Solar Warrior Farm is an integral part of our Food Security Program, which empowers Native Americans to grow their own nutritious and traditional foods, an important step toward tribal food independence. By bringing together the tools and knowledge needed for sustainable food production, Solar Warrior Farm is directly strengthening the relationship to one's food, one's body, and the connection that Native Peoples have with Mother Earth and her ability to sustain life.
Native Americans suffer from poverty, a lack of healthy foods, and extremely high rates of diet-related chronic illness. Access to healthy, organic and sustainable foods is extremely limited on reservations such as Pine Ridge, where there is only one grocery store for 30,000 people and 97% of families live below the poverty line. This restricted access to fresh produce results in dependence on commodity foods allotted by the federal government, which are high in sugar and fat and lack nutrients.
Solar Warrior Farm grows a wide variety of native and heirloom fruits and vegetables as well as traditional Lakota herbs. We nurture this space with a no-till method of organic farming, drip irrigation, and hoop houses to extended the growing season. These small plots have become living examples that Native Americans can visit and learn from to help improve their health and well-being. In addition, we offer one-day workshops, multi-day training, and fresh produce to Pine Ridge residents in need.
Taking control of health through diet is an important step for Native Americans in returning to a better way of life and living in harmony with the land. Solar Warrior Farm will empower current and future generations of indigenous communities with the knowledge and skills to improve their own health and livelihoods by using sustainable and organic growing practices to produce nutritious food.
