Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience is members of the Blackfeet Reservation youth and adults: students, community members, farmers and ranchers to provide educational outreach throughout the year andto expand on experiential learningon gardening, traditional foods, agriculture and alternative energy through workshops and seminars abd community activities. Changes/Problems:A community garden was established at Blackfeet Community College (BCC) on the property where the greenhouse is currently located (east campus) and due to animals eating produce we went to a raised bed growing method in the outdoor garden and in the greenhouse which we seen a lot of success. We have been growing in the greenhouse even though the damages that occurred to the greenhouse in January of 2013 from sever wind and damages to the power sources the wind turbines and solar energy; we've had to change how we utilize the greenhouse during the spring, summer, fall and winter months. Due to our short growing season we are trying to establish a growing pit to try and grow during the winter which is unheard of in our area. The additional cost of paying for water has proven to be an expensive an ineffective to maintain our gardens and lack of water availability to the established community garden placed on Browning public School property the garden wasn't able to grow mature fruits and vegetables. We planted our crops (fruits and vegetables) which we gave to community members who were interested in trying the produce and they requested more during next year's growing season. The raised bed gardens had to be replaced with new wood material and tables had to be reconstructed out of new metal materials to prevent mold and disease from reaching plants. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The extension program hosted workshops for community members on the Blackfeet Reservation on Gardening, Farm Bill, and BioWeed Control. Along with all the outreach services we stated above in our accomplished goals. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Surrounding communities where encouraged to be involved and participants who participated in the activities where given resources and tools to bring back to their communities to educate other interested individuals who are encourage to partake in future workshops provided by the extension program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The property where the community garden is established at Blackfeet Community College (BCC) (east campus) a fence was established to keep livestock from damaging the property and equipment, we also had raised beds built to reduce the amount of crops that Richardson ground squirrel could consume. The hydroponic garden that was constructed by the building trade students from our workforce academic division was made to runoff solar power but when placed outside livestock damaged it from rubbing on the solar panel. The extension program started to work with Browning Public Schools and we provided garden education activities to all of the Kindergarten and First Grade Students; we planted with the students, explained plant life cycle and parts of plants and we did coloring activities with them out of the coloring book. The Blackfeet Early Head Start program was also included in the planting activities we worked with students from ages 3 to 5 years old and we planted and brought in mature vegetables to let them touch, feel, and smell to get their senses working about fruits and vegetables. In June I took 5 young Farmers and Ranchers to the FPCC/AIHEC Ag Training - June 8-10, 2015 - Billings, MT to learn about new programs under the farm bill in which many of them qualified for services. The Extension program worked with Native American Science Fellow Center to provide Blackfeet Cultural teaching to the 7th and 8th Grade students of Browning Middle School, USDA Extension presented on the American Bison on the uses of the meats and uses of the entire body from bones to fur which the Blackfeet utilized for survival; they were introduced to techniques used to hunt the Bison from Corrals, Buffalo Jumps and Natural Barriers. We also participated in the Days of the Blackfeet a Celebration at Blackfeet Community College in which we created a scavenger hunt using buffalo bones we had over 50 participants from School Children to College Students; they would try and identify the bones and come up with three uses for each bone found. During the summer we harvested fruits and vegetables from out raised bed gardens and gave them to community members interested in consuming fresh produce. We participated in the People Mark at Blackfeet Community College by bringing starter plants of fruits and vegetables for people from the Blackfeet Reservation to take and start their own gardens; individuals who participated also had problems with Richardson ground squirrel and we suggested planting peppermint and onions around their plants. . Worked with Jennifer Cole from the Farm Service Agency in Bozeman, MT to set up a Community Meeting on the Blackfeet Reservation on a Farm Bill updates from FSA, NRCA and RD that was held on February 3rd, 2015. There were over 40 participents at this meeting that was held at the Holiday Inn Express in Browning, MT.

Publications

Progress 08/31/12 to 08/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: My target audience for the USDA Extension grant are the community youth (K-12 students),BCC daycare participants( ages 3-5), and community members of the Blackfeet Reservation; extension program assisted by my student interns. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Currently developing the capacity among our three (3) interns to help assist students and community members to be actively engaged in the garden; each inter is developing their own research project that will include community engagement from students and our community. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? During the annual “Days of the Blackfeet” conference in September 2013,our USDA Extension Grant team hosted (K-12)students, BCC students, and engaged community members in the greenhouse; along with my interns, we facilitated a tour of our greenhouse/off grid system and allowed participants to plant produce seeds in the raised bed. My interns then were able to monitor the growth of our winter harvest; additionally students who had planted in the greenhouse where invited to view the progress of the crop. I am currently working with other USDA entities to build community awareness on community gardens and sustainable food systems; our focus is to work with the youth to build their learning capacity to explore healthier food options and production. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Provide grown-produce to all the outlying communities on the Blackfeet Reservation; gaining the interest of students and community members to learn from our centralized garden located on the east campus, thus building the capacity for each community to start their own community garden. Provide information on hydroponic gardening techniques for interested individuals as well as trainings focusing on how to establish a garden, crop preparation, and planting/growing/harvesting produce.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A community garden was established the summer 2013 at Blackfeet Community College (BCC) on the property where the greenhouse is currently located (east campus). Due to our short growing season and extreme weather conditions, most garden attempts have been unsuccessful. The additional cost of paying for water has proven to be an expensive an ineffective to maintain our gardens. We have planted our fall crops (fruits and vegetables) which we are going to give what is produced to the BCC students and community members who are in need of fresh produce. Our starter crops will be planted in spring 2014 at the greenhouse, to provide produce to the community members who are engaged in gardening. The garden belonging to our USDA Extension Program will provide free produce to local individuals and for surrounding communities on the reservation who don’t have immediate access to our garden. The hydroponic garden consists of a vertical garden that was constructed by the building trade students from our workforce academic division. The raised bed gardens are built in the greenhouse to grow our fall crops; the local soil, short growing season, and extreme weather conditions render us unable to plant crops outside during the winter months.

