by Anahi Sanchez-Moya
On Saturday, April 27, 2024 the Indigenous Community Garden, located at the Turfgrass Research Center, celebrated 10 years since its establishment at Virginia Tech. The garden has since been an important part of indigenous communities and organizations at Virginia Tech and over the years has been the classroom for many courses such as Indigenous Ecologies and fields relating to forestry, agriculture, community organization, and soil science - just to name a few. So, in an effort to follow the tradition of the Monacan-Tutelo people the community celebrated by clearing the space to prepare for the Ma:ta:xe and future native vegetable planting.
Beyond practicing traditional agricultural practices, the garden also serves as way to continue building community between races, identities, ages, majors, and levels of education. Through organizations like Native at VT, American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), and the Faculty and Staff Alliance, individuals across the Virginia Tech community were invited to come together to help plant Ma:ta:xe. Led by special guest speaker and Elder-In-Residence, Vicky Ferguson, she led us through the process and taught us the importance of using nature as an indicator to inform us when it is time to plant. Dr. Ferguso, member of the Monacan Nation, was instrumental in sharing and teaching traditional knowledge through mound building, Ma:ta:xe planting, and bean planting.
As a community member of Native at VT and friend of Bryce Burrell, I was fortunate enough to see how much the garden has meant to others and how the work that is being done unites people. Through instrumental change makers such as Elder Vicky Ferguson, Bryce Burrell, and the Polanco Family -- all who have dedicated their time and support in creating sustainable change on campus -- I have had the privilege to experience something truly unique that often times many Hokies do not get to experience. Being a part of a land grant institution and getting the chance to visit, garden, or help compost with indigenous leaders, I’m proud to say that I’ll be leaving Virginia Tech with a strengthened commitment to lead a more sustainable life. I share this blog post and invite you to join us and celebrate the Indigenous Community Garden. For more information, please feel free to look at https://ccc.vt.edu/index/aiicc/agency-education/garden.html.
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