Gardening getting a good start at Northern Cheyenne

LAME DEER, MT. – The efforts to promote gardening by several organizations are coming to fruition on

Earlier this spring, the Yellowbird Lifeways project distributed hundreds of healthy seedlings to residents of the reservation; rototilled gardens for people who couldn’t do that on their own; provided large wooden raised gardening boxes and topsoil to those enrolled in their Self Sufficiency Gardening Project; and provided gardening tools. In addition, they will soon hold a “Kids Gardening Day” in Lame Deer. The Yellowbird Lifeways project is under the direction of Lynette Two Bulls, Oglala Sioux who now resides near the Northern Cheyenne reservation.

Recently, the Chief Dull Knife College Extension Service, directed by tribal member Henri Thompson also provided raised metal garden boxes to some community members with a special emphasis on elders. Henri said that many elders have requested gardening assistance because of food shortages and rising food costs. “Most grew up gardening and some want to get back to growing their own.” The extension project is funded by USDA to promote community development. Two young native Extension Service interns, Uriah Two Two, (the muscle) Northern Cheyenne and Ky Kawanvens, Ojibway from Canada are featured here delivering the boxes. They will be at the ‘beck and call’ of elderly gardeners this season.

“We are already looking forward to harvest and canning time,” Thompson said. ‘

Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennereview@gmail.com.

The post Gardening getting a good start at Northern Cheyenne first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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