HELP THE RUNNING STRONG GARDEN CHALLENGE GRANT

A generous Running Strong supporter has offered a $5,000 matching grant for the Slim Buttes Agricultural Development Program until March 31, 2010.

DONATE TODAY and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Even though the Reservation is gripped by wintery weather, much planning is going on to prepare for the coming spring.

As soon as the spring thaw comes:
• tractor teams will be sent to the families who need them
• first-time gardeners will need supplies and help from more experienced gardeners
• irrigation systems and wildlife fences need to be built.

With every donation doubled, we are on our way to reaching our goal of $5,000. To date, we have raised over $4,585.16.

We are so close.  Please HELP US reach our goal.

SLIM BUTTES AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SBAG)

The Slim Buttes Agricultural Program (SBAG) is a community effort to:

• increase local food production
• improve the nutritional quality of food
• promote self-reliance among the Oglala Lakota.

On the Pine Ridge Reservation, diabetes is rampant and there are few grocery stores. Most people can only afford an unhealthy diet, with few fresh fruits and vegetables.

SBAG is a community-based organic gardening project that addresses these problems.

SBAG provides soil preparation, seedlings, and other gardening assistance to families across the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, free of charge.

Families sign up to host a garden, and with the support of SBAG, begin growing their own food while developing an active lifestyle from tending the garden.

Tom Cook (Akwesasne Mohawk) is the full-time director of the project and a Running Strong Field Coordinator. Tom employs only local residents and is able to achieve outstanding results.

Each year, SBAG assists with over 200 gardens in eight of the nine districts of Pine Ridge Reservation by:

• tilling plots for families to farm
• delivering seedlings
• distributing packages of seeds
• installing more than nine miles of irrigation systems.

Gardens in the project grow tomatoes, potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips, beans, melons, peppers, lettuce, spinach, squash, artichokes, and corn.

Each year, produce from SBAG feeds over 3,000 people.

Running Strong for American Indian Youth is the base financial support for the Slim Buttes Agricultural Project.

From six community gardens, this program has grown into an agent of community change.