Webinars | Native Farm to School

Native Farm to School Webinar Season I

As part of First Nations’ Native Farm to School project, the Native Farm to School Webinar Series showcases best practices, shares available resources, and provides an open forum and Q&A sessions for discussing challenges. The series is designed to help individuals who have an existing model for a Native Farm to School initiative – or who are interested in starting one – connect with Native audiences.

The series is made possible by the Assistance Agreement No, NE-01F62801, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Education and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). EPA Environmental Education allows individuals to explore environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action to improve the environment. As a result, individuals develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions. USDA FNS aims to increase food security and reduce hunger by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet and nutrition education in a way that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence.

This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The contents of this presentation do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Season 1
Access recordings, presentation materials, and registration information below. Learn more about facilitators and presenters here. 

Season 2
Access recordings, presentation materials, and registration information here.

Webinar 1: Cultivating Healthy Soils for Healthy Native Communities: December 8, 2020

Presentation Materials:
Recording of Webinar Powerpoint Presentation

The Pueblo of Zia has a long tradition of agriculture, and the practice is still very much part of the culture. This webinar features “Showcasing New Mexico Environmental Education Project: Zia Pueblo,” a presentation by Pueblo of Zia, Department of Agriculture, which focuses on soil sampling, soil analysis, and soil amendments that incorporate the larger community of farmers and elementary to high school students, and teaches how healthy soils can increase growth potential.

Webinar 2: Nurturing Indigenous Youth and Families in and Beyond the Classroom: December 10, 2020

Presentation Materials:
Recording of Webinar Powerpoint Presentation

Elementary through high school students are learning from awareness and exposure to application, through land-based pedagogy practices and by working with and learning about the land. The webinar features the Native American Community Academy’s presentation “Showcasing New Mexico Environmental Education Project: Native American Community Academy,” which aims to help both teachers and students explore, implement, and practice environmental awareness, challenges, and resolutions.

Webinar 3: Harvesting and Collaborating with Native Community Partners: December 15, 2020

Presentation Materials:
Recording of Webinar Powerpoint Presentation

In the Pueblo of Acoma, the Acoma Ancestral Lands Farm Corps is connecting traditional culture by continuing ancient agricultural traditions and providing healthy food for the community. The webinar features Acoma Ancestral Lands Farm Corps’ presentation “Showcasing New Mexico Environmental Education Project: Acoma Ancestral Lands Farm Corps,” which focuses on restoring the knowledge of Haak’ume’ food systems that incorporate experiential learning opportunities in the Haak’u Community Academy.

Webinar 4: Mastering Evaluation Strategies to Accelerate Native Farm to School Efforts: Evaluations and Grants: Thursday, January 14, 2021

Presentation Materials:
Recording of Webinar Powerpoint Presentation

This webinar features the presentation “Evaluating Farm to School Programs: Assessment Tools and Strategies.” Using Choctaw Fresh Produce as an example, the presenters focus on evaluation effectiveness, assessment tools, and strategies for how to address social impact and how students, teachers, and stakeholders can all collect data as a best practice. Participants will learn about Farm to School evaluation requirements and expectations for grant recipients, as well as how to communicate success stories and accelerate Native Farm to School efforts.

Webinar 5: Exploring Planting Strategies and Best Practices: Lessons from the Southwest: Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Presentation Materials:
Recording of Webinar Powerpoint Presentation

Nambe Pueblo has a long history of farming in the Southwest that ties in with their traditional Pueblo lifestyle. Traditional farming strengthens and bonds the community, and Native farmers integrate cultural values into growing foods. The webinar features the presentation “Native Farm to School Marketing and Communication,” which provides practices and strategies implemented by the STAR (Service to All Relations) School on how to build a strong program and engage Native producers in Farm to School efforts. The presentation, “Integrating Native Producers into Your Farm to School Program,” presents examples of building producer capacity so schools and organizations are better prepared for Farm to School opportunities, as well as strategies on how to overcome or address potential issues and challenges in engaging Native producers.

Webinar 6: Finding Educational and Funding Opportunities for Farm to School Programs: Thursday, January 28, 2021

Presentation Materials:
Recording of Webinar Powerpoint Presentation

This webinar examines the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Education Program, which works to increase awareness and knowledge about environmental issues so that the public can make informed decisions and take responsible action. The presentation “EPA Environmental Education Program and Current Opportunities” provides an overview of the EPA Environmental Education Program, funding opportunities, program updates, and resources, as well as how it relates to Farm to School programming. The webinar concludes with the presentation, “Overview of Native Farm to School Programs,” by representatives of First Nations’ Farm to School initiative, which serves to build and strengthen a Native network to collectively improve Farm to School opportunities for Native students.

Webinar 7: Indigenous Seed Saving Virtual Workshop: Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Presentation Materials:
Recording of Webinar

Seeds are the essence of life and how life is renewed. Since our beginnings, our Indigenous nations and communities have guided and cultivated hundreds of varieties of plant relatives and seed adapted to our climates and bioregions. Today much of those ancient arid adapted cultivars have dwindled or have been lost entirely.  Seed saving safeguards the life-affirming and healthy future of our communities and ensures our continued capacity for self-sustenance. Through this workshop you will learn the basics of growing specifically for seed cultivation, seed saving, and short- and long-term caretaking of seed through an ethical southwest Indigenous food system framework.