The Nurturing Plants project is an Indigenous-Centered Mini Grant seeking to improve food security and indigenous food sovereignty through the education of hydroponics. While also promoting community-based research and Indigenous methodology approaches.
This project will provide a 2-month long program that includes three hands-on hydroponic workshops occurring twice a month. This will require participants to attend two hands-on workshops and one community gathering where they will receive free materials such as a hydroponic system, seeds, farm tools, and more that will help them implement teachings from the workshops. These workshops will focus on various skills such as, teaching how to build and maintain the hydroponic system, gardening skills, nutrient and traditional food education, and Indigenous food demonstrations. Nurturing Plants will also integrate Navajo cultural practices such as Hózhǫ́ógo Iiná (Navajo healing and restoring balance and harmony) to focus on participants spiritual health and wellness.
The Nurturing Plants project brings attention to the effects that climate change, severe drought, and heat waves has on the agriculture, food production, and food access of multiple Indigenous communities. By providing hydroponic systems to Indigenous communities, it will allow for a way to mitigate these threats posed to their agricultural and food systems.
This project is made possible through the generous support of the Agenes Nelms Haury Program.
