Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:?The primary audience of the Initiative is Native American residents of the Spirit Lake Nation, which is in a Promise Zone. The Promise Zone, designated by the federal government, indicates that this is an area with a high need for programs such as those provided by this Initiative. Specific groups within the Spirit Lake community to be targeted by the Initiative are tribal elders, those living in poverty, CCCC students, and tribal youth. The programs offered by the Initiative are cohesive and interrelated. The tilling and garden starter kits help those in need to produce their own food. The education programs teach community members how to manage these gardens and then how to create healthy and inexpensive meals from the foods they produce. Children become interest in small-scale agriculture and can begin to invest in their futures by learning these skills. Each of the groups involved will have increased food security. A farmer's market and craft show further reinforces growing one's own food, selling or trading it, and a sense of agricultural community. The student workers hired by the program also benefit because they gain skills in planting, driving a tractor, using a greenhouse, and landscaping as well as potential for leadership and training future extension agents. Current students who work with the program are interested in starting their own farms or greenhouses. The Initiative itself is fertile with education opportunities. Changes/Problems:During this cycle, the previous PD, Heidi Ziegenmeyer, left the college. She was replaced by the Assistant Land Grant Manager, Jessica Fish. This left the department short handed. In a department of three, losing one is infinitely more difficult for everyone than in a larger department. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Department staff attended several webinars provided by the Food Safety Outreach Program, as well as those provided by the North Central Region Center for FSMA. In addition, we attended the FALCON conference, a discussion on how to decolonize research using indigenous methodologies, the AIHEC conference, the Spirit Lake Healthy Community Coalition meetings, How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Land Grant Department provides monthly reports to the college's Board of Directors, which is made up of notable community members and elders. Additionally, we participate in the Healthy Community Coalition, which is made up of a large number of other community organizations. This allows us to share ideas and events across a large number of programs. The department also uses social media to spread awareness to community members. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Our program was able to continue the work of tilling gardens, more than 60 this spring. In addition to this, we were able to provide all of those community members seeds and seedlings, plus an additonal 97families took advantage of the opportunity to start their own gardens. Our Community Garden was once again a great teaching tool for adults and children in the community - more than 20 adults and 6 children were regularly in the garden working on family plots. Community Garden Manager Gabe Nelson gained her Master Gardener credential, so she is now able to provide even more help to our community. Despite a setback in the spring (we had a hail storm on June 28 which took out most of the plants that had begun to sprout) we were able to rally the gardeners and get everyone back on track. During the year, Gabe helps gardeners with their questions and growing issues, and helps those who are having issues that keep them from getting to their plots. She also hosted a Community Garden Open House, where more than 70 people were able to tour the gardens and get information about small scale food gardens. This cycle, we have also been able to use some of our Community Garden example plot to begin creating a food preservation curriculum, which will help our gardeners stretch their garden's bounty. As part of this, we hosted a food preservation demonstration at the Spirit Lake Food Distribution center. The presentation covered canning safety and basics. We also planted a large plot of corn and pumpkins. This area works for us twofold. We are able to use the pumpkins for many activities (canning, baking, craft and nutrition workshops; donations to elders; as a SNAP allowed purchase at the farmers market; and as part of a fall festival to bring the community together. The corn field gives us a space to put up a corn maze as part of the fall festival. Both areas also give our Land Grant Interns the opportunity to learn about using our tractor and its attachments, and about larger agriculture. In the fall, we held a small seed saving workshop to teach those interested how to save their own seeds for the next year. We found some innovative ways to get our audience interested in nutrition. A day long drop-in event on National Popcorn Day brought in 175 people, who each received some popcorn and some information about the many vitamins and minerals that are found in popcorn. We used a charcuterie board workshop to discuss how to balance foods, which had 20 people attend. Nutrition education was worked into our summer 4-H workshops as well, with kids learning about how what they were eating fit into a healthy diet.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of the CCCC Local Food and Education Initiative includes Spirit Lake Tribal elders, adults, CCCC students, and Spirit Lake youth. Changes/Problems:During this cycle, the previous PD, Heidi Ziegenmeyer, left the college. She was replaced by the Assistant Land Grant Manager, Jessica Fish. This left the department short handed. In a department of three, losing one is infinitely more difficult for everyone than in a larger department. