face interactions at presentations and Tribal events. The disease striking right at the start of planting season, followed by a partial shutdown of the entire Tribal government, made it impossible to switch to a mail-based seed distribution system in time for the 2020 planting season (an issue which has been rectified for the 2021 planting season). As a result, the number of seeds given out to tribal growers in 2020 was a fraction of what had been given out in previous years. During the months that in-person work activities were shut down, Growing Hope and Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation staff planted and maintained the main garden at Tvshkahumma and two community gardens by special permission. Following the physical return to work, Growing Hope's only staff person (then) contracted COVID19 and was out for another month of the growing season. This made it impossible to fill the new Growing Hope staff positions until the very end of the growing season. To slow the spread of COVID19, Choctaw Nation Cultural Services has halted face-to-face classes and presentations from April through at least Dec 2020. As a result, the Growing Hope Program is unable to do classes or in-person presentations during this interval. The anticipated April 2020 opening of Choctaw Nation's Cultural Center has been pushed back to 2021,and the Cultural Center Chef and Gift Shop Manager positions were not filled until the final week of FY20. This, in turn, has pushed back partnerships for building economic opportunities for tribal growers relating to the Cultural Center, which were a key objective of this grant. Finally, Oklahoma State University did not host its Market Gardening class, for which Growing Hope was going to provide stipends to help Tribal growers attend. Choctaw Nation hopes to be able to request an extension to the grant periodinto year six, using funds that are still in the grant's budget, in order to recoup a year, in which COVID19 seriously hampered work towards some of the program's most important objectives. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Due to COVID, all plans for hands-on training in the communityin FY20 had to be put on hold. This includes OSU's Market Gardening class, which Growing Hope participants wereto attend. Growing Hope and Choctaw Nation staff have developed a means for teaching planting, harvesting, and cooking techniques remotely, however these efforts will be included in the FY21 report. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Until COVID hit, the main strategy for disseminating results had been face-to-face contact and in-person presentations with attendees at a variety of Choctaw Nation events around the country. Besides the Choctaw Food book (which was not created with this grant, but acknowledges theUSDA-sponsored Growing Hope Program and disseminates some of the knowledge gained throughit), and some articles published previously in the Tribal newspaper, the only other viable strategy for FY20 has been virtual. These opportunitiesconsisted of formal Zoom presentations to several audiences, as well asthe progress of the community garden at Wheelock Academy Historic Site being covered in regular social media posts. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?COVID presented many challenges in working towards most of the program's goals in FY20. Program staff and Choctaw Nation have created the means to continue to work towards most of them remotely in FY21. However, as the program missed out on a significant part of FY20.Choctaw Nation hopes to be able to request an extension to the grant periodintoyear six, using funds that are remaining in the grant's budget.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Please note that some of the goals listed on this form appear to be from an earlier scope of work than the one which was approved by NIFA on June 2, 2020. The following (including Goal and Objective numbers) are based on the current scope of work: Goal 1- Three new cultivars were obtained by the Growing Hope Program in FY20 and grown out in an effort to increase seed. These include two Choctaw heritage varieties of dry beansand one Choctaw heritage variety of field pea. Also, under this goal, the program partnered with a tribal grower to grow out the small amount of seed that we had for Choctaw hominy corn. Seed for this variety was increased approximately 60-fold. As a result, we will have enough of this seed to do a large planting next year, while also giving out some seed for this varietyto tribal growers for the first time. Goal 1, Objective 2 - In FY20, remote and in-person (pre-COVID) presentations on Growing Hope reached an audience of 2,284 people. Goal 2, Objective 2 - In FY20, seeds were distributed to 126 tribal growers. This included roughly 2,000seeds each of Choctaw Flour Corn, Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash, and Smith Peas, along with smaller numbers of seeds and tubers from the other varieties offered by the program. Goal 3, Objective 2 - Experiments continued at fourgrowing locations (maintained by Choctaw Nation / OSU) to learn the best practices