Shakopee Mdewakanton Donates 15 Trees to High School

Editor's note: The following is a press release from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

Students in Shakopee High School’s environmental ethics and ecology class recently planted 15 trees donated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s organic garden, Mdewakanton Wozupi. The trees were planted at the Environmental Learning Center currently under construction on the school campus.

Of the 15 bare-root trees donated, three were Moon Gold apricot trees and the remaining 12 were a mix of apple varieties, including Zestar, Honeycrisp, Wealthy, Liberty, and Honey Gold.

Resulting fruit will be utilized in a variety of ways, according to science teacher Bill Koenig, who along with social studies teacher Ed Loiselle created the class.

“Students will make cider and apple sauce with the apples and use them for baking," he said. "Our food classes and school lunches will also benefit.  We also plan to donate to the CAP Agency."

In the semester-long class, students learn about the earth and its finite resources and the issues that man presents in his interference with nature. Students in the class spend time outside on a variety of projects, such as pulling buckthorn and working at Eagle Creek with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to prove that planting seeds improves water quality. Last year they removed 42 tires from Eagle Creek and had them ground up to make a mulch-type product for playgrounds. In the past the class has worked with Mdewakanton Wozupi staff to plant onions, and they plan to return to the Wozupi to participate in future activities.

About Mdewakanton Wozupi

Mdewakanton Wozupi produces sustainably grown produce without the use of synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. It never uses treated or genetically modified seeds and works to source everything organically, including seeds and compost. The garden site on County Road 42 consists of a 3-acre orchard, a 5.5-acre garden, an apiary, a honey and maple syrup bottling facility, as well as a flock of 300 free-range chickens.

People can access Wozupi vegetables, herbs,  fruits, maple syrup, honey, and other products in several ways:

• A Tribally Supported Agriculture (TSA) program in which tribal members, employees, and the public have the opportunity to purchase a share in the garden and receive weekly deliveries of fresh produce for 18 weeks;
• The SMSC’s nearby natural food market, Mazopiya; and
• SMSC Farmers Market, open twice weekly from June through October at Dakotah!  Sport and Fitness on Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. and outside the SMSC Community Center on Fridays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

In addition, the Wozupi offers classes that teach people about gardening, where our food comes from, healthy eating, and food preservation.

As a steward of the land, the SMSC engages in a number of activities to preserve and protect the land for future generations. For more information, visit www.shakopeedakota.org or www.smscwozupi.org or call 952-496-2267.