USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (03/2023 - 02/2024)Enhancing and Empowering the Agricultural Skill Sets of Indigenous Farmers, Gardeners and Youth in New Mexico’s Native American Communities
Healthy Futures will offer participants in the targeted communities of Jemez Pueblo, Manuelito Chapter, and Shiprock, innovative agricultural production strategies and technical assistance to carry out innovation protocols, as well as providing seeds, tools and relevant supplies to protect their gardens from invasive pests, improve soil, by helping farmers select the appropriate soil amendments, based on soil testing results, the benefits of using improved record-keeping strategies and software, and the use of cover crops to improve soil health. Additionally, providing Native American students with access to academic counselors and faculty from New Mexico State University (NMSU) Department of Agriculture will likely increase student awareness and interest about promising agricultural career pathways. These activities and supports will make a difference in the targeted community resilience, sustainability and access to fresh nutritious food.
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS
Cooking With KidsIndian Nations Conservation AllianceInstitute for Applied Ecology, SouthwestManuelito (Kin Hozhoni) ChapterNMSU Agricultural Science Center at FarmingtonNorthern Navajo Farm Revitalization ProjectReunity ResourcesPoohnii BinaAA, A traditional Indgineous Farm Collective
USDA Urban Agriculture Innovation Grant Program / 2023Healthy Futures received a USDA UAIP grant to provide horticultural technical assistance and support to indigenous farmers, ranchers, and family growers at Navajo chapter houses.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (03/2023 - 02/2024)
Enhancing and Empowering the Agricultural Skill Sets of Indigenous Farmers, Gardeners and Youth in New Mexico’s Native American Communities
Healthy Futures will offer participants in the targeted communities of Jemez Pueblo, Manuelito Chapter, and Shiprock, innovative agricultural production strategies and technical assistance to carry out innovation protocols, as well as providing seeds, tools and relevant supplies to protect their gardens from invasive pests, improve soil, by helping farmers select the appropriate soil amendments, based on soil testing results, the benefits of using improved record-keeping strategies and software, and the use of cover crops to improve soil health.
Additionally, providing Native American students with access to academic counselors and faculty from New Mexico State University (NMSU) Department of Agriculture will likely increase student awareness and interest about promising agricultural career pathways. These activities and supports will make a difference in the targeted community resilience, sustainability and access to fresh nutritious food.
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS
Cooking With Kids
Indian Nations Conservation Alliance
Institute for Applied Ecology, Southwest
Manuelito (Kin Hozhoni) Chapter
NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Farmington
Northern Navajo Farm Revitalization Project
Reunity Resources
Poohnii BinaAA, A traditional Indgineous Farm Collective
Native American Agricultural Empowerment Program (11/2021 - 10/2023)
Grants from the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) to Healthy Futures serve to assist Native American farmers in the Dine checkerboard areas of New Mexico to become more productive and successful, as well as help to empower their families to achieve healthier lifestyles, through innovative education and community training programs. NAAF is the largest philanthropic organization devoted solely to serving the Native American farming and ranching community.
Specialty Crops Block Grant - NMSU (03/2022-09/2023)
Education and Training for Socially-disadvantaged Young Native American Farmers
Healthy Futures, in collaboration with indigenous agricultural partners, will address the long-standing inequities faced by socially disadvantaged Native American youth who want to become more skilled and empowered as farmers. This program will address these inequities and unmet needs in collaboration with other indigenous farmers, non-government organizations, or non-profits of the Navajo Nation (Dine). They have demonstrated and possess community trust, farm expertise and the desire to work with the Healthy Futures team to help recruit, mentor and train sixty (60) socially disadvantaged young Native American youth to become more skilled and proficient as farmers over the grant period.
EARLIER COMPLETED GRANT PROGRAMS
- Native American Agricultural Empowerment Program (01/2020 - 06/2021)
- Empowering Formerly Homeless Persons Program 2019/2020
- Con Alma Foundation 2020 COVID-19 Relief RWJF Grant (July-December 2020)
- USDA RBDG (2020-2021)
- New Mexico Farmers Market Association (July-December 2020)
- Specialty Crops Block Grant - NMSU (10/2017-09/2020)
- ArtSmart 1&2 - Rural Business Development Program October 2018 - December 2019
- Rural Business Development Grant Program / 2017–18
- Rural Business Development Grant Program / 2016-17
- Reading Camp - Anthony, New Mexico / Summer 2016
- Small Business Solar Oven Technical Assistance Program - Anthony, Cuba, Sunland Park / 2014-16
