Final report for FNC24-1412
Project Information
Jen Falck: Jen and her husband Tony manage Kahulahele Farmstead, an eight-acre farmstead on the Oneida Reservation which focuses on tribal food sovereignty, restorative agriculture, conscious animal husbandry, and helping others through education, training, and equipment sharing. They do small scale chicken, eggs, beef, and pork production. Jen is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Jen and Tony have been processing food and/or farming for over 30 years. She also works for the Menominee Tribe’s Department of Agriculture and Food Systems as a program coordinator. Tony also helps manage the farm, and is a Wetland Restoration Manager as well as a soils scientist. They are founding members of Ohelaku- a grassroots group of 15 families that grow approximately four acres annually of traditional Tuscarora White Corn on the Oneida Reservation. The group is currently in its eighth growing season.
Rebecca Webster: Rebecca and Stephen Webster are enrolled citizens of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin. They grew their first crop of Iroquois white corn in 2015 in the family’s backyard garden. The following year, they expanded their backyard garden and helped form Ohe·láku (among the cornstalks), a co-op of Oneida families that grow acres of Iroquois white corn together. The following year, Rebecca convinced her husband to buy 10 acres of vacant agricultural land and build a farmstead so they could expand their home gardening adventures. Their long term goal for this property would be to serve as a place to host events where the community comes to learn about planting, growing, harvesting, seed keeping, food preparation, food storage, as well as making traditional tools and crafts. The philosophy is that every time an Indigenous person plants a seed, that is an act of resistance, an assertion of sovereignty, and a reclamation of identity. With these goals in mind, an Oneida faithkeeper named their 10-acre homestead Ukwakhwa: Tsinu Niyukwayay^thoslu (Our foods: Where we plant things). They grow traditional, heirloom foods with an emphasis on Haudenosaunee varieties of corn, beans, squash, sunflowers, and sun chokes as well as a number of berry bushes and fruit and nut trees. Based on their family farming practices, they started a YouTube Channel called Ukwakhwa (Our Foods) where they share what they learned about planting, growing, harvesting, seed keeping, food preparation, food storage, as well as making traditional tools and crafts. In 2021, their family formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Ukwakhwa (Our Foods), and in 2025, they purchased an additional 5-acres of land adjacent to their property.
The Oneida community has limited access to indigenous foods. This problem is a result of historical trauma and the abrupt disruption of cultural lifeways. The Oneida people were forcibly removed from their homelands in what is now known as New York state and many were removed west to the area now known as Green Bay, Wisconsin. One major devastation the Oneida people experience is the disconnection between the community, land, and food or subsistence.
Another limiting factor in accessing good quality food is poverty. The poverty rate of Oneida member households on the Oneida Reservation is 20% and at least 22% of the Oneida Indian Reservation population reported living below poverty in the past 12 months. Lack of access to good quality food and indigenous foods results in health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Finally, there is a lack of models for scaling funding opportunities for small farm operation, as most are tailored to larger entities. The outcome of this proposed work will model how two or more small-scale farms can work together to share resources to achieve a common goal. This type of system fosters partnerships that are adaptive, dynamic, and goal seeking.
Final Report Update:
This project addressed the limited access to traditional Haudenosaunee foods within the Oneida community and the broader disconnection from Indigenous agricultural knowledge caused by displacement, assimilation policies, and economic barriers. Many community members lack access not only to culturally relevant foods but also to the skills needed to grow, prepare, and preserve them. Small-scale Indigenous farms also face challenges in scaling labor and infrastructure. Our solution was to create a cooperative apprenticeship model between two farmsteads to grow heirloom crops, raise livestock, prepare community meals, and offer hands-on educational programming. In addition to meal distribution and agricultural training, we hosted three herbal medicinal workshops focused on preparing plant medicines found on the reservation, and we organized a screening of Kanenon:we – Original Seeds followed by a community meal to deepen understanding of seed sovereignty and rematriation.
The project was demonstration and education-focused rather than experimental research. We used an applied learning approach to test shared labor structures, meal distribution logistics, and equipment needs for small-scale food transport. Education took place through hands-on apprenticeship training, community meals, workshops on herbal medicine preparation, and public events that connected agriculture to culture and identity. We tracked participation, meal production, apprentice hours, and operational lessons. We found that cooperative labor sharing between two small farms is viable, that insulated hot boxes effectively serve multiple transport needs, and that overly complex systems such as reusable container tracking can strain small teams. We also observed that participation increases when food is paired with cultural storytelling and practical demonstration.
In conclusion, the project demonstrated that shared apprenticeship models can strengthen small-scale Indigenous farm operations while expanding community access to traditional foods and knowledge. Cultural context significantly increases engagement in sustainable agriculture education, and integrating teachings on food, medicine, and seeds strengthens food sovereignty efforts.
