Marigolds at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Demonstration Garden on the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) campus, a 1994 Land-Grant Tribal College and University (TCU) Land-Grant member, in Santa Fe, NM, on Sept. 11, 2019.
The garden demonstrates and promotes indigenous agricultural methods for food and medical crop cultivation while serving as an outdoor learning space. It is designed and maintained by the Center for Lifelong Education, local tribe members, students, and faculty. The Garden is representative of IAIA's 1994 Land Grant mission to provide training and outreach that promotes tribal sovereignty and self-determination. This activity is supported by grants from the USDA.
The tiered gardens feature traditional crops of the Southwest, such as corn, squash, beans, melons, and New Mexico’s signature chile peppers (Capsicum annum). Waffle gardening and flood irrigation practices also reflect the traditions of surrounding farming communities. The gardens have expanded to include the perennial turtle garden; an orchard with apples, pears, and peaches; and a small raspberry and blackberry plot. The turtle (shaped) garden began as land art and expanded to include perennial utilitarian plants, including Native American tea (Cota tinctorial), yarrow (Achillea lanulosa), and white sage (Salvia apiana). These are grown for the healing and sacred space within the garden.
Additionally, land grant programs have coupled traditional crops and practices with other crops, such as lettuce greens and culinary herbs, as well as modern practices like drip irrigation and raised-bed gardening. The raised-beds are an example of modern water conservation for the region's drought conditions. IAIA’s USDA demonstration gardens serve research and educational purposes and are an example of a small agricultural business that generates produce for IAIA’s on-campus café, Bon Appetit.
IAIA is a1994 Land-Grant Tribal College and University (TCU), where the Land-Grant program has served Native communities since 1994. Services and programs have included the three focus areas of teaching, extension, and research to serve the needs of tribal communities and their members.
Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) applies a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Tribal College Research Grant for an applied student internship research program that engages tribes and pueblos. The research is geared towards the agricultural needs of 19 New Mexico pueblos and tribal communities.
IAIA has received nine Community Facility Program obligations from the USDA Rural Development (RD) Community Facilities Tribal College Grant Initiative over the years for the construction of various campus buildings significantly improved campus facilities and associated equipment.
USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
For more information, please see:
usda.gov
IAIA.edu
tribalcollegejournal.org/at-iaia-agriculture-is-art/. Original public domain image from Flickr