for growing the Choctaw heritage cultivars. At one of these sites, OSU conducted a forthcoming study on optimal plant spacing for Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash. Goal 4, Objective 2- In addition to the main garden at Tushkahoma, this year Growing Hope Community gardens were set up at Wheelock Academy Historic Site (Millerton, OK), and at the Choctaw Nation Cultural Center (Durant, OK). OSU also planted a large number of Sweet Potato Squash at its facility in Bixby, OKfor the above-noted study, The produce from the latter will be used in OSU's subaward portion of the grant in helping to develop effective value added product ideas for Choctaw growers. Finally, the seeds from these squash will be used to expand the current seed supplies. Goal 4, Objective 5 - A planting guide was put together for all of the cultivars currently being offered by the program, which will be sent out tribal growers along with the seeds moving forward. Goal 5, Objective 1 - Choctaw Nation hired the chef for the Cultural Center restaurant. She was introduced to Choctaw growers and some of the Growing Hope participants. The restaurant has committed to offering Choctaw traditional foods and to purchasing heritage produce to use as an ingredient from at least one Growing Hope participant, to date. Goal 5 - Using seeds from Growing Hope, a Choctaw farmer produced the first-known large, commercial crop of Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash. The harvest was marketed at the Durant Farmers Market and to the Choctaw Cultural Center restaurant. Goal 5, Objective 2 - As a requisite for helping growers to market value-added products made from Choctaw heritage produce, Growing Hope contracted nutritional profile studies on Choctaw flour corn, Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash, and Smith peas. Finally although not directly part of a goal, in FY20, NASA reached out to the Growing Hope Program to obtain seeds, and will be growing out Choctaw heritage produce for experiments in producing food on extra-terrestrial environments.
Publications
- Type:
Books
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Thompson, Ian
2019 Choctaw Food: Remembering the Land, Rekindling Ancient Knowledge. Choctaw Print, Durant.
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience of the Preserving Choctaw Culture by Growing Hope include tribal members in low-income, low food access communities, Choctaw elders, Choctaw youth, and non-tribal communities' members living within the 10 .5 counties of the Choctaw Nation tribal boundaries, along with tribal vegetable growers living inside our tribal boundaries. Changes/Problems:In 2018, the Choctaw Nation Agricultural Business Department, which was managing the Growing Hope initiative, was dissolved by the Tribe. Ultimately, the responsibility for carrying on the program was taken on by the Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation Department, which was the only other Choctaw Nation department involved in the grant. The Growing Hope initiative has been tailored around the mission and capabilities of the Agricultural Business Department. The Historic Preservation Department's mission and capabilities are, of course, different. From this project's initiation, the Historic Preservation Department provided the Choctaw heirloom seeds, provided cultivation, cultural and historical knowledge about these crops, and provided several community contacts for interested program participants. However, creating a food hub and leading broad scale agricultural business initiatives are not within the scope of the Historic Preservation Department's mission. Additionally, given already stretched staff time, the Historic Preservation Department does not have available management staff to work on this grant project on a full-time basis. A Change of Scope request will be submitted shortly to reflect the realities of this transition, and to suggest a direction that can help the Growing Hope initiative to continue to be of the greatest benefit possible considering the dissolution of the Agricultural Business Department. Several on-the-ground challenges were also encountered during the year. Due to particularly heavy spring rains, the outdoor garden at Tushka Homma, planted in March to help the Tanchi Tohbi crop achieve seed viability, drowned and had to be replanted two more times. The crop that finally survived was planted in early May. Fortunately, late summer temperatures turned out to be relatively mild in the region, and the crop was quite successful. As a remedy, the garden area is currently being raised with the addition of more fertile topsoil. Each year, an annual 4th of July celebration is held on the Tushka Homma grounds. The fireworks are launched from near the greenhouse. This year, by the day after the event, the plants growing in the greenhouse manifested severe botches on them and a decreased vigor. Most of them ultimately died, while the outdoor crop was unaffected. This seems likely to have been the result of some environmental pollutant released by the fireworks getting temporarily trapped in the greenhouse. The greenhouse plants have also been challenged with aphids and effective pollination, while the outdoor crops have not been. Treatments were applied, and other measures taken to help the greenhouse environment more closely match the outdoor environment, including setting up fans. Finally, due to internal accounting issues, it was not possible to purchase the deer fence for the outdoor garden until near the end of the growing season. Deer repellant measures proved to be highly effective. