Progress report for LNC18-414
From the Earth
Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2018: $131,676.00
Projected End Date: 12/01/2021
Grant Recipient:
Stockbridge-Munsee Community
Region: North Central
State: Wisconsin
Project Coordinator:
Project Information
Summary:
“From the Earth” is a community-based educational project that will provide a hands-on learning space and resources dedicated to increasing the number of local food producers within a rural community. This project will involve the expansion of current community gardens into a new learning space that demonstrates vegetable production techniques, soil conservation practices, honeybee hives, and a pollinator habitat that create a holistic approach to food production. The objectives of this project are to increase community outreach and education regarding food production, and increase the number of sustainably active farmers in the community. The Stockbridge-Munsee Community (SMC) has conducted several community surveys and planning meetings regarding the development of a sustainable food production project that will restore the community members ability to produce their own food.
“From the Earth” will be open to all interested community members with a primary focus of new farmers and food producers within the SMC and surrounding area. Anticipated outcomes of this project are beneficial to SMC farmers by providing a learning space that offers techniques that can be adapted by the farmers for any size of food production system. “From the Earth” will create a long-term support system with resources available for the community.
This project will be done in a series of phases over a three-year period, with a main focus of education throughout the growing season. This will be done through hands-on field days, a video teaching blog (vlog), and fact sheets. The Project Coordinator will also develop an end of year report, documenting time and money spent in each of the project areas. The SMC Food Sovereignty Committee will be the sounding board for this project and will assist the Project Coordinator with the management of this project.
Project Objectives:
Learning Outcomes
1. Participants will gain knowledge and skills of vegetable production techniques and soil conservation practices.
2. Participants will gain resources and information on keeping honeybee hives and developing pollinator habitats.
Action Outcomes
1. Farmers will implement sustainable horticulture skills, such as: cover cropping and composting on their farms.
2. Farmers will use new vegetable production techniques, such as: raised rows, raised beds, row crops with living mulches and plastic mulches.
3. Farmers will participate in pollinator habitat development and staging of honeybee hive.
4. Increase the number of SMC farmers producing fresh vegetables.
Introduction:
From the Earth is a community based education project focused on providing hands on experiences for farmers near and around the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. Educational content in developed for three categories: Vegetable Crop Production, Beekeeping, and Indigenous Crop Production. Through this project local farmers are able to learn about production techniques relevant to the area and are able to network with presenters and other local farmers to discuss challenges and opportunities for their farms.
Cooperators
(Educator)
(Educator)
(Educator)
Research
Involves research:
No
Education
Educational approach:
This project has a multi-facet educational approach. The primary base for educational activities take place at the Farm the Earth Farm learning center. This is a farm designed to conduct trials and demonstrations for local farmers and community members to demonstrate fruit and vegetable growing techniques, beekeeping, and traditional Mohican crop growing techniques. On farm demonstrations are the primary form of education during the typical growing season (May-September). In conjunction with the on-farm demonstrations, fact sheets and educational videos are created to share the information with a greater audience and are used as a reference guide for program participants. Furthermore, data is collected on vegetable production and harvest information. This data is complied and made available through an end of year report to the community and class participants. This data includes crop yield, harvest dates, and an estimation of income generated from the sale of the crop through a variety of market channels including whole sale, farmers market, and a CSA. Numbers for the CSA and Farmers Market reflect projected sales within the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.