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Staff Development: Our staff actively engaged in various webinars and conferences, equipping themselves with valuable knowledge and skills. We attended webinars provided by the Food Safety Outreach Program and the North Central Region Center for FSMA. Additionally, we participated in conferences such as the FALCON conference, which explored decolonizing research through indigenous methodologies, and the AIHEC conference. Our involvement in the Spirit Lake Healthy Community Coalition meetings strengthened our community engagement. Cultural Awareness: Our training and professional development initiatives prioritized cultural awareness as an integral part of our growth. We actively participated in cultural training sessions to better understand and respect indigenous traditions and practices. Nutrition and Food Safety: Our staff attended a variety of nutrition and food safety training programs offered by different agencies. These programs equipped us with the knowledge needed to promote healthy eating habits and ensure food safety in our community. Community Empowerment: For our community members, particularly students at CCCC and area high schoolers age 16+, we created opportunities through student apprenticeship positions. These positions enabled students to gain hands-on experience in agriculture and landscaping, covering areas such as planting, weed identification, landscape maintenance, tractor operation, and more. Beyond technical skills, apprenticeships instilled essential job-related qualities like punctuality, reliability, and responsibility. Leadership and Collaboration: Our involvement in various interagency initiatives, such as the Healthy Community Coalition and the Farm to Table Committee, provided leadership opportunities for our team. These collaborations allowed us to contribute to broader community development efforts on the Spirit Lake Reservation. Nutrition and Food Sovereignty: Our training and development initiatives positioned our Community Agriculture Coordinator to provide programming in the areas of nutrition, food sovereignty, gardening, and agriculture. With certifications in National Nutrition and Diabetes Prevention, as well as expertise in hydroponics techniques, our coordinator became a valuable resource for the community. Throughout the grant period, our dedication to continuous learning and skill development has been instrumental in the success of our community-focused initiatives. We remain committed to empowering our community through education, cultural awareness, and sustainable practices. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Monthly Reports: Results and progress updates have been regularly shared with College faculty, staff, and the Board of Regents through detailed monthly reports distributed via email. These reports provide insights into the Extension staff's activities, workshop statistics (including topics and attendee numbers), and ongoing initiatives. Community Engagement: Our programs and events have been actively advertised and discussed on KABU 90.7 radio, reaching a broad audience. Additionally, we have utilized the power of social media, sharing updates and information through platforms like Facebook to keep our community informed. Annual Report: A summary of the Extension Office's activities was thoughtfully included in the College's Annual Report. This comprehensive report was mailed to every household on the Reservation, ensuring that the broader community and former students were aware of our efforts. Staff Engagement: Extension has played an active role in fostering understanding within the College's staff community. We hosted one of the monthly all-staff meetings to educate the entire staff about the significance of Land Grant/Extension for a Tribal College. Visual Media: To enhance understanding, we created an informative video showcasing Land Grant activities, utilizing skills acquired at FALCON. This video, which reached 642 people, serves as a dynamic tool to elucidate the essence of Land Grant. Community Partnerships: We maintain strong connections with the College's Board of Directors, comprising influential community members and elders. Furthermore, active participation in the Healthy Community Coalition has allowed us to share ideas and collaborate with numerous other community organizations, fostering a network of support and mutual engagement. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In the final year of our grant, the program was able to continue the work of tilling gardens, more than 60 this spring. In addition to this, we were able to provide all of those community members seeds and seedlings, plus an additonal 97families took advantage of the opportunity to start their own gardens. Our Community Garden was once again a great teaching tool for adults and children in the community - more than 20 adults and 6 children were regularly in the garden working on family plots. Community Garden Manager Gabe Nelson gained her Master Gardener credential, so she is now able to provide even more help to our community. Despite a setback in the spring (we had a hail storm on June 28 which took out most of the plants that had begun to sprout) we were able to rally the gardeners and get everyone back on track. During the year, Gabe helps gardeners with their questions and growing issues, and helps those who are having issues that keep them from getting to their plots. She also hosted a Community Garden Open House, where more than 70 people were able to tour the gardens and get information about small scale food gardens. This cycle, we have also been able to use some of our Community Garden example