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In addition to what has been noted above, a formal training on how to grow Choctaw heirloom crops was held for program participants on 8/31/19 at the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Labor Day Festival. Although attended by only 6 growers, the outdoor garden, green house, and informational tables were open and on display through the entire Festival, which drew over 100,000 people. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through the presentations and community outreach noted above in the "Accomplishments" section. Active community outreach was an increasing focus of the program in 2019. During this reporting period, seed from the Growing Hope initiative was shared with 2,357 growers, nearly all of them Choctaw Nation tribal members. A total of 22 community presentations were given on the Growing Hope Initiative at Choctaw Nation events within Oklahoma, reaching 2,367 people. Eight tours of the greenhouse were given, reaching an additional 120 people. The story of the Growing Hope initiative, including information about how to participate in the program, was incorporated into broader presentations/classes about Indigenous Choctaw food given at 15 different locations in six states, reaching an additional audience of 1,356 people (most but not all of them, tribal members). Although technically in the 2020 reporting period, the expansion of available produce and seed in 2019 accelerated work towards several additional goals of the grant during September 2019. Program staff taught two cooking classes on Choctaw traditional foods for chefs at Roots Cafe (a restaurant that serves approximately hundreds tribal employees per day in Durant). Among other traditional foods, Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash was offered on the menu. In addition to Roots Cafe, a restaurant owned by a tribal member in Antlers, Oklahoma expressed interest in adding dishes made from Choctaw heirloom crops as a regular item on the menu. Contacts were set up between these restaurants and some of the participants in the Growing Hope program that seem poised to expand both the market and availability for some of the Choctaw heritage cultivars featured in this project in 2020. Finally, a book written by the Project Director entitled, Choctaw Food: Remembering the Land, Rekindling Ancient Knowledge became available on shelves in September 2019. 11 years in the making, this book provides holistic detail about the Indigenous Choctaw food way. This includes information about cultivating the heirloom crops featured in the Growing Hope initiative, a number of traditional recipes featuring each, and ideas for adapting them to the modern kitchen. This book will both help to raise interest in the Growing Hope program and provide practical information for program participants wishing to grow or prepare these traditional food ingredients. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Currently, seeds for Tanchi Hlimishko, the traditional Choctaw hominy corn, are at a similar level to where the seeds for Tanchi Tohbi were at the last grant reporting period. We're planning to grow out most of the seeds that we have of the Tanchi Hlimishko variety in 2020 in hopes of producing enough seeds to share with Growing Hope participants. A small number of 30-year old seeds for Choctaw beans were obtained from a tribal family in 2017. The experiment to germinate two of these seeds in 2018 failed. In September 2019 staff met with a representative from Oklahoma State University, who provided a training on the techniques that give bean seeds the best opportunity to germinate. These techniques will be employed in another attempt to grow out a few of these precious seeds in the spring of 2020. If successful, the goal will be to eventually produce enough Choctaw bean seed to be able to share with the community through the program. In 2020, work will begin with muscadines, native strawberries, and rabbit-eye blueberries, all food crops traditionally fostered in Choctaw old fields. This experience will be used to find optimal growing conditions that could allow the plants to be grown by Oklahoma Choctaw farmers in the future. If the requested Scope of Work change is approved (see below), the Growing Hope initiative will partner with Oklahoma State University to include Growing Hope participants in an ongoing Market Gardening training conducted by the University, to train two interns who can sustain the knowledge of how to grow Choctaw heritage cultivars, and to do nutritional analyses of several traditional Choctaw foods produced from