| CSA Box Example | Full Shares | Half Shares | Estimated Market/ Grocery Value |
Est. Farmers Market Values |
|
| Week 1- June 24 | Large Bag of Lettuce Radishes Baby Carrots |
Small Bag of Lettuce Radishes |
Full-$4.50 Half- $2.50 |
Large Lettuce-$3 |
|
| Week 2 | Large Bag of Lettuce Radishes Baby Carrots Green Onions 2 Qts Strawberries |
Small Bag of Lettuce Radishes Green Onions 1 Qt Strawberries |
Full- $14 Half- $7.50 |
Baby Carrots- $.50 |
|
| Week 3 | 1 Qt+ 1pt Strawberries Large Bag Lettuce Green Onions 1 Zucchini SugarSnap Peas (8oz) Radishes |
1 Qt Strawberries Small Bag of Lettuce SugarSnap Peas (4oz) Radishes Carrots |
Full- $13.50 Half- $8.50 |
Zuchinni- $.50/ each |
|
| Week 4 | 2 Zucchini 2 Cucumbers Small Bag of Lettuce Radishes Carrots SugarSnap Peas (16oz) |
1 Zucchini 2 Cucumbers Radishes Carrots SugarSnap Peas (10oz) |
Full- $11.50 Half $6 |
Green Pepper- $.50 |
|
| Week 5 | 2 Zucchini 3 Cucumbers Beans (10oz) Carrots Radishes SugarSnap Peas (1.5#) |
1 Zucchini 2 Cucumbers Small Bag Lettuce Carrots Radishes SugarSnap Peas (1#) |
Full- $12.50 Half- $9.00 |
Eggplant- $1.00 |
|
| Week 6 | 2 Zucchini 1 Summer Squash 3 Cucumbers Beans (1# 4oz) Carrots SugarSnap Peas (10oz) Small Lettuce Green Onions Potatoes (1qt ~1# 10oz) 1 Green Pepper |
2 Zucchini 2 Cucumbers Beans (12oz) Carrots SugarSnap Peas (5oz) Green Onions Potatoes (1 pint ~12oz) |
Full- $16.00 Half- $9.50 |
||
| Week 7 | 1-2 Zucchini 1 Summer Squash 1 Small Bag Lettuce Carrots 1 Pepper 2 large cucumbers 1.5# Beans Potatoes (1qt) |
2 Zucchini Carrots Pepper 2 large Cucumbers 1# Beans Potatoes (1 pint) |
Full- $13.00 Half- $8 |
||
| Week 8 | 2 Zucchini/ Summer Squash 3 Cucumbers 1 pint Tomatoes (2 for Clinic Peps) 1 Green Pepper 3 Onions Carrots 1.5# Beans Basil Pack |
1 Zucchini 2 Cucumbers 1 Tomato 1 Green Pepper 1 Onion Carrots 1 # Green Beans Basil Pack |
Full- $11 Half- $7.5 |
||
| Week 9 | 2 Zucchini/Summer Squash 4 Cucumbers 1 qt Tomatoes (3 large & 12 cherry) 1 green pepper 2 onions 2# Green Beans Watermelon Basil Pack |
1 Zucchini/Summer 2 Cucumbers 1 pint Tomatoes (2 Large & 6 Cherry) 1 Green Pepper 1 Onion 1# 4oz Bean Medium Bag Lettuce Basil Pack |
Full- $18 Half- $10.5 |
||
| Week 10 | 2 Zucchini/ Summer Squash 4 Cucumbers 1 qt Tomatoes 1 Green Pepper Cantaloupe 1 # Beans Eggplant Watermelon |
1 Zucchini 2 Cucumbers 1 Pint Tomatoes 1 Green Pepper Cantaloupe 1/2# Beans Watermelon |
Full- $18.50 Half- $14 |
||
| Week 11 | 2 Zucchini/ Summer Squash 3 Cucumbers 1 qt Tomatoes 2 Green Peppers 1# 4oz Beans 2 Onions Watermelon 3# Apples |
1 Zucchini/ Summer Squash 1 Cucumbers 1 pt Tomatoes 1 Green Peppers 10 oz Beans 1 Onions Watermelon 1# 10oz Apples |
Full- $21 Half- $13.25 |
||
| Week 12 | 2 Zucchini/ Summer Squash 4 Cucumbers 1 qt Tomatoes 1 Green Pepper 1# 6oz Beans 3 Onions 3 # Apples 1 Watermelon Lettuce- Large Bag 1 qt Potatoes Optional Item ($1- 4 ears of corn or squash) |
1 Zucchini/ Summer Squash 2 Cucumbers 1 pt Tomatoes 1 Green Pepper 10 oz Beans 2 Onions 1.5 # Apples 1 Watermelon 1 pt Potatoes Optional Item ($1- 4 ears of corn or squash) |
Full- 25.50 Half- $14.50 |
||
| Week 13 | 1 Zucchini 2 Cucumbers 1 pt Tomatoes 1 Green Pepper 1 # Green Beans 3 Onions 2.5# Apples 1 Watermelon 1 Spaghetti Squash 3 ears Corn 1# Carrots Lettuce- Large Bag 1 qt Potatoes |
1 Cucumbers 1 pt Tomatoes 1 Green Pepper .5 # Green Beans 2 Onions 1.5# Apples 1 Watermelon 1 Spaghetti Squash .5# Carrots Lettuce- Medium Bag 1 pt Potatoes |
Full- $27 Half- $17.5 |
||
| Week 14 | 2# Apples Large Bag Lettuce 1 Green Pepper 2 Cucumber 2 Zucchini 1.25# Carrots 4 Onions 1 Pt Potatoes 1 qt Tomatoes 1 Squash 2 ears Corn Watermelon Eggplant |
1# Apples Medium Bag Lettuce 1 Green Pepper 1 Cucumber 1 Zucchini .75# Carrots 2 Onions 1 pt Potatoes 1 pt Tomatoes 1 Squash 2 ears Corn |
Full- $22.25 Half- $12.25 |
||
| Week 15- October 1 | 4 # Apples Large Bag Lettuce 1 # Carrots 1 # Onions 2 Green Peppers 1 Zucchini 1 Cucumber 1 pt Potatoes 1 Pumpkin 1 Squash 2 Gourds |
2# Apples Medium Bag Lettuce .5# Carrots .5 # Onion 1 Green Pepper 1 Zucchini 1 Cucumber 1 pt Potatoes 1 Pumpkin or Squash 1 Gourd |
Full- $20.00 Half- $12.25 |
||
