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Fort Belknap Community Greenhouse

A Living Testament to Food Sovereignty

The Fort Belknap Community Greenhouse represents more than sustainable agriculture—it's a powerful expression of the Nakoda-Aaniii people's commitment to food sovereignty, cultural preservation, and community resilience. This geothermal-powered growing facility demonstrates how traditional knowledge and modern technology can work together to nourish both body and spirit.

This documentation shares our complete journey—from vision to harvest—so other Indigenous communities can build their own path to food sovereignty.

🌾 Our Story

The Nakoda and Aaniii peoples have practiced food sovereignty for generations, following the bison across the plains and cultivating knowledge of indigenous plants and growing techniques. Even during the early reservation era, our ancestors grew "awesome, beautiful gardens" in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.

Today, we're continuing that legacy with a year-round growing facility that: - Honors ancestral knowledge while embracing sustainable technology - Provides fresh, healthy food for our community year-round - Creates educational opportunities for all generations - Demonstrates self-reliance and food security

🔧 Project Overview

Aspect Details
Location Fort Belknap Reservation, Lodge Pole, Montana, USA
Size 17' × 150' (2,550 sq ft)
Growing Space ~900 sq ft of fixed beds and ~300 sq ft of movable beds
Energy Source Geothermal heat exchange system
Investment ~$120,000-180,000 total project cost
Timeline 2025-2026 construction phases
Lead Partners NAEDC, Fort Belknap Community, Abundant Montana

🌱 What We're Growing

  • Traditional foods: Connecting to ancestral foodways
  • Fresh vegetables: Leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, herbs
  • Medicinal plants: Supporting traditional healing practices
  • Educational opportunities: Living classroom for all ages
  • Community connections: Bringing people together around food

🏠 Quick Navigation

New to This Project?

🌾 About This Project - Learn about the Nakoda-Aaniii community, our motivations, and how to evaluate if this approach fits your community's needs.

Ready to Plan & Design?

🔧 Design & Systems - Complete technical specifications, from site selection through engineering files and system design.

Need to Plan Your Budget?

💰 Budget & Cost Planning - Material costs, contractor expenses, phase-by-phase breakdowns, and funding strategies.

Time to Build?

🔨 Building It - 11-phase construction guide with real-world lessons, troubleshooting, and testing procedures.

Operating & Growing?

🌱 Operations & Resources - Growing techniques, community programs, maintenance schedules, and all the resources you need for success.

💡 Why This Matters

For Our Community

  • Food Security: Fresh, nutritious food available year-round
  • Cultural Preservation: Connecting traditional knowledge with modern techniques
  • Economic Development: Reducing food costs and creating local opportunities
  • Education: Hands-on learning for all ages about sustainable agriculture

For Other Communities

  • Proven Model: Complete documentation of what works (and what doesn't)
  • Transparent Costs: Real budget breakdowns and financial planning
  • Technical Guidance: Engineering specifications and construction details
  • Cultural Framework: How to integrate community values with technical systems

🎯 Key Success Factors

  1. Community Leadership: This project succeeded because it was driven by community needs and values, not external mandates.

  2. Cultural Integration: We wove traditional knowledge and community priorities throughout the technical design process.

  3. Transparent Planning: Open sharing of costs, challenges, and lessons learned builds trust and enables replication.

  4. Phase-Based Approach: Breaking construction into manageable phases made the project achievable with volunteer labor and staged funding.

  5. Educational Focus: Treating the greenhouse as a learning laboratory multiplies its impact beyond food production.

🚀 Getting Started

If You're Exploring This for Your Community:

  1. Start with About This Project to understand our story and decision framework
  2. Review Site Planning to evaluate your location and resources
  3. Check Budget & Cost Planning for realistic cost expectations and funding strategies

If You're Ready to Build:

  1. Study Design & Systems for complete technical specifications
  2. Review Budget & Cost Planning for detailed cost breakdowns by phase
  3. Follow Building It for phase-by-phase construction guidance
  4. Plan for Operations to ensure long-term success

If You're Already Operating:

  1. Share your experience with other communities
  2. Connect with us through our support channels
  3. Contribute improvements to help others succeed

📞 Connect With Us

This project is shared under Creative Commons licensing to support Indigenous food sovereignty everywhere. We believe that when communities control their food systems, they strengthen their cultural foundations and build resilience for future generations.

Questions? Want to share your experience? Ready to start your own project?

Visit our Support & Contact page to connect with our team and the growing network of communities working toward food sovereignty.

The Fort Belknap Community Greenhouse is a project of the Nakoda Aaniiih Economic Development Corporation (NAEDC) and the Fort Belknap Community, with support from partners committed to Indigenous food sovereignty and sustainable development.