the heirloom crops grow through the Growing Hope project. Plans are underway to set up additional gardens of Choctaw heirloom cultivars at Wheelock Academy Historic Site and at the Choctaw Cultural Center in 2020. Wheelock Academy Historic site is located in McCurtain County, an area of the Choctaw Nation that is particularly culturally oriented and also suffering especially heavily from the lack of access to fresh produce. The garden at the Choctaw Cultural Center will be visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year, providing tremendous outreach/educational opportunities as well as a potential opportunity to expand the market for Choctaw heirloom crops. In the fall of 2019, and even more so in the fall of 2020, as more produce from Choctaw heirloom crops becomes available, staff will set up additional classes on preparing traditional foods at Choctaw Nation community centers. If some of these foods become a regular item on the dinner table for some families, this will represent an ultimate success for the program in terms of using our own foods to overcome diet-related diseases, and it will also help drive the type of market that could keep this work moving forward after the grant period has ended.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Work conducted during the previous reporting period had demonstrated that some of the Choctaw heirloom cultivars featured in this project can thrive under greenhouse conditions, while others do much better in outdoor growing conditions. In 2019, a large number of plants were cultivated in the greenhouse, but the outdoor planting area was significantly expanded. During the 2019 reporting period, seed saving efforts focused particularly on expanding the seed bank for Tanchi Tohbi, the traditional variety of Choctaw flour corn. Seeds of this variety (and all of the Choctaw heirloom corn varieties) had to this point been too limited to share with growers through the Growing Hope program, and as such were not a part of the community's diet. Early in the year, staff consulted with a local, organic, tribal-member farmer, learning that the season when this corn was traditionally planted in the Choctaw homeland of Mississippi (early May), is not the optimal time for planting in Oklahoma. This is due to lower late-summer humidity in Oklahoma, which leads to daily temperatures becoming too hot for the kernels to properly set on the ears. By moving the planting time forward to mid-March, the kernels of this 120-day variety are already set when the hottest part of the Oklahoma summer hits. The large seeds of this variety of corn that the young plants can survive up to three mild frosts with the earlier planting time. Using the small amount of Tanchi Tohbi seed produced through the program last year, a patch of 70 plants was grown outside of the greenhouse at Tushka Homma. Additionally, a partnership was developed with the above-mentioned tribal member farmer to do a second planting of similar size near Durant, Oklahoma. Although facing somewhat different conditions (see Problems section below), both plantings were ultimately quite successful. Enough new Tanchi Tohbi seed was produced in 2019 that in 2020 a combined 3 acres can be planted in the seed-saving garden at Tushka Homma and the home gardens of program participants. During the 2019 growing season, seed stock for the heirloom Choctaw field pea (Smith pea) was increased by approximately ten-fold through the outdoor planting at Tushka Homma. Approximately 240 lbs. of Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash were produced in the outside garden at Tushka Homma, expanding the seed bank for this heirloom Choctaw cultivar as well. Early in the year, Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash seeds had been shared with Oklahoma State University, which did a planting at the research center at Lane, producing an additional 882 lbs. Most of this produce was shared with local Choctaw Nation community centers, while some went back into the Growing Hope program to be processed for additional seed to share with program participants next year. This year, experiments began on growing Hachuktakanha (the maypop), in the greenhouse. Also, this year, tubers from Lukchuk Ahe (American Groundnut), germinated from seed in the greenhouse, became mature enough to be shared with program participants for the first time. Active community outreach was an increasing focus of the program in 2019. During this reporting period, seed from the Growing Hope initiative was shared with 2,357 growers, nearly all of them Choctaw Nation tribal members. A total of 22 community presentations were given on the Growing Hope Initiative at Choctaw Nation events within Oklahoma, reaching 2,367 people. Eight tours of the greenhouse were given, reaching an additional 120 people. The story of the Growing Hope initiative, including information about how to participate in the program, was incorporated into broader presentations/classes about Indigenous Choctaw food given at 15 different locations in six states, reaching an additional audience of 1,356 people (most but not all of