| Total Value Full/ Share | $248.25 | $3,723.75 | 15 Shares Total | ||
| Total Value Half/Share | $152.75 | $2,291.25 | 15 Shares Total | ||
| Total Value | $6,015.00 |
| Crop | Weight | Commodity Value/ Pound |
Total Commodity Value |
| Watermelon | 836.6 | $ 0.48 | $ 401.57 |
| Cucumbers | 468 | $ 0.44 | $ 205.92 |
| Zucchini | 375.34 | $ 0.46 | $ 172.66 |
| Beans | 341.44 | $ 0.93 | $ 317.54 |
| Tomato | 312.26 | $ 0.67 | $ 209.21 |
| Pumpkins | 250.8 | $ 0.49 | $ 122.89 |
| Potato | 202.63 | $ 0.57 | $ 115.50 |
| Lettuce | 183.2 | $ 0.75 | $ 137.40 |
| Pickling Cucumber | 143.14 | $ 0.44 | $ 62.98 |
| Carrots | 154.86 | $ 0.44 | $ 68.14 |
| Onions | 119.3 | $ 0.29 | $ 34.60 |
| Sugar Snap Peas | 111.6 | $ 1.75 | $ 195.30 |
| Radish | 114.6 | $ 0.83 | $ 95.12 |
| Cantaloupe | 100.1 | $ 0.48 | $ 48.05 |
| Spaghetti Squash | 75.2 | $ 0.48 | $ 36.10 |
| Corn | 78.6 | $ 0.24 | $ 18.86 |
| Butternut Squash | 73 | $ 0.55 | $ 40.15 |
| Pepper | 74.14 | $ 0.58 | $ 43.00 |
| Eggplant | 65.4 | $ 1.91 | $ 124.91 |
| Acorn Squash | 66.2 | $ 0.51 | $ 33.76 |
| Summer Squash | 45 | $ 0.46 | $ 20.70 |
| Gourd | 18.6 | $ 0.49 | $ 9.11 |
| Kohlrabi | 12.2 | $ 2.75 | $ 33.55 |
| Cabbage | 5.7 | $ 0.28 | $ 1.60 |
| Green Onions | 4.6 | $ 1.19 | $ 5.47 |
| Spinach | 1.34 | $ 2.20 | $ 2.95 |
| Basil | 1.22 | $ 4.25 | $ 5.19 |
| Total | 4235.07 | Total Commodity Value |
$ 2,562.23 |
Project Activities
Educational & Outreach Activities
4 Consultations
7 Curricula, factsheets or educational tools
12 Workshop field days
Participation Summary
41 Farmers
2 Ag professionals participated
Education/outreach description:
Workshops/Field Days
During 2019, 12 workshops were held in conjunction with the From the Earth project. These field days took place at various locations around the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. Topics for workshops were divided into three categories: Beekeeping, Three Sisters Gardening, and Crop Production.
Beekeeping- 7 Workshops Held in 2019
These workshops featured information from starting a bee hive to checking bee health to harvesting honey and preparing the bees for winter. During these workshops participants were able to gain hands on experience during each phase of the process. These workshops were led by farmer consultant Josh Jensen as he shared his personal experience as a beekeeper and answered questions from the participants about their own hives.
Three Sisters Gardening: 3 Workshops Held in 2019
These workshops featured information on traditional Mohican gardening methods. Participants gained experience building mounds and planting and caring for the corn, sunflowers, beans, and melons grown through these demonstrations. These workshops were led by farmer consultant Warren Miller. Warren shared his personal experience with food production and seed saving.
Crop Production: 2 Workshops Held in 2019
These workshops featured information on cover cropping, pest management, and over all crop production. Participants were able to gain insight into sustainable production methods for a market garden and were able to try out tools and gain experience planting cover crops as part of a production system. These classes were led by project coordinator Kellie Zahn.
There were seven educational videos made in conjunction with the field days to share information beyond the participants who were able to come to the class and give the participants a place to reference to for information.
Learning Outcomes
12 Farmers reported changes in knowledge, attitudes, skills and/or awareness as a result of their participation
1 Agricultural service providers reported changes in knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes as a result of their participation
Key areas taught:
- Increased knowledge of beekeeping
- Increased knowledge of Three Sisters Gardening
- Increased knowledge of Traditional Food Systems
- Increased knowledge of vegetable growing techniques
- Increased knowledge of honey harvest
Project Outcomes
12 Farmers changed or adopted a practice
Key practices changed:
Mound planting system for traditional crops
Monitoring bees for mites
Integrated pest management in vegetable crops- scouting techniques and treatments
Companion planting vegetable crops
Management for winterizing bees
4 Grants applied for that built upon this project
1 Grant received that built upon this project
2 New working collaborations
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.