plot to begin creating a food preservation curriculum, which will help our gardeners stretch their garden's bounty. As part of this, we hosted a food preservation demonstration at the Spirit Lake Food Distribution center. The presentation covered canning safety and basics. We also planted a large plot of corn and pumpkins. This area works for us twofold. We are able to use the pumpkins for many activities (canning, baking, craft and nutrition workshops; donations to elders; as a SNAP allowed purchase at the farmers market; and as part of a fall festival to bring the community together. The corn field gives us a space to put up a corn maze as part of the fall festival. Both areas also give our Land Grant Interns the opportunity to learn about using our tractor and its attachments, and about larger agriculture. In the fall, we held a small seed saving workshop to teach those interested how to save their own seeds for the next year. We found some innovative ways to get our audience interested in nutrition. A day long drop-in event on National Popcorn Day brought in 175 people, who each received some popcorn and some information about the many vitamins and minerals that are found in popcorn. We used a charcuterie board workshop to discuss how to balance foods, which had 20 people attend. Nutrition education was worked into our summer 4-H workshops as well, with kids learning about how what they were eating fit into a healthy diet. ---- Over the course of the grant period, our program has consistently focused on several key areas of community development. Community gardening and agriculture have been at the forefront of our efforts. We've tilled numerous gardens each year, with a special emphasis on supporting elders in our community. Seeds and seedlings have been distributed to households, and we've encouraged more families to start their own gardens. Our Community Garden has not only provided fresh produce but also served as an educational tool, involving both adults and children. Additionally, we expanded the CCCC Community Garden to facilitate food production and education about agriculture. Community engagement and knowledge sharing have been vital components of our work. We've regularly organized seminars, workshops, and training sessions. In Year 4, we conducted over 20 workshops on various food and nutrition topics, reaching a total of 257 attendees. In Year 5, we hosted a successful Community Garden Open House, with more than 70 participants, and initiated a food preservation curriculum. We've also integrated nutrition education into our summer 4-H workshops, ensuring that young participants learn about healthy eating habits. Throughout the grant period, nutrition workshops, including partnerships with NDSU Extension, have been popular, catering to various age groups. Engaging youth has been a core element of our program. College-age youth played a crucial role through our student apprenticeship program. They gained valuable experience in agriculture, landscaping, marketing, and more. In an effort to inspire younger generations, we expanded the student apprentice program to include area high schoolers, introducing them to agricultural opportunities early in their educational journeys. Furthermore, we initiated 4-H activities on the reservation, creating numerous opportunities for youth involvement in agricultural pursuits. Our dedication to food production and distribution has been unwavering. The Community Garden, produce gardens at the College, and the introduction of farmers' markets have all contributed to increased access to fresh, locally grown food. Farmers' markets, especially in Year 5, provided small business opportunities for Native farmers and accepted SNAP benefits, improving access to nutritious options. The Spirit Lake Mobile Farmers Market was launched to ensure fresh produce reached every district of the reservation. We've also invested in modernizing our greenhouses to support food production and educational initiatives. Throughout this grant period, our program has strived to enhance the Spirit Lake Community by promoting community gardening, agricultural education, food preservation, nutrition awareness, and youth engagement. These collective efforts have yielded increased food production, community participation, and improved access to fresh, healthy food choices for our residents.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The primary audience of the Initiative is Native American residents of the Spirit Lake Nation, which is in a Promise Zone. The Promise Zone, designated by the federal government, indicates that this is an area with a high need for programs such as those provided by this Initiative. Specific groups within the Spirit Lake community to be targeted by the Initiative are tribal elders, those living in poverty, CCCC students, and tribal youth. The programs offered by the Initiative are cohesive and interrelated. The tilling and garden starter kits help those in need to produce their own food. The education programs teach community members how to manage these gardens and then how to create healthy and inexpensive meals from the foods they produce. Children become interest in small-scale agriculture and can begin to invest in their futures by learning these skills. Each of the groups involved will have increased food security. A farmer's market and craft show further reinforces growing one's own food, selling or trading it, and a sense of agricultural community. The student workers hired by the program also benefit because they gain skills in planting, driving a tractor, using a greenhouse, and landscaping as well as potential for leadership and training future extension agents. Current students who work with the program are interested in starting their own farms or greenhouses. The Initiative itself is fertile with education opportunities. Changes/Problems:COVID remained an issue, with some people still requiring to distance and many losses suffered by the community. