Wiconi Waste Resistance Farm: Vermiculture/Agroforestry Regeneration, demonstration and education project

Project Overview

FNC26-1525
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2026: $5,000.00
Projected End Date: 09/30/2026
Grant Recipient: Wiconi Waste Farm
Region: North Central
State: South Dakota
Project Coordinator:
Michelle Tyon
Wiconi Waste Farm

Commodities

No commodities identified

Practices

No practices identified

Proposal summary:

The problem: Wood is getting hard to locate, it is mostly on private land The cottonwood trees are used for spiritual and tribal purposes. Many families use wood as an alternative to fossil fuel. Mainly because the cottonwood forests are going extinct and the ash trees around here on the Pine Ridge reservation are getting hard to locate. Mant families use wood to heat their homes including us. The land needs to regenerate before planting. It is hilly rocky and forestry. The soil needs constant regenerating because of the lack of precipitation. It is windy and the top soil blows away.

Project objectives from proposal:

The demonstration project to regenerate the cottonwood tree and the ash tree will be to plant 2000 samplings on my farm and it will take at least three years to take ahold in our high alkaline soil, but we will know at the end of summer. A drip system will be installed to stop the erosion and conserve on water. I will use two fence pole augers to make the holes. They will be planted on our hill we live on. Ledges will be tilled up to make tiers to plant all the trees. Three vermiculture farms will be built to provide sustainability for our farm and provide nutrients and vermi-compost for our gardens.

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