ZUNI, NM (Oct. 16, 2023) — On Wednesday, Oct. 11, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project opened registration for its popular “Family Cook Nights” series, which give Zuni families opportunities to learn how to prepare multiple-course meals using plant-based ingredients. Free and open to the public, the fall events are scheduled for Oct. 26, Nov. 16 and Dec. 12.
Each Family Cook Night incorporates an entree, a side dish and a dessert. Last fall, families learned to make black bean tacos with red and green taco sauce, and fruit salad with honey-lime and mint dressing; homemade pizza, fresh garden salad with dressing, and pumpkin parfaits; and sweet potato and black bean soup with avocado and tortilla strips, cornbread, and baked apples with crumble and ice cream.
“We gear the recipes to our harvested produce and what’s in season, and then we provide all the ingredients and a cooking kit to each registered family,” explained Brittny Seowtewa, ZYEP’s Food Sovereignty coordinator. “We can accommodate 15 families in each session — three in person, and 12 through Zoom.”
She noted that, in post-program surveys, families indicated they enjoyed cooking together, spending quality time together, and seeing their children’s excitement. The multigenerational program and the kits received 90- and 100-percent approval ratings, respectively.
Family Cook Nights are a key element of the ZYEP Food Sovereignty initiative, which is made possible with support from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Native American Agriculture Fund, New Mexico Department of Health, Newman’s Own Foundation, Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance, and 7th Generation Fund. This year’s fall series is coming on the heels of another successful summer season, which included multiple free workshops for the Zuni community.
On June 14, the Water Conservation Workshop drew roughly 50 families to learning stations that involved games, educational activities, and the sharing of important cultural knowledge. All families went home with shade cloths for their gardens.
Approximately 40 families attended the Pest Management Workshop on July 12. They learned about fencing, do’s and don’ts, and beneficial insects versus pests; they played games including “Pin the Tail on the Prairie Dog”; they designed seed-saving boxes and pots; and they took home bottles of ZYEP’s organic pest-control formula.
At the Healthy Recipes Workshop on Aug. 23, 64 people learned to make traditional chili patties, parched corn, and tomatillo salsa verde. They also played a healthy version of “Cake Walk,” competing to win fresh fruits and vegetables.
“The kids loved it,” Seowtewa said. “We had such a good turnout, because in addition to our gardening families, we had curious families coming from our soccer and flag football leagues as well.”
ZYEP staff set up an arts and crafts table as well, giving families an opportunity to decorate pieces of wood for the nonprofit youth project’s mobile vegetable garden. By the end of the evening, 13 creative new panels adorned the garden on wheels.
“We pulled the mobile garden into our front parking lot, and the families went out to see the crops we have growing — green chilis, cilantro, and sugar snap peas,” recalled Zachary James, ZYEP’s Food Sovereignty specialist.
To wrap up the 2023 workshop series, the youth project hosted two seed-saving workshops. They took place on Sept. 13 and Oct. 11, respectively.
At the first workshop, 16 families learned about seeds and modern seed-saving techniques, participated in a seed-matching game for prizes, learned to germinate seeds at home, and created more decorations for the mobile vegetable garden. Children were able to add their handprints, as well.
“Zach and Kailin Quam, our Food Sovereignty intern, went with them,” Seowtewa said. “They had fun getting messy, and they could put their handprints wherever they wanted on the wooden boards.”
At the second workshop, which closed out the 2023 workshop series, 15 people learned about the significance of non-GMO seeds, the benefits of traditional seeds and seed-saving, and how to process and save corn, including grinding the corn for cornmeal and also how to use corn husks. In addition, they made seed boxes for their own seed collections.
In years past, the workshops were only open to families registered for ZYEP gardening kits. This year, the youth project opted to open them up to the public.
“It was the right decision, and we had a great year,” James said. We got people of all different ages, and we got so many questions. When we share knowledge and grow together, it’s a never-ending learning experience for all of us.”
“We definitely will keep our workshops open to the public in 2024,” Seowtewa added.
This month, ZYEP and Zuni’s gardening families are completing their harvesting in advance of the Pueblo of Zuni’s first frost. At Ho’n A:wan Park, the harvest includes red corn, melons, cilantro, cucumbers and beans.
“This growing season was a challenging one,” James said. “For two years, we were blessed with an abundance of rain. This year, we didn’t get as much, and the heat really had an impact. We needed shade cloths to prevent the sun from burning the plants. Some of the gardens here didn’t do well.
“It was a learning experience, and it will help us get ready for next year,” he continued. “We know we’re seeing harsher summers, and earlier frosts in October, so we have to adapt. We need to show our kids that this doesn’t mean we give up — it means that we learn, we problem-solve, and we are resilient.
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.
