Hopi PermacultureHopi Permaculture is thriving as more farmers are learning and putting in drip system supported orchard/gardens along with deep mulching, contouring, use of rain capture cisterns, companion planting, greenhouses and more. Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture has been training Hopis, leading orchard installations projects, and is now building one straw bale, energy efficient home a year at Hopi. I enjoyed visiting Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture office June 8 and met their effective and dedicated staff who are working to support food sustainability and health by training Hopis in permaculture style garden/orchard installation and management, supporting the Hopi food coop and farmers market and conservation. At 2 of their learning sites, I saw their interns at work creating terraces, contouring the ground for water retention, roof run off cisterns, and the ecosystem style plantings that are deeply mulched to minimize need for watering. Sandy, wind blown land becomes a garden! We are proud to continue our support for this dedicated, effective group with a $5,000 grant for training students and for installing orchard/garden start up systems. And a big thank you to our recent donor who is adding $2,000 to this which will support a new training program for 12 families in doing these food sustainability installations! Please see more info and photos here.
As part of our on-going family food support, I also brought other staple foods and ceremonial support food for several families. We have been busy shopping for school supplies for elementary and high school kids.We give special thanks to Jolene Johns for volunteering her time to do distribution of supplies to kids in need. And thank you to Joey Morelli for delivering one of the supply loads to Jolene and to Terrilyn Green for helping me shop and load. We also coordinated with the Youth Farm Group leader to send school and hygiene supplies to that group. We also have done several shipments of school supplies plus beds, tote bags, and hygiene supplies to the Hopi Foster Care program this spring and summer. If anyone would like to shop and ship on line, please contact me and I can give a list of items and where to ship them to Hopi. We can provide you with a in-kind donation thank you letter to attach to your receipt for your tax purposes. Water Maiden DanceEarth Day Hopi youth danced the Palikmana, Water Maiden Dance, which calls forth good blessings of new life and abundance. Happy summer fruition time to each of you and thank you for being part of the circle of support for and with our Hopi neighbors, Sandra Cosentino
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