2019 Indigenous Communities Fellowship
Wind/Solar Powered Purified Garden Plots with Portable Power
Our tagline:
Wind Power, Solar Power, Food Sovereignty, Purified Water, Portable Power
Our pitch:
The problem my project in committed solving is the lack of food sovereignty, self-sustaining power resources, creating reliable drinking sources, economic opportunities.
The project I am proposing is a year-round green plot with a net zero self-sustaining power supply. The housing for this garden plot will be built to generate power to completely operate the water pumps and provide extra power for portable power inverters. The power will be generated from solar powered panels and wind turbines. The wind turbines are a great alternative for power generation in North Dakota because it is also known the windy state. When direct sunlight in unavailable, there is usually wind on cloudy days. The power inverters will be travel size and easy to transport ready for travel on the powwow trail. An extension of this garden plot will have a filtered system to use water run off as apart of the water resources to support garden growth, which can be stored for use in watering. This captured water will also be a drinkable resource to use in emergencies.
My project will change my community by creating self-sustaining opportunities that will save money to the individual and encourage financial independence with more money to spend on immediate needs. Since the need for clean water has become more evident, I believe this product with provide hope to communities threatened by contamination of the natural resources because it provides a building model for food and water. This project will create jobs for the installers, growers, buyers and sellers of water, power and produce. The youth can be trained on how to monitor the success of the garden plot. The youth can be employed to harvest the garden and create a local farmers market opportunity.
The biggest barrier my project has is the funding to support participation in our program. Good news travels fast in our community and growth in not an issue for the success of a projects within our Native American communities.
Our solution's stage of development:
PilotWhere our project is located:
Bismarck, ND, USAWhere our solution team is headquartered or located:
Bismarck, ND, USAHow we use technology in our project:
The technology used in this project will include solar power water pumps that will supply water to the garden based on the electronic data assigned to the specific plot. There will be technical data provide for the power supply available in storage. There will be water level meters used to measure water readily available in storage tanks.
What makes our project innovative:
My project is innovated because it provides year-round produce and creates a new market for a farmer’s market that can used by the community it serves. My project creates another source of clean water by utilizing our existing environmental resources. This project creates power independence encouraging consumers to be more mindful in efficiently distributing resources.
How our project will be accessible and affordable to our community:
This project can be adjustable on the scale of garden plot based on community use and interest.
There are currently 3 people involved in the project and readily available to expand further as personal agenda permits. I serve as President of American Indigenous Business Leaders Chapter on our college campus. I have received support from Brian McGinness regarding an extension of a current year round green house currently in the working progress. Mara Yborra is the nutrition specialist on our campus and manages the current summer garden plots on our campus. I have seven students serving on our AIBL Chapter. I am a volunteer at the Family and Child Education Program for Native Families on our campus.
Our future project goals:
I hope to expand this program to serve reservations across the nation. This will help create economic independence for reservations.
Highlights from our project:
We have hosted some successful fundraising, volunteer and community gathering in the past at the Skills Center on the United Tribes Technical College Campus.
Why we are applying to Solve:
Solve can help market our project goals and provide funding needed to advance the success of our project.
The organizations we are currently working with:
UTTC Land Grant Extension
Organizations we would like to partner with:
Boys and Girls Club of the Three Affiliated Tribes to help provide employment opportunities for the youth and network with Family and Child Education for Native Families.
Solution Team
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Kasa Hohenstein UTTC 2019 Student of the Year, President of American Indigenous Business Leaders Chapter at UTTC, Volunteer Family and Child Education for Native Families, Student in the Bachelor of Science Business Administration degree program, United Tribes Technical College
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Our Solution
Wind/Solar Powered Purified Garden Plots with Portable Power