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Decolonizing Soil

An Indigenous Perspective on Gardening
Beginning with the Environment Beneath our Feet

A Power Point Program with Harvest McCampbell

In 1491 the soils of North America’s vast prairies, woodlands, and forests were deep, rich environments teeming with nutrient building organisms.  These soils had supported large populations of diverse plant, animal, and human life—for thousands of years.  This life giving system was about to be plundered. 

One of the seldom told stories of colonization is its affect on our soils, nutrient cycles, and the nutritional values of our food.  Decolonizing Soil takes a gentle look at common thoughts about soil, the difference between scientific and indigenous values in regards to soil, and how our soils have been degraded through the colonization process.  Next, healthy soil nutrient cycles are introduced as well as nature’s own tried and true soil healing processes.  Finally, we learn how to encourage natural soil building cycles in yards, gardens, and open space.

This power point program is designed as an outline for group discussion.  Participants are actively encouraged to contribute comments and questions using a model styled after traditional talking circles.  Additionally, 24 - 8x10” display photographs depict garden diversity, beauty, and bounty using decolonized soil principals.  Handouts include sources for more information, an overview of basic concepts, and 12 Steps to Decolonized Soil.  Participants will leave with a better understanding of healthy soil environments, their importance to our lives, and information on protecting soil nutrient cycles in their yards, gardens, and other managed land.

Please allow two and a half hours for the presentation, plus set up and clean up time.  (If a shorter presentation is needed, group discussion can be minimized.  However, the more the group participates the more they are likely to learn and retain.)  The program can be adapted to the hard and soft ware available at your site. (A portable power point projector can be brought to your site—however it is only effective in dark rooms.)  Please advise on the available technology when inquiring about the presentation.

Presenter, Harvest McCampbell, (who has ancestors and relatives on both sides of the plunder divide) is the author of Food Security & Sustainability for the Times Ahead and former organic gardening columnist for the Hoopa Tribe’s newspaper, the Two Rivers Tribune.  She shares first hand information from over thirty years of gardening experience as well as information from her reading and research.  Writing samples and biographical information can be found on her web site: http://www.HarvestMcCampbell.com  Contact Ms. McCampbell for more information or to schedule a presentation by e-mail: harvest95546@yahoo.com

"Decolonizing Soil -- It is a great PowerPoint and an intriguing discussion. The same conquest and domination experienced by Indigenous Peoples definitely applies to the skin of Mother Earth. Decolonizing Soil is a commendable undertaking."

Chris Peters
http://www.globalonenessproject.org/videos/chrispetersclip2

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Text, Graphics, and Design Copyright 2010, Harvest McCampbell, All Rights Reserved.

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