Publications

Progress 09/01/11 to 08/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: 12 truckloads of soil and plant starts were delivered to 14 successful gardens in June and July. Of the 92 assessments on past and present gardens planted in the past four years we determined a 70% success rate. Home assessments were performed on over 40 local residences for the garden selection process. Meetings were conducted with 10 critical Health and other Tribal Programs including Housing, Planning, and the Southern Diabetes programs to discuss detail and future planting of gardens for their various clientele and/or program participants. Tours of the Green House were provided to over 40 community events held at BCC with a seasonal attendance of approximately 1,300 which included students and community members. NCAT and Opportunities Inc. also toured the greenhouse and were provided short presentations on alternative energy. Workshops were conducted for the Community of Cut Bank, the High School, Middle School, Elementary School, and the Community College. Topics included Intro to Blackfeet Herb logy, food preservation, stress management, and Early Indian medicine and included field studies and medicinal factors of native plants. Attendance at the workshops averaged 35 to 40 and included students and community members. A total of 48 presentations were provided throughout the year to local public schools k-12 and the community college (BCC) topics included alternative energy, Native Plants, Gardens, and Early Indian medicine/Health . Research and gathering of traditional foods is ongoing and serves as a tool to educate and train communities in areas of traditional foods and forms of gathering and has been developed into a curriculum PARTICIPANTS: Family Garden and Raised Bed Systems conferences and hosted workshops showed increased interest and attendance. Emphasis of healthy eating and exercise has been accomplished thru the initiative of the Family Gardens and Healthy Hearts Program. The BCC Extension Program has established a learning forum with several local schools to help coordinate field trips and schedule hands on learning. A coalition of several tribal entities formed to help further coordinate and promote activities and assist in program development. Overall BCC Extension Program outcomes were analyzed in the areas of feasibility and sustainability. As stated, grant project goals were successful in areas of anticipated timelines and milestones because of the staff, tribal partnerships and volunteers' willingness of participation to complete projects. Reports show strength in project sustainability based on the ability of the project to continue beyond the funding period and the leveraging of new funds. Approximately half of the program projects are staffed by volunteers which helps to offset costs and generate community involvement. TARGET AUDIENCES: 12 family gardens and two community gardens in 7 communities were planted with various garden vegetables and native plants and are cared for by volunteer families and staff. The green house grows flowers that are sold to the public which assists in subsidizing the operation. The BCC Extension Program remains optimistic for expansion to further increase marketing and subsidize expenses. Identification and research of newer families with diabetes, heart disease and obesity gives statistical analysis for future funding. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Based on notes and records of community meetings, family gardens, compost methods, worm bins, traditional and medicinal plants, hundreds of people both tribal and non members have been educated in horticulture. With the involvement of several tribal programs the BCC Extension Program has seen an increase in community members who are interested in gardens and traditional plants of the Blackfeet. Students and volunteers have been key participants for the BCC greenhouse operation. An emphasis has been put on those students that are majoring in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. The compost project located at BCC has been established and relocated to the new BCC greenhouse location on BCC property. The Heart Butte community has been receptive to the BCC gardening project and has donated over ten acres for composting. Efforts to gather discarded food from the Public Schools has been successful with the Public schools being very supportive of the BCC Extension Program projects. Family gardens have been planted in each of the seven communities with selected families tending the gardens. BCC plant starts have been transplanted in each of the seven gardens and are thriving. Restoration efforts are continuing at the BCC Extension Program with the BCC experimenting with several types of pine trees and wild plants. This years family garden project team and volunteers have again surpassed their goal of planting twelve gardens in 7 communities. This year's grant achieved the objectives for wellness through proper nutrition by growing gardens with active involvement. It was clear the propagation of all the garden vegetable starts were immensely valuable to the success of this project. The starts grown in the BCC greenhouse have resulted in giving the gardens a healthy head start evident by the robust vegetables, a process crucial due to the short growing season. The output of horticultural information from the BCC Extension Program is one that has attracted many types of audiences both locally and rurally. With a horticultural curriculum developed by the BCC and the Extension Agent scheduled in the fall, spring, and winter semesters people are being taught the value to gardening, composting and healthy diets.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11

