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.
The three hands-on hydroponic workshops held by the Nurturing Plants project were a success, providing ~8-10 hours of training. With the first workshop bringing 18 participants, the second workshop 14 participants, and the final workshop 8 participants. These workshops allowed a wide range of students with different majors to attend such as public health, global health, computer science, veterinary science, molecular and cellular biology, optical sciences, journalism, law, and chemistry. The first workshop was an introduction to Hydroponics and provided participants with their own hydroponic systems. The second workshop grounded participants through activities of community building while also providing information about trouble shooting and maintaining their hydroponic systems. The last workshop was a visit to the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center where they got to visit all the greenhouses and projects. As the workshops were a success, participant testimonies show each persons’ experience:
"Learned more about hydroponics, it was a new experience for me. Got me excited to go on with the workshop"
"I enjoyed the information that was presented. I have heard of hydroponic before but did not know what it was. Learning of the different types of systems there are I was amazed. Learning the background of our presenter was very interesting too. This tied into the workshop really well and I enjoyed the workshop overall."
"Being able to take home my own hydroponic plant and watch it grow."
"I enjoyed the environment the workshop was set in. The welcoming and comfortable environment made the workshop very enjoyable."
"Bree was friendly and passionate about the subject matter. She was also willing to accommodate others and help anyone who was confused."
