The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (YDSP) Community Garden project was designed to encourage healthy living habits and outdoor activity with the nutritional benefits that an organic vegetable garden brings.  The garden is located at the Tuh-lah property, adjacent to the Pueblo’s Kiva.  “It’s placement on traditional grounds sends a message of hope for a healthy future for the Pueblo with the continuation of Native farming techniques and reverence for our Tigua ancestors,” said Javier Lore Tribal War Captain.

The 1^st annual community garden project at Ysleta del Sur Pueblo was a success.  When asked about the Garden Project, Sean P. Bruna, Community Garden Contributor and a PhD candidate from the University of New Mexico’s Department of Anthropology commented, “we learned a lot about where, when and what to plan and have some new ideas for garden placement, planting times and group assignments which we can apply to future garden projects.  The Kids were especially interested in gardening, so hopefully we can combine garden activities with other culturally appropriate youth projects.”

          The community garden produced an abundance of organic vegetables, including squash, zucchini, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, a variety of lettuce and onions, chives, watermelon, chilies and even some herbs such as basil. One significant contribution the garden provided for the Pueblo was a plentiful harvest of high summer vegetables to cater to the Kateri Tekakwitha Celebration.  Every year, members of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo honor Kateri Tekakwitha’s birthday with a social dance celebration.  Tekakwitha was a member of the Mohawk Nation.  Upon completion of the canonization process she will be the first Native American Saint.   This year, vegetables from the garden project were served with the community dinner.

Summer Vegetables

         The second part of the garde project was the youth planting project at the Community Health Center as pictured below, Tribal youth participating in the afterschool adventure program worked together to plant, care for and harvest various forms of floral and vegetable plants. When asked if they wanted to continue gardening, the 5 and 6 year olds in the after school program responded with enthusiastic support.  “More gardening please!” was called out by energized tribal youth who then started listing their favorite fruits and vegetables.  Mathew, one of the older children in the program, put it best when he explained, “Gardening is fun and watermelon is good.  Let’s plant more and maybe even jalapenos too.”

Afterschool Program Kids in garden.

The community garden was made possible with support from the Diabetes Prevention Program, the Community Health Center, Tribal Council, community volunteers and with guidance from Sean P. Bruna, a PhD candidate from the University of New Mexico’s Department of Anthropology who funded the project with a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Doctoral Fellowship and who is a key contributor to the development of the project.

Boys working to prepare ground for planting.	What seeds to plant?