On Higher Ground

High tunnel greenhouses: ohg builds high tunnel greenhouses designed to extend the northern tier growing season to allow native american communities to participate in food sovereignty projects. These greenhouses are ideal for planting produce and permaculture plants, while also providing students the experience needed to construct and maintain these facilities. These greenhouses are managed and operated by community volunteers who assist in the establishment of student farmer markets and provide a classroom area for students to learn about soil amendments, fertilization, drip irrigation, harvesting and food processing. In 2024, additional tunnel greenhouse projects were completed and community educational opportunities were also conducted.

External evaluation: external evaluators continue to be engaged to help guide the establishment of the relevant curriculum for all ages of students, producers, want-to-be gardners, land managers, and other conservation workers. Assessments of progress are conducted as we continue to develop solutions to the barriers confronted by native americans and other bipoc communities seeking access to usda programs and opportunities.

Open-air classrooms: to complete and connect the high tunnel greenhouse gardening to other learning projects, open-air spaces are constructed, covered only by a roof. These open-air classrooms serve to facilitate on-the-job training for students, specifically for jobs in natural resource management and agriculture throughout the region. Lessons and related materials are provided by ohg to volunteers and students. In addition, these spaces are ideal settings for youth camp locations serving other native american students, inner-city students from larger urban cities, and students from rural communities, coming together to experience cultural exchange opportunities and immersion in native culture and our unique ways of living in balance with mother earth.