STORIES

The Obesity, Nutrition and Physical Activity Program (ONAPA) partners with five tribal communities through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) to implement specific obesity prevention projects. As a part of this initiative, each of the five tribal communities is working in some capacity to establish edible community gardens in conjunction with nutrition education for children and adults.

Tribal members filled a ½ acre garden plot with at least 600 vegetable plants, including chile peppers (Velarde, Big Jim, Yellow Hots, and jalapenos), squash, sweet and white corn, watermelons, onions, carrots, cucumbers, beets, radishes, eggplant, and tomatoes. The garden is managed and maintained by several low-income General Assistance (GA) particip- ants who, in turn, learn farming, cultivation, and irrigation skills while getting their fair share of physical activity hours. Volunteers also assist with garden maintenance, resulting in an average of 100 hours of work performed by the community each week. All produce from the garden is used for tasting and cooking demonstrations and offered to General Assistance participants, their families and,if harvest allows, other tribal members.