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?FAARMS training, FALCON conference, Building Human Capital, Food Safety Outreach Program trainings, NDSU Extension trainings, a variety of nutrition and food safety trainings through differnet agencies, Cultural awareness training, and more. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Reports are provided each month to College and Community leaders that share the current activities of the grant program. Social media is also used to spread awareness of the results. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?These programs remain vital to the community. We plan to continue our tilling, seed and seedling work, encouraging more gardeners each year. Additionally, we are working on refreshing our kitchen space to better allow for workshop attendees to participate in the creating healthy meals themselves, rather than just watching a demonstration. Our community gardens remain strong and we will also continue to encourage people to use them.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Land Grant department was able to till more than 35 gardens for residents of the Spirit Lake Reservation. These gardeners were also provided a full set of seeds and seedlings to grow their own food. In addition, mroe than 30 other residents were also given seeds and seedlings. Seminars, workshops, and impromptu training sessions were held frequently for community members, community gardeners, and anyone who had questions. The Community Garden manager made herself available every Saturday to assist gardeners and answer questions at the community garden. The community garden had 18 families participating, plus the additon of a small garden to engage the students at the Head Start. The Community Garden Manager also maintained a small garden which provided fresh vegetables to elders and the Farmers Market. More than 20 workshops were held on a variety of food and nutrition topics, including food preservation, eating healthy on the run, grocery shopping made easy, using day old bread, healthy spins on premade favorites, and more. Total for all the workshops, 257 attendees were recorded.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of the CCCC Local Food and Education Initiative includes Spirit Lake Tribal elders, adults, CCCC students, and Spirit Lake youth. The efforts of the Initiative have reached each of these groups in different ways, which will be described in the Accomplishments section. Changes/Problems:COVID-19 has caused CCCC Land Grant Extension to change the way it delivers services. Staff have shifted to online delivery of information, take-home kits, and more, though reaching all constituents is difficult when many do not have access to the internet at home. Staff are working hard to do what they can and the student apprenticeship program continued, with additional safety measures in place. CCCC Land Grant Extension is working to innovate and leverage resources to serve Spirit Lake in these difficult times. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?For staff: In the last year, the Community Agriculture Coordinator has trained and renewed her National Nutrition Certification Program and been trained in presenting a Diabetes Prevention Program. She has also been researching hydroponics techniques. This training sets her up for providing programming to the community in the areas of nutrition and food sovereignty as well as gardening/agriculture. Leadership opportunities have come for the Community Agriculture Coordinator and the Land Grant Director through participation in the Healthy Community Coalition and the Farm to Table Committee, both of which are interagency Spirit Lake initiatives. Staff also participate in FALCON, AIHEC, NERAOC, and other conferences when available given COVID restrictions. For community members: Those who are students at CCCC or are area high schoolers age 16+ are eligible to apply for student apprenticeship positions. These students learn to plant, identify weeds, and maintain garden and landscape spaces. They learn to use the tractor and till, identify and treat garden pests, and more. Apprentices learn job skills like punctuality, reliability, and responsibility. These are essential skills for starting in agriculture How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to College faculty, staff, and the Board of Regents via monthly reports over email. These reports highlight the activities completed or in progress with the Extension staff each month as well as numbers of workshops, topics, and attendees. Often, programs have been advertised and discussed on KABU 90.7 radio and shared via Facebook. A summary of the Extension Office's activities was included in the College's Annual Report, which was mailed to every household on the Reservation and to former students. Extension also hosted one of the monthly all-staff meetings, using the time to inform all staff about what Land Grant/Extension means for a Tribal College. A video of the Land Grant activities was created using skills learned at FALCON to give a better understanding of what Land Grant is. This year's video reached 642 people and can be seen here: https://fb.watch/eGAz4cMh1a/. This will be updated annually. