DREAM OF WILD HEALTH

Farm & Food Access - The food grown on our farm's fields, orchards, and prairies is distributed primarily in the Native community through: an affordable Indigenous Food Share (CSA model); a Farmers Market in Minneapolis; wholesale to Native chefs and restaurants; to youth and families at our programs and events; and through donations to our community partners. In recent years, we have increased production and donations, added a delivery option, developed nutrition education programming, and partnered to deliver fresh produce to youth and families in our community. In 2023, the farm grew over 26,000 pounds of food, including 9,500 pounds donated to the community. Our Indigenous Food Share (IFS) was reimagined from a traditional CSA model to a more focused approach - the shares are offered only to Native families and have various payment methods to reduce barriers in joining: sliding scale, payment plan, and work share options. We also introduced new opportunities in 2023 - all IFS members had access to our Reclaiming Lifeways and Adopting Plant Relatives programs, two additions to our IFS to help us grow even stronger connections with each other, our other-than-human relatives, and with our traditional foods. Events from these programs have included various traditional harvesting activities such as maple syrup making, stick-tobacco processing, and wild-rice parching. Through educational plant walks with our staff and native plant adoptions hosted at our farm in 2023, we raised and distributed over 2,000 native plants, going out to over 60 Native families, partnering organizations, and Tribal education programs at schools.

Native Youth Education and Leadership - This program provides culturally-based lessons for youth, ages 8 to 18. The farm offers a safe and creative learning environment where they learn about regenerative gardening, healthy foods preparation and nutrition, and Native cultural traditions while gaining employment and leadership skills. Programming offers year-round leadership development where youth lead advocacy, outreach, and training through an Indigenous lens. The farm provides opportunities for our youth to develop the skills needed to succeed in school and as adults, including opportunities for paid internships and employment. Programs include: - Cora's Kids, ages 8 to 12, are given an introduction to work ethic and soft skills. - Garden Warriors, ages 13-18, learn about entrepreneurship and work ethic by working farm to market and represent DWH at a Farmer's Market in a neighborhood convenient for the Native community, earning a stipend that is supported with soft skills and financial literacy training. - Youth Leaders, ages 13 to 18, participate in year-round community advocacy and educational events where they gain experience in customer service through food demos with a community-based focus. - Youth Interns, ages 15 to 21, are employed at the farm during the summer and have increased responsibilities of mentoring younger youth. Further leadership growth is offered through internships and employment opportunities that support educational advancement and career skills.