As a result of this education program, community members expressed increased interest in growing heirloom crops, preparing traditional meals, and harvesting local medicinal plants. Some participants began home gardening or experimenting with traditional food preparation techniques shared at events. The project also strengthened collaboration between local producers and reinforced cooperative approaches to labor and food distribution.
The primary intent of this proposal is to expose Oneida community members to indigenous, organic, and heirloom foods produced and raised by both farms. This will be achieved by making these foods available to the community byway of meals and/or meal kits. This work further bridges the gap between the community members and indigenous, organic, and heirloom foods. The foods will be more accessible to the community in a way that makes the preparation and consumption of these foods fun and easy.
In order to accomplish this, an apprentice will be hired and shared by both farms, for the summer months, as a model of cooperation. Sharing an apprentice is a way to scale the opportunity to meet the needs of the project. Neither farm can afford to hire an apprentice on its own. The apprentice will plant, grow and harvest indigenous, organic, heirloom crops for the season. Products will include corn, vegetables, and sun chokes, chickens, and eggs.
Both farms will work together to:
- Hire an apprentice to assist with growing, producing, processing, and preparing indigenous, organic, and heirloom products using sustainable agriculture processes.
- Purchase supplies to support this activity.
- Document practices used in this partnership and create a final report to share with others.
- Provide project outreach using social media and providing presentations at local conferences and meetings at least four times annually.
- Develop social media content and presentations will highlight project practices, progress, and plans for community access to food products and meal preparations.
- Conduct workshops (e.g. hull and process heirloom corn, outdoor workshops making traditional food processing tools, community meals with indigenous foods, fundraising)
- Purchase a customizable trailer to hold coolers and hot boxes for meal, food and drink delivery to people at events.
- Develop a sustainability plan for the project, beyond the life of the grant, that includes food and product sale(s). Revenue(s) will be reinvested to sustain programming.
- Maintain grant compliance and special conditions.
The project processes and practices will be well documented and the project outcome will be submitted as a final report to be shared with others. The report will serve as a model to assist small scale farms in planning, implementation, and problem solving, and the farms will be accessible by all for sharing this information. They will both report their progress periodically on social media. Finally, both farms will be available to share their story and practices at meetings, conferences, and through one-on-one consultation.
This model will demonstrate how to successfully implement cooperation and shared goals and objectives between two or more small-scale farms. The employment opportunity offered through this model provides an aspiring producer, farmer, or rancher with the unique experience of becoming a part of a social, economic, and cultural benefit of the community. The employment opportunity is as much about creating educational and hands-on-learning experiences for the apprentice as it is about the actual labor to foster a more positive environmental, economic, and social benefit.
Final Report Update:
As the project progressed, we determined that purchasing a customizable trailer was unnecessary. Instead, we reallocated those funds to hire an additional summer intern and to bring in extra help during the harvest season. This decision strengthened our labor capacity during peak production periods and enabled us to deepen the project's educational and hands-on components. Jen has spoken at several engagements about our shared apprenticeship model, and Becky has shared this cooperative approach with other organizations through informal conversations. We continue to share our success in apprenticeship sharing as a scalable model for small farms and are actively seeking funding to sustain and expand this work in future years. Our hope is to eventually include additional small-scale farms in Oneida, building a broader cooperative network rooted in Indigenous food sovereignty.
Cooperators
- - Producer
- - Producer
Research
Work under this project started in the Summer of 2024 when we hired an apprentice to conduct the following activities at the Ukwakhwa and Kahulahele farmsteads: planting, weeding, chopping wood, and caring for farm animals. We started community workshops in January 2025 and plan to have more through February 2025. Once we receive the second half of the funds, we will purchase the trailer, hot box, and cold box to start the meals component of the project.
Final Report Update:
In addition to the activities described above, we hosted a screening of Kanenon:we – Original Seeds, which included a community meal featuring traditional foods. We also provided several additional community meals during the project period, including at our barter market and our annual field day. At each of these gatherings, we intentionally highlighted ingredients grown and raised at Ukwakhwa and Kahulahele, exposing community members to Haudenosaunee varieties of corn, beans, and squash, along with products sourced from local farms. These meals served as both outreach and education, demonstrating how traditional ingredients can be prepared in accessible and meaningful ways.
As the season progressed, we recognized the need for additional labor support and added another intern for Summer 2025. This proved essential and greatly strengthened our capacity during peak growing and programming months. During harvest, we had remaining funds available and were able to bring on an additional intern who has flourished in this work and shown deep curiosity and commitment to learning. The apprenticeship model has created a safe and supportive environment for young people to gain hands-on experience in Indigenous agriculture. We are encouraged by the passion this model has sparked, as cultivating the next generation of growers and knowledge holders is how this work will be sustained.
The apprentice alleviated our stress by caring for the farms and helping during events at Ukwakhwa. The four community workshops were posted in mid-December and filled up within the hour. This informs us on what types of programming to continue offering, as there was an overwhelming amount of interest in these classes.
