Progress 09/15/23 to 09/14/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Communal food forests represent a sustainable approach to addressing food security challenges while revitalizing cultural food practices within the Blackfeet Nation.We are currently working with7 Blackfeet Elders in developing accurate signage on native plants within our forested food and interpretive trail system, we initiated a collaborative effort with Blackfeet elders, Blackfeet Community College students and staff. We have youth from surrounding schools to visit our demonstration growing area to learn about the native berry plants that are not only consumed by Blackfeet people but also used for cultural and healing importance.We are looking to integrate agricultural field day with traditional knowledge and perspectives to enhance community members the understanding and respect of Blackfeet cultures and foods. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As we continue to move forward with our Meat Poultry Processing grant, we will look at getting our community members the certification to become USDA Meat Inspector or receive a degree/ certificate from BFCC. By increasing educational knowledge of our foods, we hope to establish a food safety program with our meat and vegetable products. We are still waiting for our agriculturalbuilding for completionso we can have a centralize area to train students and community members. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our Extension program has demonstrated a unique resource for the community of Browning, MT. Wepride ourselves on fostering strong partnerships that showcase innovative agricultural demonstrations. These collaborations not only highlight sustainable practices but also promote community engagement and educational opportunities. As we continue to expand our outreach efforts, our goal is to inspire and empower individuals to embrace sustainable agriculture for the benefit of our community and beyond. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are excited to announce the arrival of our Mobile Meat Processing Unit (MMPU) at Blackfeet Community College. This innovative addition from our MPP grant marks a significant step towards promoting traditional foods of wild game and domesticated livestock. We plan to provide information about our rangeland management and forage crops and how it relates to quality meats. To provide our producers with information and fostering community resilience through sustainable practices. As we embark on this new journey, our goal is to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to embrace and celebrate our rich culinary heritage.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Continue highlighting agricultural program we implemented our forested food demonstration with 5 shrub species for total of 56 plants native to the Blackfeet people. We are in the process of setting up solar irrigation for each row of plants and change the soil profile to meet the plants nutrient up take for quality growth. To provide traditional foods with cultural values we plan to have community members harvest berries for consumption or traditional use. We also setup our soil amendments for our backyard gardeners with topsoil, 4-way soil and soil prep. Now we can teach growers soil amendments ratios, soil type and starter plants. Useful data will be collected for soil weight, garden type, soil mix and irrigation system.
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Progress 09/15/22 to 09/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:In the development of our extension program, USDA student internshelp initiate strategiesthat improve the growing area of BFCC demonstration plot. Our garden plot and greenhouse production areessential in providing effective outreach programs to backyardgardener's, youth and eldersshowinginterest, motivation, to grow food for self-consumption or to learn about what types of foods can we grow here on Blackfeet Nation.We continue to servethe community by adopting the Agricultural Resource Management Plan (ARMP), of the Blackfeet Tribe thatguides our efforts in theprotection ofutilization, conservation and restoration of our Land Grant Campus andAgricultural lands of theBlackfeet Nation forall generations of the Blackfeet people. Changes/Problems:We are in the process of hiring a Technical Assistance to help assist with grow area of our Extension program. This allows us to maintain a productive teaching demonstration forour producers and help drive our agriculturalworkforce program and research opportunities for students. In addition, we are building partners and finishing larger projects that will expand our capacity to serve the Blackfeet communities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Our Extension Program sent two USDA Extension Interns and our GASPA Coordinator to attend the FALCON Conference. This October conference helped us identify opportunities for improvements with student research and extension programs throughout Indian Country. Workshops included potential partnerships with TCU's on other project execution and performance improvements ideas. We also met with NIFA representatives for guidance with Extension acquisitions.BFCC Extension attend the Arbor Day Foundation conference November to plan the construction of Windbreaks and a Forest Food demonstration. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?To have our Extension program develop a strong connection and provide ideal information the is relatable to the Blackfeet people and its communities. We will continue to work with programs, provide education resources for the tribe, and build food program around programs on Blackfeet Nation. We had reached out to programs for partnership, Montana State University; Piiknai Health Lodge Institute; Glacier National Park; Salish Kootenai College; Department of Nature Resource; MT, just to name a few that only strengthen our program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are fortunate that our campus encompasses 696 acres. To promote good stewardship, we developed rotational grazing on our south campus that breaks into two section for 327 acres. We demonstrated range production for animal units because we want to provide range management for Blackfeet producers and our buffalo program. The 327 acre plot is fenced with electrical fencing with solar panels and two developed earth dams for water development. Our outside classroom demonstrates a learning environment on how the buffalo teaches as a provider, re-seeding of the land and the ecological importance of the land. We have an elder group that share traditional knowledge of native plant species that we planted for consumption and demonstration.We like to introduction nutrient values, soil nutrition, side roll irrigation, basic principles of forage crop production and develop feed for our upcoming buffalo program. Students, adults/elders and Blackfeet producers will have more opportunity to get understanding on how be a successful grower and identify, forage crops, invasive species and resource management.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
As a small-scale fresh fruit and vegetable grower, the BFCC Extension programdonated our harvest directly to the FAST Blackfeet food program thatprovided healthy food for 100+ families.We harvest 11 different cropsfor 942.13lbs and cooked onions, carrots and potatoes for MMIPCommunity Feed Festival. Providing educational workshops and training on how to grow foods might be unusual to the Blackfeet cultural. But we were able to develop a drip irrigation system for our Blackfeet Community College, garden plot by fixing our solar power system for our irrigation well pump. Built program to where the community would access our soil amendments, garden demonstration, compost bins and holistic garden.
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