Approximately 10,000 years ago, agriculture began in the Americas. Indigenous tribes developed their own unique ways of planting, harvesting, and caring for the land. Colonization replaced many traditional agricultural methods with commercial farming. But now, we are seeing a resurgence of Native practices in an effort to balance the effects we have had on the land and ecosystems, and to heal the land and the people. This workshop will discuss traditional gardening, agriculture, and land care practices, and how they can be incorporated into our everyday behaviors. Terms like ‘regenerative,’ ‘permaculture,’ ‘companion planting,’ are actually methods that have been practiced for thousands of years. Focus will be on Seed Keeping and seed sharing, learning Indigenous Nebraska plants, their traditional uses, harvest, and preservation, and how to integrate these ideas into practice. Teachings will include storytelling, slide show, and learning simple ways to make your own herbal products.

Big Horse Woman, first in a series of four epic novels, was Finalist in the Leapfrog Press Literary Fiction Contest, and Winner of Chanticleer International Book Award - Prairie/First Nations, Laramie Prize for Western Fiction. Big Horse Woman, born in a dream, sparked Barbara’s interest in Ponca Language, because she wanted to Name the Plants the way Big Horse Woman would. This led to her becoming a lifetime student of the Ponca Language. An Herbalist, Big-Horse-keeper, and Language teacher, Barbara advocates for the revitalization of native languages as a core element of cultural preservation and identity. Her show “Plant Stories, Life Medicines”- with Bob Henrickson, Nebraska State Arboretum- can be found at www.bighorsewoman.com/events

Registration is required to attend these workshops. Registration fees for Growing Gardeners Workshops are suggested donations of $5/person for lecture-style classes, and $10/person for value-added classes (i.e., take-home goods, cooking classes, etc.). No one will be turned away for inability to pay.

Part of City Sprouts' mission is to provide educational opportunities to the community. Please be honest about what you can afford, so we may continue to provide equitable opportunities for all. Thank you!