Help fund Sages first season farming

Hello! My name is Sage Walstrom. I am from Albuquerque, New Mexico and I am Diné. This growing season I will be renting a 1/8 acre plot of land at the Old Fort of Hesperus. This will be my first season of farming, and I plan to grow traditional indigenous crops using traditional growing methods. I have learned over the past couple of years from local indigenous farmers and hope to use what I have learned in my own growing space.

I took on this project as a learning experience for myself, as I did not grow up learning these techniques and am new to growing. I also hope to form a community of other indigenous growers within the four corner area as well as students. I am currently a student at Fort Lewis College studying Environmental Conservation and Regenerative Food Systems. Through my academic journey, I have become fascinated with our national food systems, the act of growing food itself, and especially the niche of indigenous agriculture and the deep history I am working to reconnect myself with.

This project aims to represent the various "regenerative" and "sustainable" growing techniques that have existed for millennia. I believe this is important to demonstrate in an academic setting, especially given the school's geographical and historical setting.

I will be collecting data during the duration of the growing season about water retention, soil health, and plant vitality as well as conducting surveys and studying the social impacts an indigenous growing space can have on a community.

All funds received from this as well as other grants and scholarships I have applied for will go towards costs associated with starting a farm. This includes rent for the land, tools, seeds, and infrastructure.