Onkwe Community Garden Gets a Head Start on Food Distribution

By: Jaclyn Hall

"We are now entering our 6th year, doing this community garden," stated one of Onkwe's hardworking volunteers.

Standing in front of acres of empty fields, ready for planting.

Every year a group of Onkwehonwe people from across the Confederacy come to plant, care for, and harvest the crops produced by the Onkwe Community Garden. Located on the property of Tsionkwanatiio since the community garden was started, volunteers help to distribute fresh fruits and veggies to Akwesasronon every harvest season.

Onkwe got a head start on food distribution this year giving out free potatoes to Akwesasronon.

A post made by the Onkwe Facebook page read, "We are happy to provide potatoes for the community yesterday. It was estimated to be 19,000 pounds. On behalf of Onkwe, we would like to thank Childstock farms from Malone, Nelson Jock, Louis Peters, Tom Chubb, Phil Gray Jr., Teyutkwa Jimerson, Johnson Jimerson, Stanley Thompson and Howie Jock for all their help. Niawen, also, to all the locations for allowing us to use their space as a pickup point. Big Boys Gas Station, #9 Fuels, Tsi Snaihne Recreation Center, Kana:takon School and the Island Community Fire."

Thanks to all the hardworking volunteers at the Onkwe Community Garden, Akwesasne grows closer to food sovereignty and self-sufficiency every year. At the Garden, knowledgeable gardeners pass on their knowledge to anyone willing to learn cultivating, growing, harvesting and storing nutritious food, while giving back to Akwesasne throughout the growing season. "Anyone is welcome to help at the community garden, as long as they're ready to work." stated one of the elders at the Community garden.