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Staff plan to continue existing programs and implement additional workshop curricula where appropriate. The annual information video will continue to be done each year in December, to disseminate results to the community. Extension staff will continue the relationship with the CCCC Community Garden and look for opportunities to engage with other Tribal programs. Farmers markets will continue, accepting SNAP benefits. Increased educational opportunities with children will be possible in future years through collaborating with staff hired for a USDA CYFAR grant. There will be 4-H started with different schools on the reservation for grades 3-5. Extension will be providing some of the programming for 4-H. Extension staff plan to expand greenhouse food production efforts significantly once the new greenhouse is constructed. Improved climate control plans have begun for the existing greenhouse that supports seedlings and horticultural activities on campus. The student apprenticeship opportunities will continue. Staff hope for the return of in-person nutrition workshops. The tiny kitchen space will be renovated to create a commercial teaching kitchen. Work will be done to maintain and expand our impact at Spirit Lake Nation despite, and in some ways because of, COVID-19.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. The garden tilling program has continued. There were 37 gardens tilled with our small tractor and the help of our student apprentices. 2. Seeds and seedlings were provided to all of the homes tilled, with a priority to elders. All of the seedlings (approximately 1,000 tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, peppers) were started in the CCCC greenhouse with the oversight of the Community Agriculture Coordinator and the student apprentices. Additionally, seedlings were used at the Cankdeska Cikana Community Garden, which is in its third year. 3. Unfortunately due to the coronavirus, the seminars and workshops on small-scale agriculture leading up to the garden season were reduced. The Community Agriculture Coordinator and Community Garden Manager consulted with Community Gardeners on more individual bases, as they came to plant their gardens. There were 19 gardens planted, so 19 different families participated and various family members from children (wakanheza) to elders gardened at various times. Staff also responded to questions from constituents via phone and email. Staff provided a virtual workshop via Facebook Live on Gardening in Small Spaces in partnership with the Special Diabetes Program. After 2 weeks, it had 598 views. 4. Food production is in progress on the reservation. The NRCS grant along with the Extension funding facilitated the continuation of the CCCC Community Garden. The community garden was expanded this year to allow for 19 gardens, though there is now space for more next year. CCCC student apprentices currently care for a garden in the "extra" space, with corn, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and other vegetables that will be used for educational nutrition workshops, farmers markets, or given to Senior Services for meals. Modernization of the current greenhouse continues to be in process as various fans and heaters break down and can be difficult to repair or replace. The alarm system for temperature has not functioned well and we seek an alternative. The small greenhouse has been replaced with a large, modern structure using other USDA funds. This greenhouse will be used to further the Extension grant goals--food production on the reservation and experiential learning opportunities for interns. It will also provide a space to expose more community members to agriculture and will create a steady supply of lowcost fresh produce for the College Café. Two Farmers Markets were held in summer of 2021to provide small business opportunities for Native farmers as well as access to fresh food. In addition to the CCCC student apprentice garden booth, we had 3 other small businesses participate. The market also accepted SNAP benefits for the first time in 2021, which was definitely utilized. 5. College-age youth have been involved in agricultural and landscaping activities on campus via the student apprenticeship program. One student during the school semesters and up to 9 students during the summer months work part-time getting experience in agriculture and landscaping duties. Starting in 2021, the student apprentice program was opened to area high schoolers age 16+ to bring young people to campus earlier in their school careers, so they can see the opportunities available, get comfortable being here, get to know faculty, and hopefully matriculate into the Natural Resource Management program upon high school graduation. Students learn to plant, identify weeds, and maintain garden and landscape spaces. They learn to use the tractor and mow and till. They also learn marketing and gain experience through the Farmers Market preparation and implementation. These are essential skills for starting in agriculture. Young people also help their families with growing at the CCCC Community Garden. This year, CCCC Land Grant Extension again created take-home grow kits for all of the Head Start children on the reservation to go along with an educational how-to video. This is one of the ways we have been providing services will coping with COVID-19. CCCC Extension has also started4-H on the reservation with a USDA CYFAR grant. We expect there to be a lot of opportunities for youth engagement in agricultural activities at CCCC. 6. Nutrition workshops were fewer due to coronavirus precautions and flare-ups on the reservation. Some workshops and events we held were: sweet corn distribution (70 bags), Facebook videos and their reach were [fresh salsa (654), wojapi (583), dried corn/bean soup (276), vegetable beef soup (396), corn maze flyover and ribbon cuttings (5200 and 1000)], succulent gardens (12),Harvesting with Head Start (10), Sacred Life Center Garden Series (16), and more.