Kol Ami News

This past Spring, a group of volunteers from the Native American community throughout Wasatch front, led by Sahar Khadjenoury and Utah Diné Bikéyah (Defenders of the Bears Ears monument), came together at Esther’s Garden and built the initial phase of an Indigenous garden space. The demonstration project caught the attention of many in the Utah Permaculture Gardening community.

Consequently, Esther’s Garden was recently awarded a $2,400 grant as it became recognized by SLC Air Protectors as a Sovereignty Hub. SLC Air Protectors is a local grassroots non-profit organization focused on action oriented environmental protections. The SLC Air Protectors Neighborhood Sovereignty Program identified Esther’s Garden as one of the program’s first Sovereignty Hubs, a movement that will lead to overall resiliency of indigenous people and promote regenerative earth practices. Esther’s Garden serves in such a capacity because it is a demonstration of permacultuture gardening, homesteading and ecological land stewardship. Esther’s garden also provides education and resources to further its developments and inspires participation from surrounding communities. With the Sovereignty Hub funding the Indigenous section of Esther’s Garden will continue its production of sustainable foods but will expand to a Garden Medicine Wheel. The Garden Medicine Wheel section will be a circle approximately 66 feet in diameter and will continue from the current Indigenous garden area. The Medicine Wheel is a traditional symbol recognized by various tribes and embodies healing, spiritual and astronomical properties. The Medicine Wheel is also recognized as a symbol of hope and a movement towards healing for those who seek it.

The Medicine Wheel area at Esther’s Garden will include sections that house traditional plants from tribes throughout the Southwest including Corn, Squash, Beans, a variety of melons and peppers. Other plants will include indigenous medicines and herbs such as Navajo Tea, sweet grass, sage and others. Because Esther’s Garden serves with the goal towards building community, the Indigenous section serves to grow foods and medicines unique to the first nations of this continent and provide a teaching opportunity for all to learn from each other. Having the indigenous section will continue to bring various communities throughout the region to Esther’s Garden to share cultural, traditional and spiritual ways with each other. 

Visit  slcairprotectors.orgslcairprotectors.org to learn more and remember to like and follow Esther’s Garden Salt Lake on Facebook and Instagram.