Mdewakanton Wozupi Begins Second Year

Community Garden Expected to Flourish



Prior Lake, MN – Gardeners and staff at Mdewakanton Wozupi, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community organic garden, have been busy planting now that warmer weather has finally arrived. Due to the cold, wet spring, plants were a little late going into the ground at the site on County Road 42 near its intersection with County Road 83. Wozupi means “garden” in the Dakota language.


Mdewakanton Wozupi was first planted in the spring of 2010 as a project of the SMSC Health and Wellness Department and the Department of Land and Natural Resources. It is planted and maintained by staff, Community members, and volunteers. This year its bounty will be offered for sale during a small Farmer’s Market as well as at Mazopiya, the SMSC’s natural food market.


Community member Lori Watso, a former SMSC Secretary/Treasurer, spearheaded the project initially.  “Our goal is improved health,” she said. “This is definitely a benefit for Community members, SMSC employees, and the larger community. Clean foods, those produced without the use of chemicals such as synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or antibiotics, are much healthier not only for people, but also for the earth. In addition, local foods save on transportation costs, fuels, emissions, and all that it takes to get it here. Foods that have travelled long distances lose their freshness by being picked early, and its nutritional value can also be compromised by a long journey.”


Many of the bean varieties and a few of the corn varieties planted in Mdewakanton Wozupi in 2010 were heritage seeds given to the Community by Dream of Wild Health, a Native non-profit organization in Hugo, Minnesota.


“These varieties of seed were traditionally grown by some Plains Indian tribes. This year we will plant the bean, corn, and sunflower heirloom seeds we grew out, harvested, and dried last year,” said SMSC Organic Gardener Rebecca Yoshino who leads the project.


2011 Changes

New in 2011 are several major changes to Mdewakanton Wozupi.


Mdewakanton Wozupi is growing from 1.5 acres to 5.5 acres this year. In addition to the vegetables planted last year, new varieties and types of produce will be offered. Native plants and medicines will be added, such as prairie turnips, Nodding onion, wild garlic, wild bergamot, wild licorice, and wild mint. The traditional medicines sage and sweetgrass will be planted. A woodland garden will be planted to contain onions, leeks, and wild yams.


This summer a greenhouse will also be installed on site to germinate seeds and grow seedlings during the colder months. Having a greenhouse designated for the garden on site will greatly improve the work flow and facilitate planting. In the fall of 2011 a high tunnel will be installed to extend the growing season; a high tunnel looks much like a greenhouse but has no artificial heat or light. The structure modifies the climate to create more favorable growing conditions for vegetable plants.  It will also protect from storm damage while producing earlier and higher yields of produce.


The native fruit trees and shrubs planted in 2010 are doing well and have excellent protection in the form of protective wrap on each individual tree and a high fence to protect from deer. An additional three acres of orchard has been planted already this season in apples, pears, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. These plants will take a few years to produce fruit.


The SMSC is operating a Tribally Support Agriculture (TSA) program inspired by Community Supported Agriculture model of farming practiced in United States for last 20 years. Tribal members and employees will have the opportunity to purchase a share in the garden. During the season for 18 weeks, TSA members will receive weekly deliveries of fresh produce from mid-June through the second week of October.


Farmer’s Market

Starting in mid-June 2011 the SMSC will hold a Farmer’s Market on Thursdays featuring fresh, organic produce from Mdewakanton Wozupi at Mazopiya from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A wide array of vegetables like spinach, mizuna, radishes, broccoli, Asian greens, turnips, beets, zucchini, kohlrabi, onions, and more are expected to be available throughout the summer and fall. Produce from Mdewakanton Wozupi will also be available for purchase throughout the year at Mazopiya in the produce department. For more information go to www.smscwozupi.org or www.mazopiya.com or call 952-233-9140. Mazopiya is located at 2571 Credit Union Drive, Prior Lake, MN 55372. The Farmer’s Market is open to the public.


The Next Generation

To inspire youth to value the earth from which all things come, the SMSC has several programs for them to learn about organic gardening, where food comes from, healthy eating, and preservation of the land.


Like last year, children from Playworks Pod 5 and the School Age program will both have small gardens at Mdewakanton Wozupi which they will visit regularly. They will plant, weed, and harvest as well as sample the fruits of their labor. The Pod 5 garden, visited once or twice a week by the kids, is six feet by 30 feet.


The School Age/PreK children will have a 30 foot by 30 foot garden which they will tend three times a week. They planted radishes, onions, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, carrots, green beans, snap peas, pumpkin, squash, and sunflowers. The children eat the vegetables for snack and lunches, made refrigerator pickles, and learned how to make (and eat) stir fry. The children take home excess vegetables to share with their families.


Children and youth in the SMSC Education Department also participate in tending Mdewakanton Wozupi through regular trips to it throughout the year.


As a steward of the land, the SMSC engages in a number of activities to preserve and protect the land for future generations. For more information, visit www.shakopeedakota.org.