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of the CCCC Local Food and Education Initiative includes Spirit Lake Tribal elders, adults, CCCC students, and Spirit Lake youth. The efforts of the Initiative have reached each of these groups in different ways, which will be described in the Accomplishments section. Changes/Problems:COVID-19 has caused CCCC Land Grant Extension to change the way it delivers services. Staff have shifted to online delivery of information, take-home kits, and more, though reaching all constituents is difficult when many do not have access to the internet at home. Staff are working hard to do what they can and the student apprenticeship program continued, with additional safety measures in place. Significant time was spent trying to "shift gears", which may have reduced the amount of services staff could provide this year, but the quality and the care and the dedication was always present. CCCC Land Grant Extension is working to innovate and leverage resources to serve Spirit Lake in these difficult times. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?For staff: In the last year, theCommunity Agriculture Coordinator has attended the following: Native Agriculture & Food Systems Initiative; National Nutrition Certification Program; Train the Trainer Food Preservation, Lifestyle Coach Training, Field to Fork, Spring Garden Forum Series, Traditional Foods Support Community Resiliency Series, Why Indigenous Food Matters, Home Hydroponics 101 Series, and a Food Preservation Series. This training sets her up for providing programming to the community in the areas of nutrition and food sovereignty as well as gardening/agriculture. Leadership opportunities have come for the Community Agriculture Coordinator and the Land Grant Director through participation in the Healthy Community Coalition and the Farm to Table Committee, both of which are interagency Spirit Lake initiatives. For community members: Those who are students at CCCC are eligible to apply for student apprenticeship positions. These students learn to plant, identify weeds, and maintain garden and landscape spaces. They learn to use the tractor and till, identify and treat garden pests, and more.Apprentices learn job skills like punctuality, reliability, and responsibility. These are essential skills for starting in agriculture. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to College faculty, staff, and the Board of Regents via monthly reports over email. These reports highlight the activities completed or in progress with the Extension staff each month as well as numbers of workshops, topics, and attendees. Often, programs have been advertised and discussed on KABU 90.7 radio and shared via Facebook. A summary of the Extension Office's activities was included in the College's Annual Report, which was mailed to every household on the Reservation and to former students. Extension also hosted one of the monthly all-staff meetings, using the time to inform all staff about what Land Grant/Extension means for a Tribal College. This year a video of the Land Grant activities was created using skills learned at FALCON to give a better understanding of what Land Grant is. Additionally, an annual summary-type information sheet was created and shared on Facebook, all college events, over email, and every tiime Land Grant has an opportunity to set up an information booth. This will be updated annually. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Staff plan to continue existing programs and implement additional workshop curricula where appropriate. The annual information sheet will continue to be done each year in December, to disseminate results to the community.Extension staff will continue the relationship with the CCCC Community Garden and look for opportunities to engage with other Tribal programs. Though not occurring due to coronavirus (one market happened, but subsequent events were cancelled), the Spirit Lake Mobile Farmers Market was/is planned in partnership with Spirit Lake Tribal Health and the Food Distribution programs. CCCC plans to apply to accept SNAP at the market.Increased educational opportunities with children will be possible in future years through collaborating with staff hired for a USDA CYFAR grant. There will be 4-H started with different schools on the reservation for grades 3-5. Extension will be providing some of the programming for 4-H. Extension staff plan to expand greenhouse food production efforts significantly once the new greenhouse is constructed. Improved climate control plans have begun for the existing greenhouse that supports seedlings and horticultural activities on campus. The student apprenticeship opportunities will continue. A Native American Agriculture Fund grant has allowed for creation of a fall festival event (corn maze, pumpkin patch, vendor opportunities, traditional corn, agricultural education), in line with Land Grant Extension's goal/mission. COVID-19 may derail those plans this year, but there is another year of funding for that program and we hope to sustain it. Take-home food kits will be created along with informational videos for Head Start families through a subgrant from the American Indian College Fund and in partnership with NDSU Extension. Again, this is in line with CCCC Land Grant Extension's mission. A partnership with FARRMS (Foundation for Agriculture and Rural Resource Management Sustainability) and the Northern Plains Resource Conservation & Development Council along with supplemental funding from NAAF is allowing CCCC to send Native farmers to a Farm Beginnings course and provide mini-grants to start small agricultural businesses. Eventually, CCCC Extension plans to partner with FARRMS to create something akin to a sustainable agriculture certificate program at CCCC. Work will be done to maintain and expand our impact at Spirit Lake Nationdespite, and in some ways because of, COVID-19.