288-5 A student-led community garden showcasing collaboration between Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Science

Session: Indigenous Teaching and Research in the Geosciences: Approaches to Indigenizing Geoscience Across Multiple Contexts

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

Climate change is one of the major factors causing soil erosion and soil quality deterioration in the United States. Overgrazing, deforestation, and unsustainable agricultural practices are equally responsible for the U.S. soil quality deterioration. The Navajo Nation has an area of over 27,000 square miles. Within this geography the Navajo people are dealing with serious environmental challenges, and one of them is associated with climate change-induced soil quality deterioration. Navajo culture integrates traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) that talks about maintaining a balance between Mother Earth and humankind. Traditional Navajo farming incorporates this knowledge and is an example of maintaining the harmony between humankind and nature. Absolutely no use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides is one of the environmental-friendly approaches of traditional Navajo farming technique. The way numerous First Nations including the Navajos do farming is not only beneficial to the environment, but the process can build topsoil with ancient heirloom seeds. The heirloom seeds are grown by the Native Americans are known to be resilient and were bred to be nutritious. Heathy soil is especially important for many reasons; it not only increases yields dramatically, but it also makes the food more nutrient-rich. The use of weeds or forbs as a mulch in the crop-field is a great way to start this process. Biochar was produced from coppiced stumps following local Indigenous methods and was used as natural fertilizers along with food-waste compost. This study applied TEK of farming while creating the first ever community garden on the Navajo Technical University (NTU) Crownpoint campus. The garden was made up of corn, bush beans, buckwheat, sunflowers, zinnias, watermelons, and sweat potatoes. The seeds were planted in Spring, 2023 and 2024; and the harvesting was done in Fall 2023 and 2024. Third consecutive year of plantation is ongoing now. Rainwater was harvested in earthen dams, and the collected water was used for irrigation on a periodic basis using drip irrigation system. This study showed the traditional knowledge of seed selection and application of Navajo traditional framing practices are extremely useful in maintaining and managing highly vulnerable soil type of Navajo Nation. This rich traditional knowledge can also be applied to other parts of this country for the purpose of soil management.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-9675

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