Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the activities funded in this grant continue to include: the Tuscarora Nation of New York (NY), temperate tree fruit growers in New York State (NYS), Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) educators and members of the NY Nut Growers Association and the NY Tree Crops Alliance. Changes/Problems:COVID pandemic in early 2020 arrested or delayed many planned activities, which will be finished in 2021. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Overseeing hired personnel; Community Engagement; Conference Presentations How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In person workshop 12/2019 at Tuscarora Nation; Statewide CCE Webinar in February 2020. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Continued field experiment and data collection for field trial, including trials examining pest management techniques. Increased membership in NY Tree Crop Alliance, (established with the support of this grant in 2019) Maintained edible forest garden at Tuscarora Nation Middle School Analyzed survey data on nut tree knowledge and barriers In formal presentations to increase awareness of nut crop potential in the northeast Goal 2: Conducted processing and cooking collaborative workshop, 12/2019 at Tuscarora Nation Developed social media sites (Research is Nuts) to provide production, nutrition, and preparation methods Large number of people have tasted native temperate nuts and products Developed 'Tuscarora Foods of the Forest' pocket guide Developed Cracking into Nut Production Resource Sheet, providing up to date information on growing and using nuts Goal 3: Conducted workshop at Tuscarora Nation Maintained edible forest garden planted year previously Created a living document of archival material with traditional recipes, preparation methods, and indigenous stories of nut use.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Webinar, 3/20 Cracking into NYS Nut Production
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O88c3nGDGM
Facebook Website Research is Nuts
https://www.facebook.com/researchIsNuts
Twitter Website
https://twitter.com/ResearchIsNuts
Instagram Website
https://www.instagram.com/researchisnuts/?hl=en
Cracking Into Nut Production Resource Sheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jnNtmPL4b_8MUMlrPCaM7bfsBwCR2oSGUf_-6SflqwQ/edit#gid=1051562998
|
Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of the activities funded by this grant include: the Tuscarora Nation of NY, temperate tree nut growers in New York State (NYS), Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators and members of the New York, (NY) Nut Growers Association and Northern Nut Growers Association. Changes/Problems:· The most significant challenge encountered during this reporting period involved the plant material used in the field experiment. The plant material was obtained from a commercial nursery in Oregon, and was shipped in two packaged. The UPS receiving facility in Syracuse, NY found one of the two boxes to be suspect, and without consultation destroyed the box containing 155 hybrid chestnuts including both seedlings and custom ordered grafted trees. This significantly affected the balanced design I had planned for, and will reduce the scientific conclusions that I can draw from the experiment. The hazelnut portion of the experiment was unaffected by this. · Secondarily, we planted the trees in the summer of 2019, which was particularly wet for a very long time and we were not able to plant the trees (because the field could not get prepared sooner) in June (when they should have been planted in March or April). The trees began to leaf out while in cold storage and were a bit stressed when planted. This may affect the long-term health of the plantings and we will monitor this. · Response rates for my survey to both CCE educators and NYS farmers were poor. I was especially surprised by how few CCE educators answered the survey despite being sent out from the Director of CCE's office. The results that I can draw from this survey are very limited. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?· Overseeing hired staff · Community engagement · Conference presentations · A presentation I made at the 2018 Ag In-Service event was turned into a webinar How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?· Webinar · In-progress results have been disseminated at conferences · Updates are published on social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) through the handle @researchisnuts What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?· My PhD advisor and I have worked out alternate hypotheses and tests to conduct to make up for the missing data from destroyed trees. · I will collect tree growth data for later analysis · Revise survey to identify nut growers across the state and recruit respondents · Continue relationship building processes for both NYTCA and Tuscarora · Use GIS and Spatial Modeling to assess NYS nut producing potential · Continue giving presentations and webinars