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. The garden tilling program has continued. This year there were 42 homes in teh Spirit Lake Community on the list for tilling. Tilling was completed at 27 of the 42 homes. The majority of the 15 homes that did not receive tilling cancelled their tilling request. The rest could not be reached. 2. Seeds and seedlings were provided to all of the homes tilled, with a priority to elders. All of the seedlings (tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, peppers) were started in the CCCC greenhouse with the oversight of the Community Agriculture Coordinator and the student apprentices. Additionally, seedlings were used at the Cankdeska Cikana Community Garden, which is in its second year. 3. Unfortunately due to the coronavirus, the seminars and workshops on small-scale agriculture leading up to the garden season were cancelled. However, the Cankdeska Cikana Community Garden still opened and the garden staff educated gardeners in small groups or one-on-one as they visited the garden. Some work was done to share information via video or flyer on traditional foods/uses through Facebook. 4.Food production is in progress on the reservation. The NRCS grant along with the Extension funding facilitated the continuationof the CCCC Community Garden. The community garden is full to capacity with 15 gardeners, each with large gardens. The CCCC produce garden at the College is also in production, with corn, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and other vegetables that will be used in the College Café to subsidize healthy food options, for take-home meal kits for families, or for educational nutrition videos. Modernization of the current greenhouse is in process. An alarm system has been purchased for monitoring temperature in the greenhouse. The small greenhouse will be replaced usingother USDA funds for construction ofa large greenhouse. This greenhouse will be used to further the Extension grant goals--food production on the reservation and experiential learning opportunities for interns. It will also provide a space to expose more community members to agriculture and will create a steady supply of lowcost fresh produce for the College Café. Getting the new greenhouse has been a process due to USDA requirements, but hopefully it will be implemented within the next year. Farmers Markets were heldin summer of 2020 to provide small business opportunities for Native farmers as well as access to fresh food. The Spirit Lake Mobile Farmers Market was born, to bring produce to each district of the reservation (one district per week). Unfortunately, coronavirus infected a staff member (possibly during a market) and the ddecision was made to postpone future markets until 2021. CCCC will be ready to go in 2021, with a logo, banners, canopies, chairs, tables, hand sanitizer, and more. 5.College-age youth have been involved in agricultural and landscaping activities on campus via the student apprenticeship program. One student during the school semesters and three students during the summer months work part-time getting experience in agriculture and landscaping duties. Two additional students are funded by a separate USDA grant and they also get these same experiences and contribute to the project (hence the 5 undergraduate students reported earlier). Students learn to plant, identify weeds, and maintain garden and landscape spaces. They learn to use the tractor and mow and till. They also learn marketing and gain experience through the Farmers Market preparation and implementation. These are essential skills for starting in agriculture. Young people also help their families with growing at the CCCC Community Garden. This year,CCC Land Grant Extension created take-home grow kits for all of the Head Start children on the reservation to go along with an educational how-to video. This is one of the ways we have been providing services will coping with COVID-19. In future years, CCCC Extensionwill be starting 4-H on the reservation with a USDA CYFAR grant. We expect there to be a lot of opportunities for youth engagement in agricultural activities at CCCC. 6. Nutrition workshops were regularly attended until coronavirus started. These included partnership events held with NDSU Extension and their "Nourish Your..." series. We also did low-cost, healthy meal workshops. After coronavirus, we have done a few videos such as harvesting linden flower for linden tea or canning wild raspberry jam. These were shared on Facebook.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of the CCCC Local Food and Education Initiative includes Spirit Lake Tribal elders, adults, CCCC students, and Spirit Lake youth. The efforts of the Initiative have reached each of these groups in different ways, which will be described in the Accomplishments section. Changes/Problems:There have been no major changes or significant problems for the Extension program during 2018-2019. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?For staff: In January, the Community Agriculture Coordinator and the Community Garden Manager attended the North Dakota Greenhouse, Nursery, and Landscaping Association Conference. Techniques were learned, networking was performed, and greenhouses were researched during this time. These staff also attended regular sessions of the NDSU Spring Garden Forum to learn tips and tricks for gardening in North Dakota that they can use and share in the gardens at CCCC. For community members: Those who are students at CCCC are eligible to apply for student apprenticeship positions. These students learn to plant, identify weeds, and maintain garden and landscape spaces. They learn to use the tractor and mow and till. Apprentices learn job skills like punctuality, reliability, and responsibility. These are essential skills for starting in agriculture. