ZUNI, NM (Apr. 29, 2025) — The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is gearing up for its 2025 growing season, starting with its 5th Annual Garden Kits Distribution on Sunday, May 18. Scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ho’n A:wan Park, the distribution is free and open to the public, and the event will include a variety of learning stations for families.
This annual distribution is an important part of ZYEP’s food sovereignty initiative, which provides access to resources, instruction and knowledge sharing to people of all ages and skill levels through the nonprofit organization’s Agricultural Advisory Committee. Made possible with support from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, New Mexico Department of Health, Newman’s Own Foundation and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the program brings community members together on a seasonal agricultural journey that incorporates prepping, planting, nurturing, harvesting, seed saving, healthy recipes and cooking.
According to Brittny Seowtewa, ZYEP’s food sovereignty coordinator, the team recently collected the results of an extensive community survey that assessed families’ needs and aspirations for their gardens and farms, as well as their deeper connections with Zuni culture. With this valuable feedback, she said, the youth project’s food sovereignty programming is evolving.
“The most-requested items for the garden kits were seed starts and traditional seeds,” Seowtewa reported. “At the Garden Kits Distribution next month, we’ll provide traditional seeds and seed starts as well as soil, garden tools and shade cloth. The shade cloth is really important to our families, because it’s so hot in summer, it stunts the plants’ growth. We’ll also provide grow bags with soil, which is helpful for families who don’t have room for a garden.”
“They also said they want to learn more about making garden beds and waffle gardens, soil maintenance, drip irrigation and the cultural relevance of the seeds,” added Zachary James, one of ZYEP’s food sovereignty leaders.
ZYEP will distribute 100 garden kits at the distribution, and for the first time, the youth project will not require registration. Instead, the kits will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis on May 18.
The public distribution event also will include a series of hands-on, workshop-style learning stations that will cover topics such as garden tools, seeds, water conservation, soil, mulch, pest control, shade cloth and waffle gardens. In addition, families will have opportunities to play games and make memories together.
Next year, ZYEP will shift gears to offer larger equipment so the food sovereignty team can provide hands-on assistance to families who are establishing gardens, tilling or plowing fields, and building fences. This is a significant shift for the youth project, but it is a necessary one as its food sovereignty programs continue to evolve.
“We started the Garden Kits Distribution during the Covid pandemic to boost people’s moods and positivity during a difficult time,” James said. “It was a starting point. Now, as our families are expanding their efforts, we are expanding along with them.
“I love seeing the kids grow and learn from each other,” he continued. “That’s the thing with agriculture; it’s a forever learning process. There is always more to learn as we revitalize what has been lost.”
James also shared that the Garden Kits Distribution will serve as a grand reopening celebration for the Ho’n A:wan Park garden. ZYEP has expanded the garden by 132 square feet, built eight metal beds, added arches for vine crops, switched the corn’s location and altered the garden design so it would be visible from the park’s entrance.
“We had a lot of unused space with the old design,” Seowtewa said. “This is a better footprint in terms of square footage, and it even gives us the room for Three Sisters gardening. We used to only have space for the corn and beans; now we have room for the squash as well. We’ll also be planting pumpkins, and we can add more flowers to support our pollinators.”
In addition, ZYEP’s annual Summer Workshop Series will kick off in June. According to Seowtewa, the team is trying something a little different this year to accommodate Zuni families’ interests and needs.
“In the surveys, families told us they would like more traditional and cultural content through the workshops,” she explained. “They also expressed interest in accessing content digitally. So, this year, we will be offering our contemporary teachings through a digital platform — these will be subjects like composting and soil health. That will free us up to focus on cultural topics at the in-person workshops, which will not be recorded.”
In June, families will learn about the Zuni songs and prayers related to agriculture. In July, the workshop will focus on the cultural significance of certain types of gardens, varieties of crops, the Zuni names for them, and the different colors of corn and their uses.
“In the survey, it was interesting to see the families express in detail their interest in the cultural components of agriculture,” Seowtewa said. “Seeing that in writing was an eye-opener for us.”
In August, as harvest season approaches, the ZYEP team will offer its “Healthy Recipes from the Garden” workshop. Offered for the first time last year and popular among families, this year’s workshop will share information about the different ways to preserve harvested crops and incorporate fresh, canned, dried and pickled produce into nutritious, plant-based meals.
The last workshop in the Summer Workshop Series will take place in September, and it will be dedicated to seed saving. Through a Native Seed Search workshop, Food Sovereignty Leader Khass Hattie learned to make and use a vacuum-based seed separator, which she will demonstrate for families; attendees also may participate in a seed exchange during the event.
In fall, monthly Family Cook Nights will bring families together to learn how to make healthy plant-based recipes. The sessions will take place once per month in October, November and December, each accommodating three families in person at ZYEP and 12 families via Zoom.
Finally, ZYEP is expanding its reach in the community through a series of partnerships: This season, it will assist the Lakeside Community Building with obtaining a water tank and add the center to its water rotation, along with Ho’n A:wan Park and Indian Health Service; it also will add the Zuni Senior Center to the rotation; and it will assist the Zuni Veterans Services Program with seed starts.
“We understand that our direct reach is limited, so we’re looking forward to working together and broadening our impact through these intentional partnerships,” Seowtewa said.
“The food sovereignty initiative — it’s everyone now, not just us,” James observed. “A lot more people are gardening nowadays. Our people have adapted for thousands of years, and families want to know how they can adapt now, especially with climate change.
“During Covid, we knew we were tapping into a deep need, and as a community, we came together,” he continued. “We’re sharing knowledge about practices that have been taught for generations. It’s amazing to see how food sovereignty programs are reigniting a spark in people and leading our kids in the right direction.”
To learn more about the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project and its programs, and for information about making donations, partnering with ZYEP, and volunteering, call (505) 782-8000 or visit zyep.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest news and events, follow the nonprofit youth organization on Facebook (/zuniyouthenrichmentproject), Instagram (@zuniyouthenrichmentproject), YouTube (/ZuniYouth), and TikTok (/zyep09)
Founded in 2009, the nonprofit Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is dedicated to promoting resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong, healthy adults who are connected with Zuni traditions. ZYEP fulfills its mission by providing positive role models, enriching programs, and nurturing spaces that contribute to the healthy development of Zuni youth. ZYEP strives to provide every child with the encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
