Community Garden
Overview
Works toward Tribal self-sufficiency and overall mental, physical, and spiritual health. We grow traditional plants, vegetables, berries, and fruit trees. All produce is distributed directly to Nisqually tribal members & community. We also host classes, provide job training services to tribal members through the Tribe and SPIPA, preserve food & medicines, put on annual events, and work closely with many tribal departments. Our services are offered to Tribal and community members.
We tend 5 acres of vegetables, berries, traditional plants, and fruit trees. All produce is distributed directly to Nisqually Tribal members & community members. We also host youth field trips, provide job training to tribal members through Nisqually Workforce Development and SPIPA Vocational Rehab, preserve foods & medicines, put on annual events, and partner with many other programs and departments.
Services/Program Available
- Weekly Garden Stand (June-October)
- Weekly Elders Box Program
- Elders Garden Bed Program
- Weekly Elders Center Delivery (for elders only)
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Body care products
- Preserved and dried produce
- Natural Medicine and Teas
- Garden tours & youth field trips
- Volunteer opportunities
- On-the-job training
- Garden Consultation
- Annual harvest party
- Teach classes on and off campus
Workshops Offered
- Medicine Making
- Making body care products
- Gardening tips
History
The Nisqually Tribe has a long history of Community Gardens, dating back at least to the 1970s. The current Nisqually Community Garden at the Culture Center began in 2009 on 410 acres of farmland at the mouth of the Nisqually River that was purchased by the Tribe in 1998. Hundreds of acres of this farmland were restored to estuary after being dammed for about 100 years in order to make it farmable. The Nisqually Tribe Department of Natural Resources removed the dams and planted thousands of native plants, re-storing this critical salmon habitat. The Community Garden sits on about 70 acres of uplands overlooking this restored estuary.
Schedule, Deliveries and Feedback
During garden stand season, the stand will be held on Tuesday's from 12:30 - 3:00pm behind the administration building and on Fridays from 12:30 - 3:00pm outside of the new health clinic. Also, Elders produce boxes are delivered every Tuesday Morning to elders houses or the elders center no later than 10:00 am.
Produce is free for Tribal Members and Nisqually Community members, with donations gladly accepted.
Address: Community Garden, 18815 Mounts Road SW Dupont, WA 98327
Address: Second Garden Property, 847 Old Pacific HWY SE Olympia, WA 98513
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10 Years of the Nisqually Community Garden