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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2019)
4 Wednesday, May 15, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Warm Springs second-graders visit Sisters farm By Katy Yoder Correspondent On April 9, 40 second- graders from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs trav- eled on a school bus to Sisters. They disembarked on ances- tral lands of the Northern Paiute tribe, which is now the home of Seed to Table Farm. The farm was started by Sisters High School gradu- ate Audrey Tehan. Along with staff and fervent volun- teers, she9s built a bustling farm on an acre-and-a-half. It9s become fertile ground for growing local produce, teach- ing students about healthy eat- ing and farming 4 and now cross-cultural exchanges that are growing new relationships. Last month9s visit was the first of many days program director Tehan will be wel- coming 200 students from Warm Springs. Seed to Table was invited by tribal members to help expand experiential, nutrition education through gardening and outdoor expe- riences. During last month9s visit, the students tasted food right out of the ground, planted seeds and learned about the five main things plants need to grow. Now a month later, the students returned to reap the harvest they9d planted in April. There were big, red radishes, spinach and salad greens ready for harvest. Crystal Vogt, Seed to Table9s K-8 Education Coordinator, led the group in two hours of activities that culminated in the children harvesting, cleaning, prepar- ing and eating a salad from found greens and those grown earlier. Joining the enthusiastic group of students and teachers John Brunoe, who9s a tribal member and educator with OSU Extension Service, was knee deep introducing stu- dents to farming. He joined students finding earthworms used in composting and taught them how to gently pick spin- ach leaves and pull radishes from the ground. Brunoe grew up in Warm Springs and is excited about the nutritional benefits of eat- ing food grown on home soil. He9s seen how the positive experience of getting young hands in the dirt and watching how hard work can turn into something delicious to eat helps encourage healthier diets and more outdoor activities. Brunoe met Tehan when they were writing grant requests to the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC). They both received a Farm to School grant from COIC that helped their orga- nizations realize their goals for improving existing farm- related programming. Brunoe9s job with the OSU Extension Service includes 4-H projects and encouraging agricultural endeavors. He9s hopeful with Warm Springs9 abundance of water and a longer growing season than areas like Sisters, they could embark on some agricultural business endeavors that are income-producing and edu- cational. <We are looking for ways to generate income, but the main thing now is for the kids to have fun. Time on the farm gives students a connec- tion to Mother Earth and phys- ical, meaningful and engaging activities to do. Long-term he9s interested in seeing how agriculture could contribute to a more sustainable, healthy food source that9s grown locally. <Warm Springs gets an extra 20 to 30 days each year in their growing season,= said Brunoe. <So I have a lot of respect for Audrey and how she9s growing food out here. I9m learning from her, how she9s gotten through some of her challenges. We9re work- ing together that way, too. We have two different envi- ronments, but our goals are mainly the same.= Brunoe grew up in Warm Springs and went to school there. He left for 20 years and lived in Portland and went to school. That9s when he learned more about nutri- tion. He knows the field trips teach students about nutrition, where their food comes from, and how it is raised. Increased activity is good for students too. <Not to mention,= he added, <that eventually their work will be rewarded with a bounty of nutritional food.= Warm Springs gets an extra 20 to 30 days each year in their growing season. So I have a lot of respect for Audrey and how she’s growing food out here. — John Brunoe John Brunoe with a student from Warm Springs. His job at Warm Springs includes integrating traditional foods that are grown and col- lected locally. Through their culture and heritage depart- ment, he9s providing a place for foods to be prepared and processed in a greenhouse. <Right now, we have a variety of food growing there including a root called luksh that9s drying in our greenhouse,= he said. <So, we have roots drying, lettuce starts and marigolds growing.= Brunoe remembers as a child being shown how to gather luksh. Now it9s his turn to pass along traditions and knowledge that will provide healthy, delicious food for generations to come. Get your toes sandal-ready! CALL FOR A GEL PEDICURE. Get Ready for Summer Travel 152 E. Main Ave. • 541-549-8771 Call to have your brakes, alignment and suspension checked now. Jeff • Theresa • Ann • Jamie • Shiela • Terri • Shanntyl DAVIS TIRE Serving Sisters Since 1962 PHOTO PROVIDED 541-549-1026 188 W. Sisters Park Dr. In Sisters Industrial Park across from SnoCap Mini Storage Live. Life. Healthy. Are you passionate about your health or want to be? Join us for a day of learning... Door Prizes! Goodie bags for fi rst 50 guests! Vendors! E D U C A T I O N A L T A L KS Brain Body Connection – Choosing to Thrive Instead of Survive — Dr. Ashley Torchio — Using Essential Oils for Healthy Family & Kids — Angela Bobst — Brain Health, Optimize Function – Restore Balance — Sandy Wesson/Anne Morrison, RN — What Your Doctors Know But Don’t Tell You! — Dr. Andrew Torchio Sunday, May 19, 1-6 pm FivePine Lodge | 1021 Desperado Trail, Sisters $5 entrance fee goes to Harmony Farm Sanctuary