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to College faculty, staff, and the Board of Regents via monthly reports over email. These reports highlight the activities completed or in progress with the Extension staff each month as well as numbers of workshops, topics, and attendees. Often, programs have been advertised and discussed on KABU 90.7 radio and shared via Facebook. A summary of the Extension Office's activities was included in the College's Annual Report, which was mailed to every household on the Reservation and to former students. Extension also hosted one of the monthly all-staff meetings, using the time to inform all staff about what Land Grant/Extension means for a Tribal College. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Staff plan to continue existing programs and implement additional workshop curricula where appropriate. Extension staff will continue the relationship with the CCCC Community Garden and look for opportunities to engage with other Tribal programs. Discussions have been had with the Food Distribution program about increased collaboration. Increased educational opportunities with children will be possible in future years through collaborating with staff hired for a USDA CYFAR grant. There will be 4-H started with different schools on the reservation for grades 3-5. Extension will be providing some of the programming for 4-H. Extension staff plan to expand greenhouse food production efforts significantly once the new greenhouse is constructed. Improved climate control plans have begun for the existing greenhouse that supports seedlings and horticultural activities on campus. A more comprehensive annual report newsletter will be created in future years to better disseminate information on Extension successes to the public.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
These responses are numbered to match the objectives listed. 1. The garden tilling program has been continued. This year there were 42homes in the Spirit Lake Community on the list for tilling. Tilling was completed at 29 of the 42 homes. Reasons why 13 homes did not receive tilling include: being unable to contact hte resident, the resident hired someone else to do it, and the resident changed their mind. This year there was a very late spring and several rain storms, delaying tilling. Next year staff will hope to till earlier in the spring and will start the tilling list earlier in the year. 2. Seeds and seedlingswere provided to all of the homes tilled, with a priority to elders. All of the seedlings (tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, peppers) were started in the CCCC greenhouse with the oversight of the Community Agriculture Coordinator and the student apprentices.Additionally, seedlings were given to the Senior Services Center for distribution to elders in the community. 3. With support from another grant through the NRCS, the Extension office hired a Community Garden Manager in addition to the Community Agriculture Coordinator. Both the Manager and the Coordinator have held seminars and workshops on topics like beginning gardening, container gardening, and plant care. The workshops reached over 40 people. As the harvest season approaches, food preservation workshops are planned, including pickling and corn drying. 4. Food production is in progress on the reservation. The NRCS grant along with the Extension funding facilitated the start of the CCCC Community Garden. This currently has 12 active gardeners with gardens of varying sizes. The CCCC produce garden at the College is also in production, with corn, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and other vegetables that will be used in the fall's food preservation classes or in the College Café to subsidize healthy food options. Modernization of the current greenhouse is in process. Shade cloth has been installed to prevent sunburn of the plants and a monitoring and alarm system will be coming soon for temperature monitoring. The small greenhouse lacks proper functionality and ventilation for adequate food production on campus, so other USDA funds will be leveraged to purchase and construct a large greenhouse. This greenhouse will be used to further the Extension grant goals--food production on the reservation. It will provide a space to expose more community members to agriculture and will create a steady supply of low-cost fresh produce for the College Café. This will be implemented over the next year. 5. College-age youth have been involved in agricultural and landscaping activities on campus via the student apprenticeship program. One student during the school semesters and three students during the summer months work part-time getting experience in agriculture and landscaping duties. They learn to plant, identify weeds, and maintain garden and landscape spaces. They learn to use the tractor and mow and till. These are essential skills for starting in agriculture. Young people also attended some of the introductory gardening workshops with their parents and help their families with growing at the CCCC Community Garden. 6. Nutrition workshops have been especially popular this last year. CCCC partnered with NDSU to host a variety of workshops in the NDSU curriculum, including Cooking is a Snap and Nourish Your Skin/Eyes/etc. These workshops were held in the Land Grant Department and at the Valerie Merrick Memorial Library on campus. Teens, college students, adults, and sometimes young children attended these workshops--reaching over 160 community members.
Publications
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