Outputs
June, July, August 2010: Planted 36 gardens. Our objective was to plant 24 gardens, but planted more due to family demand. Planted 4 community gardens. All the starts came from the Blackfeet Community Green house. The gardens planted by the Blackfeet Healthily Heart Staff, 4 Global Volunteers, the two extension staff , 3 student interns, and one elder. Delivered 12 truck loads of soil and plant starts to 36 gardens. Due to the hail season we lost 12 gardens. We help in replenishing the gardens with seedling from other companies and some of the local families purchase their own starts. Conducted a presentation with Helena middle school on alternative energy. NCAT tour the green house and a short presentation on alternative energy at the green house. Opportunity Inc. a program from Great Falls came to the green house for a presentation on plants and alternative energy. Gather seedling, cuttings, shrubs and berries for our seed bank. September, Oct. 2010: During the harvest season we had 24 successful gardens. Did 96 assessments on past and present gardens. There were 89 gardens planted by the people we started in the last 4 years of this grant, 70% success. Held 12 meetings with Healthy Heart Program discussing the progress of each gardens also the close out of the Healthy Heart Program. Healthy Heart program donated 2 tillers and all the seeds to Green House project. Had a workshop on Introduction to Blackfeet Herbology in which consist of touring the greenhouse, field study and medicinal factors of native plants. Attended Falcon Workshop in October for the annual 1994 institutes, November, December, 2010: was fixing, repairing green house facilities and alternative energy system. Made 18 presentation to Public Schools in Browning and Heart Butte in October - December on gardens and Native plants. January, February, 2011: Presented a 2 day workshop at the Diabetes program on food preservation with 20 participants. Workshop on stress management in Cut Bank Montana with 20 participants. Conducted the workshop on Blackfeet Herbal Preparation. With this workshop we taught how to make tinctures, ointments, salves, cough syrups, decoctions and infusions with native herbs. 23 students attended. We did 30 Public School presentations on alternative energy consist of middle school and elementary education at the green house with audience of 500 students through the fall, winter, and spring months. Earth day was a wave of public school students touring the green house and continuing presentation all day on alternative energy. Every College event on campus that included the public we conducted presentation of the green house and alternative energy. We have at least 40 community events on the college campus. We conducted tours for the public with a participation of 800 community people touring our green house. April we conducted the Early Indian Medicine Health Workshop with 45 students completing. 6 days of field study of native plants and tour of the green house. This spring we did 40 home assessments on potential gardens. We are only planning on doing 12 gardens. We planted 5000 plants for gardens in late June. PRODUCTS: Project products include 36 gardens throughout the reservation in June and July, 12 Truck loads of plants and soil delivered to the gardens, 12 monthly meetings with the Healthy Heart Program, 30 public school presentations at the green house with an overview on alternative energy, continuing public tours and presentations at the green house, 6 days of field study yearly with a focus on alternative energy and native plants, 40 potential garden site home assessments in 2011, continuing workshops on herbal remedies and early Indian medicine, the Healthy Heart Program donated 2 tillers and seeds, workshops on stress management, Participation of the Healthy Heart Program in conducting monthly meetings within the community and to the local High Schools (2011) OUTCOMES: 36 gardens throughout the reservation were planted in June and July. 12 truck loads of soil and greenhouse plant starts contributed to the 36 gardens. We conducted monthly meetings with the Healthy Heart Program on developing family gardens and helped the program do their close out. We conducted a presentation with the Helena middle school on alternative energy. Opportunity Inc. a program from Great Falls came to the green house for a presentation on plants and alternative energy. January 2011 in conjunction with Healthy Heart Program we presented a 2 day workshop at the Diabetes program on food preservation with 20 participants. January 2011 conducted a workshop on stress management in Cut Bank Montana with 20 participants from that community. A college event was conducted on campus which included the public and provided a presentation of the green house and alternative energy. February 2011 we conducted the workshop on Blackfeet Herbal Preparation. With this workshop we taught how to make tinctures, ointments, salves, cough syrups, decoctions and infusions with native herbs.. We did 30 Public School presentations on alternative energy consisting of middle school and elementary education at the green house with an audience of 500 students through the fall, winter, and spring months. Earth day was a wave of public school students touring the green house and continuing presentation all day on alternative energy. Every College event on campus that included the public we conducted presentation of the green house and alternative energy. We conducted tours for the public with a participation of 800 community people touring our green house. April we conducted the Early Indian Medicine Health Workshop with 70 students. 6 days of field study of native plants and a tour of the green house. This spring we did 40 home assessments on potential gardens. We planted 5000 plants for gardens. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The BCC USDA Extension program continues to provide and spread horticultural information throughout the Blackfeet Reservation communities through venues that included; the local media, class room instruction, workshops, presentations, outdoor workshops and community participation. BCC Community garden projects were popular in that they provided hands on instruction to reservation housing tenants in the area of garden development, vegetable gardening, planting, and harvesting. The Blackfeet Community College USDA Extension programs utilization of Alternative Energy sources promoted local and regional interests in the use of alternative energy sources in horticulture uses through tours of the greenhouse and its use of solar and wind-power resources. FUTURE INITIATIVES: NA

Impacts
NA

Publications

• No publications reported this period