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Increase Nut Cultivation in the Northeast 1. Major activities a. Prepared land for field experiment including fencing and plot/treatment layout b. Planted over 600 hybrid hazelnut and chestnut trees for the field experiment in two days with Cornell University Horticulture Summer Interns, and set up experimental treatments. c. Maintained relationships with the members of the New York Tree Crops Alliance (NYTCA; est. 2019), a producers' cooperative based in Ithaca, NY that grows and markets tree nuts produced in central NY. d. Hired Bradley Thomas as Tuscarora Community Partner. Together we: i. Gifted over 200 native fruit and nut tree seedlings (referenced in '17-'18 Annual report: Goal 1, Major activity "b") to Tuscarora Nation members ii. Planted an edible forest garden at the Tuscarora Nation school e. Preliminary analysis of survey data f. Presented at conferences, trainings, and events - increasing awareness 2. Specific objectives met a. Began field experiment to test best management practices b. Continued building relationships with NYTCA c. Tuscarora Community Partner position filled and workshops conducted d. Collected survey data 3. Significant results achieved a. Still in progress 4. Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized a. Increased awareness about nut crops and their potential through presentations b. Taught people at Tuscarora about planting and taking care of trees Goal 2: Increase Nut Consumption in the Northeast 1. Major activities a. In December of both 2018 and 2019: co-produced 2 nut processing and cooking collaborative workshops at the Tuscarora Nation. b. Share information about how to process, store, and prepare nuts for food 2. Specific objectives met: a. Nutritional analyses of nuts and nut products is more expensive than initially anticipated. Due to an increase of nut growing in other regions (Midwest), this information is becoming more easily available. b. Identifying preparation methods attractive to consumers is a process still in development and has not yet been formally evaluated. 3. Significant results achieved a. As a result of events people have tried native temperate nuts and products made from them that they have never had before. 4. Key outcomes a. Put into practice a hybrid of traditional Indigenous and contemporary techniques for processing and cooking nut crops during workshops at Tuscarora Goal 3: Support food sovereignty initiatives in Haudenosaunee territories through increased production and use of nuts 1. Major Activities a. Hired Bradley Thomas for the Tuscarora Community Partner position b. Major activities Brad Thomas and I: i. Gifted over 200 native fruit and nut tree seedlings (referenced in '17-'18 Annual report: Goal 1, Major activity "b") to Tuscarora Nation members ii. Planted an edible forest garden at the Tuscarora Nation school iii. In December of both 2018 and 2019: co-produced 2 nut processing and cooking collaborative workshops at the Tuscarora Nation. iv. Began planning and producing a Tuscarora Foods of the Forest pocket guide for Tuscarora Nation members. 2. Specific objectives met a. The Tuscarora Food Forest planting at the Middle School included several nut trees and is the closest we have come to the objective of planting a demonstration nut grove b. The workshop series and second nut processing and cooking workshop included multigenerational participants c. In collaboration with Vince Schiffert at Tuscarora, we have a living document of archival material with traditional recipes, preparation methods, and Indigenous stories of nut use 3. Significant results achieved a. Still in development 4. Key Outcomes or other accomplishments realized a. Continued relationship building and deepening at Tuscarora b. Taught people at Tuscarora about planting and taking care of trees c. Put into practice a hybrid of traditional Indigenous and contemporary techniques for processing and cooking nut crops during workshops at Tuscarora
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Bosco, S. July 13, 2019. Nut Tree Agroforestry for Climate Smart Agriculture and Indigenous Food Sovereignty in NYS. New York Nut Growers Association Summer Meeting. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Syracuse, NY.
Bosco, S. June 28, 2019. Community Engaged Research for Social Justice in Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Conversations at the Tuscarora Nation. Native American and Indigenous Studies Association Conference. University of Waikato. Hamilton, New Zealand.
Bosco, S. May 10, 2019. Going Nuts (Aw??reh) at Tuscarora (Skar�:r?): Expanding Food Sovereignty Conversations at the Tuscarora Nation in NY, USA, Through Community Engaged Research. The Society of Ethnobiology Annual Conference. University of British Columbia. Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Buck L., Bosco S., Burgoa G., Higgenbotham C., Meecham J., Lassoie J., Rodgerson F., Scherr S., Trujillo L. May 21, 2019. Scaling-up agroforestry to transform landscapes, with examples from Ecuador and Northeast USA. 4th World Congress on Agroforestry. Le Corum Conference Center. Montpellier, France.
Bosco, S. May 9, 2019. Going Nuts (Aw??reh) at Tuscarora (Skar�:r? ): Expanding Food Sovereignty Conversations at the Tuscarora Nation in NY, USA, Through Community Engaged Research. The Society of Ethnobiology Annual Conference. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Bosco, S. March 12, 2019. Trees of Life: Nuts in the Northeast and their Importance through Time. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County. Montour Falls, NY.
