The Grand Portage Community Garden has been named Cook County’s “2022 Farm Family of the Year” by University of Minnesota Extension. The Cook County Extension Committee selected the Grand Portage Community Garden to receive the award this year in recognition of the significant efforts by the program to provide food and agricultural opportunities for the Grand Portage community.

The Grand Portage Band of Chippewa has a focus on food sovereignty, which is the inherent right to define its own food system with traditional culture and historical context. The goal is to provide access to healthy, affordable and sustainable food for all members of the community. The formation of the Community Agriculture Through Culture, Health and Education (CACHE) project five years ago has moved this mission forward.

Originally, the site was a family farmstead. It then became a community garden offering 10 x 12-foot plots to all who wanted to grow. That garden was expanded twice. In the fall of 2012, a 90 x 90-foot school garden was added, followed by three hoop houses. More recently, a five-acre addition was opened, fenced, and brought into production.

At its Mineral Center location individual plots are available to tribal members for family production. The agricultural coordinator is responsible for the three hoop houses, the school garden, and the new acreage. Produce grown is directed first to program cooks for the Elder Nutrition Program and the Summer Food program for children in addition to the Headstart program and the Oshki Ogimaag Charter School. The remaining produce is made available to the community through the weekly CACHE Farm Market. There are a community orchard, school and community planters, and a hoop house at the Elder Nutrition Center growing food as well.

The community garden has long been supported by past chairman Norman Deschampe and the current tribal chair, Bobby Deschampe.

There have been many community members involved in the family gardens. They have included: Rick Anderson; Emma and Erik Carlson; Mary Bowles; Beth and Ryan Drost; Travis Novitsky; Sally Gagnon; Chad Spry; Lisa Brickner; George Harrelson; and Cheryl Anishnabie. Agricultural coordinators have included Andy Schmidt; Marcia Eiynck and Andrew Duhaime. Cache Project organizers were Rick Anderson; Paula Schaefbauer; Mary Bowels; Tess Bailey; Andy Schmidt; and Quincy Davidson.

The awardees from all counties will be officially recognized in a ceremony Thursday, August 4 at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Profiles of the 2022 honorees and information on the recognition event can be found on the University’s farm family website, https://extension.umn.edu/farm-families.

Honored families are chosen, one per county, by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on their demonstrated commitment to their communities and to enhancing and supporting agriculture.

“These farm families are a major driver of Minnesota's economy and the vitality of Minnesota's rural communities,” said Bev Durgan, dean of the University of Minnesota Extension. “The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these farm families for their contributions to agriculture and their communities.” 

Along with Farmfest, University units sponsoring the recognition event include the University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Farmfest runs August 2-4 at the Gilfillan Estate, near Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Event hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $8.00 in advance or $10.00 at the gate and those 17 and under are admitted free. More information on Farmfest is available at https://www.ideaggroup.com/farmfest.

For more news from U of M Extension, visit www.extension.umn.edu/news or contact Extension Communications at [email protected]. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

About Cook County, MN

Cook County encompasses the sovereign nation of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; the City of Grand Marais; the Townships of Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder; and unincorporated areas in the easternmost part of Minnesota’s North Shore. Cook County Government values transparency and strives to deliver superior services and programs in a fiscally responsible way. We value the dignity of all County residents and seek to create a community that provides opportunity for all. Many of our offices are in the Cook County Courthouse at 411 W 2nd St, Grand Marais 55604. Other departments and facilities, such as the Airport, Community Center, Highway and Sheriff are located nearby. Call 218-387-3000 or visit: https://co.cook.mn.us