them, tribal members). During the reporting period, significant progress was made on the 100,000 sqft. Choctaw Cultural Center in Durant, Oklahoma. Not only are Tanchi Tohbi and Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash to be featured in three of the exhibits, the initial menu for the Center's restaurant features dishes that include Tanchi Tohbi, Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash, and Choctaw Field Peas. This represents the beginning of a commercial market for these heirloom cultivars and an opportunity for the tribal growers who are participating in the Growing Hope Initiative. Although technically in the 2020 reporting period, the expansion of available produce and seed in 2019 accelerated work towards several additional goals of the grant during September 2019. Program staff taught two cooking classes on Choctaw traditional foods for chefs at Roots Cafe (a restaurant that serves approximately hundreds tribal employees per day in Durant). Among other traditional foods, Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash was offered on the menu. In addition to Roots Cafe, a restaurant owned by a tribal member in Antlers, Oklahoma expressed interest in adding dishes made from Choctaw heirloom crops as a regular item on the menu. Contacts were set up between these restaurants and some of the participants in the Growing Hope program that seem poised to expand both the market and availability for some of the Choctaw heritage cultivars featured in this project in 2020. Finally, a book written by the Project Director entitled, Choctaw Food: Remembering the Land, Rekindling Ancient Knowledge became available on shelves in September 2019. 11 years in the making, this book provides holistic detail about the Indigenous Choctaw food way. This includes information about cultivating the heirloom crops featured in the Growing Hope initiative, a number of traditional recipes featuring each, and ideas for adapting them to the modern kitchen. This book will both help to raise interest in the Growing Hope program and provide practical information for program participants wishing to grow or prepare these traditional food ingredients.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience of the Perserving Choctaw Culture by Growing Hope include tribal membersin low-income, low food-access communities,Choctaw elders, Choctaw youth, and non-tribal communities members living within the 10 .5 counties of the Choctaw Nation tribal boundaries, along with tribal vegetable growers living inside our tribal boundaries. Changes/Problems:Due to budget modification there was a delay in hiring a greenhouse technician/laborer. Due to lack of pollinators within the greenhouse which prevented maximum fruit and vegetable production, we adapted to the challenge transplanting seedlings in an outdoor garden. This garden lacked an adequate irrigation system, poor soil profile, susceptible to wildlife. Extremeinclement weather both drought during the planting season and flooding during the harvest time was also a factor for fruit and vegetable production.Irrigation systems for transplanted crops will be in place for consistent irrigation. Barrier surrounding transplanted crops will reduce damage from wildlife. Traditional Community Food Garden will allow for Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash seedlings to be transplanted into pollinator accessible growing area. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Conceived, planned and coordinated with the USDA-NRCS, Oklahoma State University, and National Agriculture Statistics Service for the June 10th Vegetable Growing/Herloom Crop Workshop. Twenty-five tribal and non-tribal members were in attendance. Developed educational material for Choctaw Youth WIldlife Camp reaching two-hundred and seventy Choctaw Tribal Youth. The week-long camp included germination lessonusing Choctaw Tanchi Tohbi corn, Choctaw Southern Cow Peas, and a pollinator lesson includingChoctaw Sweet Potato Squash. Students were able to plant seeds and seedlings and shared stories of their own family food insecurities while gaining an understanding behind food sustainability.Program development that included seed-starting and planting methods beginning February 2018, successfully planted and cultivated eight of the nine heirloom crops with limited cultivation education available on specific crop varieties. Professional development included working with grant accounting to other internal departments such as Cultural, Purchasing. Training provided by Oklahoma State University Horticulture and Landscape Department. Sessions covered how to read a various labels, worker protection standards, pesticide licensing, recordkeeping, pesticide storage, container disposal, personal protective equipment, sprayer nozzles and controlling wind drift. Training provided by Oklahoma State University Horticulture and Landscape Department. Covering sprayer maintenance, handheld/backpack sprayer calibration and application, boom sprayer calibration and air blast sprayer calibration. Noble Research Institute Protected Agriculture: Mobile Hoop House Conference and Demonstration. Conference included Producer Relations, Soil Health, hoop house ventilation, raised bed soil profiles, wind breaks, sun breaks, and garden fabric shades. Coordinated with other Choctaw Nation Departments including Choctaw Nation Landscaping, Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation, Choctaw Nation Land Management, Choctaw. