LCOOU Farm Solutions

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University

LCOOU Farm Solutions

Renewable solutions for food security.

Hayward, WI 54843, USA

United States

Nonprofit

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Much of the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation suffers from low income and low access to food. Through our efforts, we hope to combat that scarcity and allow our community members access to high-quality, traditional foods. The Tribe is facing challenges with declining healthcare access and rising rates of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Substance abuse amongst tribal members is an ongoing struggle. Offering opportunities to reclaim a traditional relationship with the land and access to low-cost fresh food will help to provide food security and health benefits to the local community.

We currently have two greenhouses that aren't being utilized. We plan to increase the number of solar panels on the farm property to power these additional greenhouses. The greenhouses would be used for aquaponic and hydroponic systems to grow produce and raise fish for consumption. https://www.theaquaponicsource.com/shop/aquaculture-systems/flourish-fish-farm-1200/ We also want to add an additional field classroom for courses relating to aquaculture, agriculture, livestock care, traditional growing methods, and renewable energy training.

The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Farm is a community space, not only for the LCO Tribal Members, but for the Hayward, Wisconsin community at large. We are a primarily rural Northwoods community known for outdoor activities like cross country skiing and fishing. The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has approximately 7,200 enrolled members. The reservation is almost entirely covered by forest and lakes. This solution will increase access to fresh, healthy, traditional foods and the education to support community members well into the future.