Hat's Growing on in the Villages
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The Council • Page 1 Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Anchorage, AK Permit No. 537 Dena’ Nena’ Henash Our Land Speaks Vol. 30, No. 10 A Report to the Member Tribes of the Tanana Chiefs Conference November 2005 Agricultural Harvest Report 2005: hat’s Growing On in the Villages By Jay Moore, Land Resources Agent I write this as snow has already Pearl and the folks in Huslia should begun to blanket the land, preparing be very proud of this effort. Pearl hopes it for its season of rest. This year has for bigger and better things from the been a fast-paced and very exciting garden in 2006. Now that the garden one for me as a Land Resources Agent is established, it will take less effort on with the University of Alaska Fairbanks the front end next year to get things Cooperative Extension Service. I have rolling. Thanks, Pearl, for this inspiring been able to work with several projects effort put into the garden this year. in the TCC Region that were successful Keep it up! and have heard about other endeavors that were very successful as well. I am amazed at the leaders in each and ulato every one of our communities, who have participated in and led many In Nulato this year, a big garden agricultural projects. Without these was planted and grown on the banks of leaders, these projects wouldn’t have the mighty Yukon River. This site has been possible. So now a few highlights been planted for years, but this year of the 2005 season. there was an effort by Lisa Patsy to get more people gardening in Nulato. Gardeners at the Huslia Garden of Life Workshops were held in the early uslia spring to encourage seed planting and livestock ventures in the community. garden. A small greenhouse was also the children in the school cared for the He has really inspired many in the erected and covered by the folks at This year in Huslia, the “Huslia community to grow at least a small the Tribal Council. Nita Marks was Garden of Life” Elder Youth Garden seedlings for the community. Not only was the garden at the river used, but garden to supply fresh and healthy instrumental in getting this done, and was established. Pearl Henry oversaw vegetables for consumption. Ed has also many thanks should go to Nita. Rita this project and was instrumental in also several community members had been instrumental in bringing chickens, Pierce also stepped up to the plate and organizing, implementing, and seeing personal gardens at their homes. turkeys and ducks into the community. helped to fund more beds at the garden. the project through to completion. At the end of the season, I was able He even is mentoring young people to Her main objective was to get kids to talk with Lisa about the gardening I was able to see the area that was take care of their own poultry. Ed said involved in the gardening project with season. She seemed very happy about turned into a great vegetable garden in he butchered a couple of turkeys this their parents. I am happy to say that the level of success that was achieved in the early spring. It was a field located fall and they weighted approximately every time I went through Nenana this the gardens of Nulato this year. Many near Spring Camp that was grown 25 pounds apiece. I know where I want year, I saw children at the gardening were served by the garden because up with willows and grass. The area to go for Thanksgiving dinner now. Ed, site — some with parents, some by Brother Bob with the church in Nulato was cleared, plowed, and planted with I have a family of four, so make room themselves, taking care of their beds. often served veggies from his garden at a variety of vegetables. A fence was for us at the table. Rita, I think your funding was very even erected to keep out four-legged church functions. I guess Brother Bob worthwhile and touched more people visitors. Pearl said it worked very well, is feeding his people in more than one Ed was even able to travel to than you know. except for a porcupine that got fat on way. With the established garden at the Delta this summer to the 2005 Delta beets. The porcupine seems to have river, Lisa sees gardening becoming a Farm Tour hosted by the Cooperative This year, several community wiped out the entire beet crop, but more important part of life in Nulato. Extension Service. The main purpose members managed the garden in a team didn’t mess with anything else. I guess With the increased cost of bringing of attending this event was to network effort. Carry Edwin, Miles Martin this is an example of sharing with all food in, it only makes sense to grow with agricultural producers and and Tim Horn all pitched in to help of the community. your own. Thanks, Nulato, for sharing suppliers and figure out where the oversee the garden and greenhouse. Many members of the community this story with us. Keep things growing village of Ruby could benefit from the Laurel McManus was instrumental in tended the garden, and many young in 2006. agricultural industry in Alaska. He keeping water available to be used in people of the community seemed feels he got some good ideas from this the garden. Probably one of the things to enjoy going out to the garden. trip and made contacts that will aid that sticks out in my mind with the At the end of the season, a produce uby him in his position in Ruby. Finally, Nenana gardening effort was the care sale was held in the Community Ed is working on a grant proposal for fellow gardeners. This year, a bed Hall, where fresh vegetables were Ruby is a unique village in that to support agricultural producers in was constructed late in the season for offered at below-market prices to they actually have an agricultural Ruby. If funded, Ed plans to expand the a gardener who had been injured in an help supplement local diets. It gave administrator in Mr. Ed Sarten. Ed agriculture projects in Ruby to make auto accident in the spring. Her doctors residents of the community a chance is a seasonal the community more self-sufficient and said she needed to walk a couple of to partake of healthy food alternatives employee in to offer an economic opportunity for miles a day for her rehabilitation. So the that otherwise might not have been Ruby helping those that want to sell produce. Good community garden members felt that available to them. Everyone left this ove r s e e a l l luck, Ed, in your endeavors. And Ruby, if she had a bed to tend to, she would sale with a smile on their face and g a r d e n i n g hang onto Ed — I think he is a keeper. have a reason to walk. Boy, were they a bag full of fresh vegetables to eat. effor ts and right, as her bed was one of the most The youth that participated in the productive of the season. Good job, gardening effort had an ice cream LEFT: Zeta enana Nenana, for caring for your social following the sale of produce, so Cleaver, Ruby, neighbors. If you could hear you know that they left with smiles on shows the Nenana again had a great gardening me, I am clapping for you their faces. The proceeds of the sale will vegetables she season in 2005. The effort that began right now. go to buy seeds and supplies needed for grew in her last year with 15 participants grew to 18 the garden in 2006. greenhouse. families that had beds in the community Harvest, continued on page 2 Page 2 • The Council • November 2005 TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE Harvest, continued from page 1 suicide and in honor of those who have yards, I began to question my own of their gardening efforts in 2005. I had family members lost to suicide. In efforts in my flowers and vegetables. continue to be amazed by the people that a sense, it seemed like a healing exercise I in Fairbanks have things provided I am graced to work with in our villages ughes to me while I was in Hughes. The kids to me much more conveniently than and at Tanana Chiefs Conference. You really got into it and they realized that the people of McGrath, but their stuff are all blessings in my life. looks a lot better than mine. Being Jane Bifelt and Tina Ambrose took these trees go through cold and dark that gardening and agriculture are it upon themselves this year to get a seasons, just like we do in our lives. They BELOW: Watering the Huslia Garden my primary duties here, I probably garden going in Hughes. It was located continue to grow and they continue to of Life shouldn’t have said that, but honesty is on the banks of the Koyukuk River and survive despite facing some adverse the best policy. McGrath is gifted with was a picture-perfect garden. During growing conditions. It is hoped that many who have a green thumb. Keep the season, Tina sent me pictures of the the 26 trees planted will survive, but the it growing down in McGrath. garden to inquire about how the plants activity got the kids talking and that is looked and if there was anything that very important when dealing with this This pretty much wraps up the I could see from the pictures to help subject.