Meskwaki Food Sovereignty

04/08/2026

Recently, the Meskwaki Food Sovereignty program has been working with other tribal operation departments, including MNR and Public Works, to bring together a community-centered food forestry initiative that revives ancestral intercropping systems and repairs relationships with traditional foods and landscapes that have long nourished the Meskwaki people. This project has been granted funding through the USDA Forest Service and Iowa DNR, and we would like to invite Meskwaki community members and Meskwaki Nation employees to a listening session for the community-centered food forest initiative.

The session will be a facilitated discussion with our project partner TreesForever to gather feedback, concerns, and ideas from the community that will inform PHASE 1 - Planning & Implementation of the community-centered food forest initiative. The project sites funded for development include the lot west of Rainbow Park and area surrounding the Workforce Development building.

Your input at this listening session will help us meet the needs and interests of the community as we begin assessing sites and making plans for agroforestry development. Examples of key topics to address for this project include community guidelines for use of the food forest sites and their long-term management.

The session will take place on Thursday, April 30th from 2:30pm - 4:00pm in the downstairs classroom of the Rec Center and be facilitated by Jeff Jensen with TreesForever.

The interest RSVP form to attend will close on Wednesday, April 29 at 4:30 PM.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR THE LISTENING SESSION:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ftMrp5NPLkmj2r8nQaGYuklqKPzFIIRPu2LXhdFnz81UOTVQMk5KSUtXVEJZR1lLRFE0S0VWWkxMNi4u&route=shorturl

04/06/2026

Join us for our seasonal Seed & Transplant Giveaway! We will be holding this giveaway on Wed., May 6 from 8:30am-4:30pm and Thu., May 7 from 8:30am-5pm at Red Earth Gardens.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener, we're here to help - advice, tips and gardening information will be available for anyone who needs guidance.

We'll be offering a variety of vegetable plants, including:
Bell Peppers
Jalapenos
Watermelon
Cucumbers
Butternut Squash
Yellow Onions
Zucchini
Slicer & Roma Tomatoes

We will also have traditional heirloom seeds available. Plus, a beautiful selection of flowers!

02/17/2026

Food Forestry Initiative Community Input Survey – Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Program

• The purpose of this survey is to collect feedback on developing a community-centered food forest initiative, including walking/biking paths.

• Goal: Establish a baseline understanding of people’s general awareness and interest for future projects related to food sovereignty and the community-centered food forest initiative.

Submit a response here - https://forms.office.com/g/Guj22Mysin

Food Forestry Initiative Community Input Survey – Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Program

•The purpose of this survey is to collect feedback on developing a community-centered food forest initiative, including walking/biking paths.

•Goal: Establish a baseline understanding of people’s general awareness and interest for future projects related to food sovereignty and the community-centered food forest initiative.

Submit a response here - https://forms.office.com/g/Guj22Mysin

10/06/2025

Updated flyer - NEW DATE ‼️

Join Luke Kapayou for a Seed-Saving Class on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 5 PM at the Meskwaki Workforce Development Building! 🌽 Learn how to save and preserve heirloom corn, beans, and squash, support food sovereignty, and carry on ancestral traditions. Light refreshments served!

Keep traditions alive - one seed at a time!

08/28/2025

Meskwaki Corn Atamina Harvest

07/23/2025

Due to the weather, Thursday's Farmers Market is being moved inside to the Meskwaki Settlement School Commons area. Stop out for some fresh produce and goodies!

04/23/2025

Meskwaki Gardening Practices
Tonight, 5pm - 7pm, 3166 H Ave, Tama

04/23/2025

Call or text Meskwaki Food Sovereignty to sign up for the Community Garden and/or Tilling Services!
641-481-6449 or 641.481.1783

04/08/2025

Meskwaki Food Sovereignty and Red Earth Gardens will be holding a Seed and Transplant Giveaway on May 1 and 2 at Red Earth Gardens.

Included in the giveaway are: Watermelon, Hubbard Squash, Cucumbers, Carrots, Tomatoes, Marigolds, Sunflowers and more!

Pick up your seed and transplants!

• Thu., May 1st: 8am – 5:30pm
• Fri., May 2nd: 8am – 4:30pm
• at Red Earth Gardens

**Open to all Meskwaki community members

03/20/2025

On Monday, March 17 Meskwaki Workforce Development and Food Sovereignty held a meeting to discuss how they can support the community's gardening efforts to increase growing, seed saving and food preservation.
Click here to see more photos from this event: https://meskwakimedia.smugmug.com/2025-Photos/03-17-25-WFD-Gardening-Outreach