Dream of Wild Health

We grow seeds and leaders.

"We grow seeds and leaders," Dream of Wild Health Cultural Director, Ernie Whiteman, would often say as he reminded us of our purpose here on the farm.

With your support, we grow strong leaders, rebuild indigenous food systems, and expand access to healthy foods in Twin Cities urban and Native American communities. Dream of Wild Health mission is to restore health and well-being in the Native community by recovering knowledge of and access to healthy indigenous foods, medicines, and lifeways.

When you donate to Dream of Wild Health, your dollars bolster change. A Youth Leader describes this as, "[We]are like the seeds. At DWH seeds are planted, nurtured, and [we] go out into our communities and create the change and future we want. It's a ripple effect."

Each summer, youth learn to plant, grow, harvest, and cook healthy, indigenous foods while preserving indigenous seeds and food for the future. Participants in Garden Warriors (ages 13-18) and Cora's Kids (ages 8-12) learn the importance of cultural connections to the earth and each other. "I feel supported - upheld - honored here at Dream of Wild Health. It feels like a loving family." - Garden Warrior Participant, 2016.   

During the school year, our Garden Warriors are invited to get involved in our Youth Leaders program, an opportunity for Native youth to take leadership in the community around nutrition, health and food justice issues. Our Youth Leaders are advocates for our community and are reconnecting to a traditional relationship with our food.

 Your support brings youth to the farm to gain skills in traditional methods of farming and gardening, discover indigenous foods and how to grow them, prepare healthy meals, and for some - taste their first fresh green bean. With your support, the youth build confidence and job skills working on the farm, at farmers markets, presenting their knowledge at conferences and building leadership necessary to go back into their communities making positive change.