Summary: Everyone is familiar with the nursery rhyme, “Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow?” For some, a garden is not just a place to grow pretty flowers and vegetables but rather a place to connect the relationship between mankind, nature and the Creator. This is basically what is referred to as a Spirit Garden. There are various rare and sacred plants that are used for medicinal purposes, divination, cosmetics, textiles, food, etc. Family and community food production is the objective of the Slim Buttes Agri-Dev Project. Its mission is to sustainably grow food in a hostile environment (located in the southern tier of the Badlands) amongst a depressed and afflicted populace. Although The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is the eight largest reservation in the USA, it is the 2nd poorest. Running Strong for American Indian Youth, is a national organization that helps people meet their immediate survival needs by organic gardening, despite the problems and challenges which they are faced with. Their advisory board is composed of a special group of leaders in American Indian communities across the United States. They are an important resource to ensure that their programs preserve, promote and respect Indian culture and values. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak Tom K. Cook, Director, Slim Buttes Agriculture Development Project about Spirit Gardening. Stay tuned!
