Summer ‘09 work teams have been a tremendous blessing at our Green Tipi Gardens site in White Clay.

Besides pulling weeds, mowing and generally sprucing the place up, they have managed to put in a special ‘craft crop’ garden, create the foundation/design of our “Vine House” and much more.

For the past three summers we have, in cooperation with Running Strong For American Indian Youth, planted, tended to and harvested a community vegetable garden.  This year however we decided to try something different.  We have instead planted a variety of gourds, ornamental corn, broom straw and loads of potential pumpkins!  The idea is to provide the raw materials for some of our industrious Lakota crafters to make some extra money this fall by utilizing the ‘fruits’ of this effort.

We got a very late start because of extended cold temperatures and an abundance of moisture.   So, PRAY that our plantings mature and are harvestable before any killing frost(s).

We did also plant 3 “Three Sisters” gardens (corn, beans, squash) as prototypes and for promotional purposes for an idea we have to market this really ‘green’ garden.  Included here are photos of our “Lakota Three Sisters” (the Blacksmith sisters – Minerva, Norma and Aurelia) both in traditional garb, as well as, the “Three Funny Sisters” photo which will appear on the back of the seed packages!  (The sisters have agreed to become known as “Beany”, “Corny” and “Squashy” – all in good fun!)

Make sure to check out Tom Bee’s “Sacred Warrior” and “Joyful Victory” videos on our homepage or at YouTube.com.  Green Tipi Gardens is prominently featured in both.

PRAY FOR THE HARVEST – HIS HARVEST!