Catanoso Reports: Indigenous Farming Revives Southwest

“From waffle gardens to terraces, Indigenous groups revive farming heritage in America’s deserts”

As part of November’s Native American Heritage Month, Board Member Justin Catanoso, reporting for Mongabay, explored traditional farming techniques that are seeing a resurgence in the American Southwest.

Native American farmers have long practiced weather-adaptive agricultural methods in the Southwest’s arid, high-desert environments. Today, groups are working to train the next generation of Indigenous farmers in these techniques to boost their cultural and economic resilience.

For example, “waffle” gardening, which relies on grid-like sunken beds with earthen walls, helps to retain moisture and avoid runoff for the rare rain events. Being opportunistic with the microclimates available on even the smallest patches of lands is another time-honored approach, allowing you to plant seeds where they’ll have the greatest chances of success, for example.

Catanoso’s article features the story of Roxanne Swentzell, who began transforming a small dry patch on her land as a means of supporting herself and her daughters back in 1985. After decades of learning and adapting, Swentzwell enjoys an abundant and lush garden-scape that showcases just how effective these traditional methods can be.

Read on to learn more about these transformative techniques, and maybe even get a little inspiration for your own humble undertakings.