Cultivating Community: Noah Proctor’s 2023 Dreamstarter Garden
In 2023, Dreamstarter recipient Noah Proctor of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe, embarked on a mission to bring fresh, locally grown produce to his tribal community. Noah, one of ten recipients of the 2023 Dreamstarter grant, received $20,000 to make his dream a reality. With the support of Running Strong and his mentor organization, Through Piscataway Eyes, Noah’s vision blossomed into a community garden project that provided substance for the body and cultivated community.
Noah’s Inspiration: Addressing Community Needs
Noah’s dream was inspired by his passion for giving back to and supporting his Indigenous community. He has always been an active community member, participating in many events to celebrate and bring awareness to his tribe. Through his participation, Noah recognized a struggle in bringing his community together, as they have no reservation, dedicated land, or community center to gather at. Additionally, 28% of his tribal members live at or below the poverty line, making it difficult for individuals and families to prioritize community involvement when their immediate focus is on meeting daily needs. A community garden offered the perfect solution, addressing the immediate needs of families while also creating a space for cultural connection and environmental justice for the Piscataway Conoy Tribe.
Building the Community Garden
The garden was brought to life through careful planning, hard work, and the collaboration of volunteers. Through Piscataway Eyes provided over 1,000 square feet of space for Noah to build his garden. In the beginning stages, fields were tilled, posts and fencing were installed, and soon enough, the garden was bursting with life.
Key steps in building the garden included:
Tilling the fields to prepare the soil.
Installing posts and fencing for protection.
Planting a variety of crops, including the traditional “three sisters” garden.
Harvesting the Benefits: Combating Food Insecurity
The garden produced a bounty of tomatoes, peppers, and a traditional “three sisters” garden of corn, beans, and squash. The produce was distributed to tribal members, and even plants were shared with Elders and others to support home gardens. “Feedback from recipients confirmed that the garden produce provided a valuable supplement to their diets and helped address food insecurity.”
The fresh produce became a source of inspiration for home-cooked meals, including:
Tomato pancakes.
Shish kebabs.
Healthy sandwiches.
Homemade chowder.
Nutritious pasta dishes.
Chief Jesse James Swann Jr. even fried green tomatoes for the hardworking volunteers.
Empowering Indigenous Youth through Sustainable Agriculture
“Many shared that the garden not only helped address food insecurity but also brought a renewed sense of pride and connection to our ancestral practices.” Noah shared that one of the greatest successes of the project has been the involvement of over 30 unique volunteers, mostly young people from the community, who assisted in preparing and planting the garden. Volunteers also gained valuable cultural and agricultural training, empowering them with knowledge on how to sustainably cultivate the land. This inspired younger generations to be involved in agricultural and environmental justice efforts within the tribe.
“I think it made other people my age realize that they can be impactful,” Noah reflected, “even if they do not have wealth to support the community in a financial way.”
Building Confidence and Unity
For Noah, “One of the most significant impacts of the Dreamstarter grant was the confidence it gave me to lead a project that was deeply meaningful.” He reflects that for him, the project “wasn’t just about growing vegetables; it was about nurturing a sense of unity and resilience within the tribe.”
Looking Ahead: A Legacy of Sustainability
Noah’s project is more than a garden—it’s a growing legacy of sustainability, self-sufficiency, and cultural connection. The Piscataway Conoy Tribe’s community garden project made a lasting impression in Noah’s community, with several meaningful outcomes that will continue to make an impact. Noah is already looking towards the future, reporting he is “confident that the skills and relationships formed during this time will continue to benefit the tribe as we move forward.” The garden will continue to produce healthy foods into the fall, and we are happy to report that the Piscataway Conoy Tribe plans to continue the garden into the new year.