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Vegetable Growing/Heirloom Crop workshop at Tvshka Homma Greenhouse June 10th. Twenty-five area gardeners attended the event. Choctaw newspaper "Biskinik' July 2018 article promoting the Community Food Project: Preserving Choctaw Culture by Growing Hope Project. Biskinik newspaper circulates to 98,700 tribal members. YouTube Biskinik Food Distribution video posted July 2018 highlighting Community Food Project Preserving Choctaw Culture by Growing Hope with over 329 views. One-on-One Tribal Producer contact through area producers and interested tribal growers. Over one-hundred and thirty project visitations to greenhouse during growing months of March through August. The three-day Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival boasts over a hundred thousand in attendance, the Preserving Choctaw Culture by Growing Hope Project was open and ondisplay throughout the event. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The Choctaw Sweet Potato Squash was unable to produce fruit within the greenhouse due to lack of pollinators. During the 2019 growing season, outside planting methods will be utilized. Transplanted crops will also be placed within an area with adequate irrigation. Barriers surrounding these transplanted heirloom crops will decrease the amount of damage by wildlife and better selected soil profile will be chosen.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Internation Greenhouse Company greenhouse completed construction January of 2018, which successfully completed goal one. Once structure was in place, eight of the ten heirloom crops were planted and seven were successfully cultivated. Due to the cross-pollination issue, various varieties of plants could not be cultivated simultaneously. Seed saving began on initial crops planted through February and March and continued through the growing season. Cultivation Educational training was provided through a Greenhouse Vegetable growing/Hierloom Crop workshop which included project promotion. Tribal members and non-tribal members were introduced to heirloom crops, GAP/GHP trainings as well as Choctaw Nation Farmer's Market Promotional Program. Germination and planting demonstrations were givenfor 270 tribal youth at the summer Choctaw Youth Wildlife camp using Tonchi Tohbi Corn and Southern Cow Peas. Twleve students from the University of Hawii Cultural Exchange Tour toured the greenhouse learning about food insecutirty within the Choctaw Nation, the Choctaw hierloom crops and the purpose of the Community Food Project. Due to successful project promotion, such as the Choctaw Nation Biskinik article published in July and the Biskinik Food Distribution YouTube channel, seeds and seedlings were shared among tribal members and vegetable growerswithin the surrounding communities.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:The greenhouse site selection was made, then had to be changed due to a complication related to utlities availabe in the extremely remote rural location. As a result, the bids from vendors to do utility and site preparation were much higher than expected and a revamp of the budget for Year 1 had to be done to accomodate these actions. It was determined that a budget modification was not needed due to the fact that the scope of the project had not changed, just the budgetary requirements to achieve the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has helped strengthen the relationship between the Choctaw Nation and Oklahoma State University, through combined efforts in the situation related to hurdles for erecting the greenhouse facility, the two partners have had many meetings to discuss the project and plan out cultivation education and an understanding of the uniqueness of the cultural heirloom crops involved in the project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We hope to have the greenhouse erected and the first round of seed crop cultivated and harvested by spring 2018 for replanting and distribution of seed. It is our intention to accelerate the program by developing the curriculum during this period and to work on GAP certification for the facility.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The greenhouse site selection was made, then had to be changed due to a complication related to utlities availabe in the extremely remote rural location. As a result, the bids from vendors to do utility and site preparation were much higher than expected and a revamp of the budget for Year 1 had to be done to accomodate these actions. The greenhouse structure was purchased and has been delivered to the new location, site preparation and constructionwill begin in October.
Publications
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