Final Report Update
The apprentice significantly alleviated our workload by assisting with planting, weeding, wood chopping, livestock care, harvesting, and event preparation across both farmsteads. Over the course of the season, we successfully cultivated and harvested Haudenosaunee varieties of corn, beans, squash, sun chokes, and other vegetables, and raised 40 meat chickens as outlined in the proposal. The shared labor model allowed us to maintain crop health during peak growing months and increase our overall productivity compared to seasons when only family labor was available. While we are a small-scale operation and do not use high-input conventional systems, we observed improved efficiency in planting timelines, weed management, and harvest coordination due to having consistent apprentice support.
We prepared and served multiple community meals using ingredients grown at Ukwakhwa and Kahulahele, including meals at a film screening of Kanenon:we – Original Seeds, our barter market, and our annual field day. These meals intentionally featured Haudenosaunee corn, beans, squash, and other locally sourced products. Attendance numbers and meal counts were tracked at each event, and community response was strong. The four initial community workshops were posted in mid-December and filled within the hour, demonstrating overwhelming interest. This rapid registration rate clearly indicates demand and informs the types of programming we will continue to offer.
In addition, we added a second summer intern in 2025 to meet labor demands, which increased our harvest efficiency and reduced crop loss during peak production. During harvest season, we were able to bring on an additional intern using the remaining funds. This extra support ensured the timely processing of corn and vegetables and strengthened our ability to host educational events during harvest. Compared to previous seasons without dedicated apprentices, we observed smoother operations, better task distribution, and increased capacity for both production and education.
Unlike conventional systems that often separate production from community engagement, our model integrates growing, harvesting, cooking, and teaching. The result is measured not only in yield but also in participation, knowledge transfer, and strengthened community relationships. The apprenticeship model proved effective in increasing labor capacity while cultivating the next generation of Indigenous growers, which we see as a critical long-term outcome beyond production metrics alone.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation summary:
Final Report Update:
We communicated about the project and its results primarily through social media, in-person events, and word of mouth within the Oneida community. We shared updates on social media through Ukwakhwa’s platforms, highlighting apprentice activities, harvest progress, workshops, and community meals. Jen also presented our shared apprenticeship model at several engagements, and Becky shared it through informal conversations with other organizations and producers interested in cooperative labor structures.
Project events and activities were promoted through social media posts, event flyers, and community networks. The four initial workshops filled within one hour of being posted, demonstrating strong interest. Across the project period, we hosted multiple community meals, including one at the Kanenon:we – Original Seeds film screening, one at our barter market, and one at our annual field day. Attendance at these events ranged from approximately 40 to 100 participants, with strong community engagement. Herbal medicinal workshops also drew full participation. Information about these events circulated primarily through our social media channels and community sharing. We did not receive formal press coverage, but our digital platforms served as our primary media outlet.
Moving forward, we plan to continue sharing results through social media, conference presentations, and direct outreach to other small-scale farms in Oneida. We are actively exploring future funding opportunities to expand the shared apprenticeship model and communicate its impact more broadly. Photos, flyers, and media documentation from events are being attached to further illustrate our outreach and engagement efforts.
Learning Outcomes
At Ukwakhwa, an unexpected construction project affected our ability to spend as much time as possible with the apprentice. We noticed he had a better experience when we could perform farm activities with him. Overall, sharing an apprentice has been an excellent experience for both farmsteads and is a model we want to develop further.
Final Report Update:
One of the biggest lessons from this grant is that our farms need more labor support as we expand acreage and increase production. The shared apprenticeship model confirmed that small-scale Indigenous farms can grow significantly when consistent help is available. We also learned that simpler equipment solutions are often more effective. Smaller insulated hot boxes made it easy to transport meals safely without overinvesting in larger infrastructure. This reinforced the value of starting small, testing systems, and scaling thoughtfully.
We also learned that how we frame the work matters. When we educated interns about the cultural and historical importance of Indigenous agriculture, they were better able to work through physical challenges, such as extreme heat and labor-intensive tasks. Connecting daily farm work to food sovereignty and identity helped sustain motivation and deepen commitment. This experience shifted how we mentor young growers and strengthened our belief that education must be embedded in production work.
This grant helped us overcome our initial barrier of limited labor capacity and demonstrated that cooperative staffing is a viable model. It has influenced how we structure Ukwakhwa’s hot meal delivery program, From Seeds to Table, and continues to inform our efforts to make traditional foods a staple in tribal households. The advantage of a project like this is that it integrates production, education, and community engagement into one system. The primary challenge is ensuring sufficient staffing and avoiding overextension.
If asked for recommendations, we would encourage other small farmers to invest in people before infrastructure, to keep systems simple, and to intentionally connect agricultural labor to cultural meaning. Cooperative models require communication and trust, but they offer a practical pathway for small farms that cannot scale on their own.