Kickstarter

What is this project all about?

We are working on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to promote sustainable solutions to the many social and economic problems that the Lakota community faces.  Most of these problems are not isolated to people on the Rez.  They are problems that we face all around the country, mainly, food insecurity, poor nutritional health and environmental degradation.  However, here on the Rez, many of these problems are amplified and compounded with other strains.  Diabetes, youth suicide and hyper-unemployment are a few of the major problems that plague the Lakota nation.  Pine Ridge is a beautiful place with a rich and spiritual heritage, yet it is in need of major support and practical solutions.  We are a community-based organization, here on the Rez, and we would like to plant a Food Forest as a demonstration tool to teach community members the skills needed to improve their own situation.

What is a Food Forest?

A Food Forest is an intentional forest garden designed with a great diversity of trees and other plant species.  It is a growing system, which follows a natural design to ensure long-term production and stability.  By using companion planting arrangements, we will establish a series of multi-layered growing guilds.  These guilds have reciprocal functions, which benefit each included plant.  While one plant provides nutrients to the soil, another plant provides mulch from its trimmings.  Every plant has a purpose!  The design makes gardening less laborious and requires fewer external inputs, offering people a sustainable and practical alternative to the conventional food system.

Why plant a Food Forest? 

Our hope for this project is that we can generate an abundance of food for the community, while educating families and youth about the alternatives to highly processed and non-nutritious products commonly provided through government food subsidies.  We are working with a number of partnerships to spread this knowledge and to assist the planting of future forests throughout the Rez.

What is needed?

With your help, we can raise the money to buy many of the pioneer plants and trees needed to establish the first year of growing.  The money will also pay for the materials and equipment needed for transplanting trees, setting up wind protections, constructing a water harvesting system, and building a small nursery/bio-shelter.

This food forest is one component of the broadscale development we are conducting on our site.  It is also a key component in the sustainable development of the wider community.  The scope of this project extends beyond our initial planting and we will need continued support to run workshops and assist with future food forests around the Rez.  

All donations are valuable!  Our $4,000 goal serves to fund the foundation of this project, but additional support will really make our forest thrive!  Please join us in support of this great project.