|
Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of the activities funded by this grant include: the Tuscarora Nation of New York, temperate tree nut growers in New York State, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Educators and members of the New York Nut Growers Association and Northern Nut Growers Association. Changes/Problems: While the original proposal intended to work across multiple Haudenosaunee territory. The investigators on this grant found it to be more effective and fruitful to focus our efforts at a single territory. Due to successful relationship building, this work has been, and will continue to be, carried out at the Tuscarora Nation. The effort to study nut tree seed germination and effects of weather variables on field plantings has been dropped to better focus on successful field experiment that will provide data on orchard establishment that is missing in the literature. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I have experienced several opportunities for training and professional development including: Attending "All Our Relations" Haudenosaunee cultural training series at the Native American Community Service in Buffalo, New York Overseeing hired staff Community engagement How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? In-progress results have been disseminated at conferences Updates are published on social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) through the alias @researchisnuts What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Plant a 3 year field experiment and begin collecting data Deliver trees to Tuscarora Hire a new Tuscarora Community Partner Plan new events with Tuscarora Community Partner Hire student assistants to help with sample processing and data collection Revise the CCE survey and recruit participants Use the CCE survey to plan a survey for farmers in NewYork State Present about community engagement efforts at conferences Continue attending NYTCA meetings Form an agroforestry CCE program work team (PWT) Develop small scale nut processing equipment for research use
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Increase Nut Cultivation in the Northeast Major activities Initiated participatory action research with a group of New York State farmers who are interested in forming a tree nut producers cooperative Growing seedling nut trees to give to members of the Tuscarora nation to grow individually and in a community fruit and nut grove Designed field experiment to evaluate early tree growth in response to management variables (groundcover, fertilizer, genotype) Survey deployed to CCE educators to ascertain current knowledge and perception of tree nut production state-wide Specific objectives met Specific objective 1.1.1. required more time than available in a PhD program. Focus has shifted to place better emphasis on the field experiment which will address tree growth during early orchard establishment. Specific objective 1.1.2. required more funds than anticipated and were not financially feasible. Significant results achieved Made arrangements with nut tree nurseries to place custom orders of trees needed for the field experiment to be planted in spring 2019 The group of farmers looking to form a producers cooperative have continued making progress on the steps required to legally incorporate. Survey turned out to be a prototype and needed to be edited for better results. Over 20 people at the Tuscarora Nation signed up to plant native fruit and nut tree seedlings on reservation territory. Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized Still in development. Goal 2: Increase Nut Consumption in the Northeast Major activities Include tasting demonstrations and samples at tabling events Provide people information of nut tree identification Share information about how to process, store, and prepare nuts for food Specific objectives met: Nutritional analyses of nuts and nut products is more expensive than initially anticipated. Due to an increase of nut growing in other regions (Midwest), this information is becoming more easily available. Identifying preparation methods attractive to consumers is a process still in development and has not yet been formally evaluated. Significant results achieved As a result of tabling events people have tried native temperate nuts and products made from them that they have never had before. Key outcomes Still in development Goal 3: Support food sovereignty initiatives in Haudenosaunee territories through increased production and use of nuts Major activities Efforts have been focused at the Tuscarora Reservation in Sanborn, New York. From 2017-2018 I attended and tabled at two annual events at the Tuscarora Nation: The Tuscarora History Conference (March, annually) and the Tuscarora Community Fair (October, annually). Hired a community partner (0.25 FTE) from the Tuscarora Nation to help with communications, event planning, and community engagement. Grew tree seedlings to supply Tuscarora for fruit and nut tree plantings Developed collaborative relationships with key nation members Developed and produced a nut focused workshop series Specific objectives met While a "community nut grove" has not been specifically planned, individuals have signed up to plant trees. Also, a teacher at the Tuscarora Nation School signed up for several of threes to plant on school grounds. The August "Nut Tree Workshop" attracted over 20 nation members, as well as residents of the Six Nations Reserve in Ohsweken, Ontario, ages 11-89. Tabling at events draws in more people across a similar age range. Workshop participants and event attendees tried native temperate nuts and nut products that they had never tried before and that are part of their traditional culture. Tabling materials (displays, interactive components, information) were created and tested throughout the reporting period. Significant results achieved The August "Nut Tree Workshop" attracted over 20 nation members, as well as residents of the Six Nations Reserve in Ohsweken, Ontario, ages 11-89. Key Outcomes or other accomplishments realized Relationship building with Indigenous nations takes a long time and can be fraught with challenges and inconsistencies arising from centuries of poor relationships. That even after a year of my activities at Tuscarora, there is a general consensus that this is a worthwhile endeavor is a key outcome that has to constantly be worked at.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Bosco, S. August 5, 2018. Promoting Sustainable Tree Nut Production in New York State. Northern Nut Growers Association Annual Meeting. Quebec, Canada.
Bosco, S., Mt Pleasant J., McKie, M. June 5, 2018. Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Historic and Contemporary Significance of Nut Trees in Haudenosaunee Communities. Society for Economic Botany and Society of Ethnobiology Joint Conference. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison, WI
|
|