Planting Seeds of Resilience

Community members working together in an agricultural field during a planting and land stewardship activity.

Program Information

Community Extension (CE) at White Earth Tribal and Community College (WETCC) is running a two-year program, “Planting the Seeds of Resiliency: Growing Food Sovereignty through Community Seed Keeping,” our goal is to support community members in learning to plant, grow, and save their own seeds. In partnership with White Earth Natural Resources Food Sovereignty Program, White Earth Land Recovery Project, and White Earth Public Health, participants will gain hands-on monthly experiences in the full cycle of seed stewardship-from planting and tending to harvesting, cleaning, storing, and sharing. You’ll receive the tools, materials, and guidance needed to learn both the science and the stories carried by our seeds. Together, we’ll strengthen food sovereignty, reciprocity, and community resilience.

If you have not signed up to join our seed cohort please complete the application in the link provided. Program Application

Cohort Resources

Listed here are the documents provided throughout our program. As Community Extension and our partners work and develop future resources you can find them listed below. This list is ever expanding so be on the look out for new information as it is available.

March Educational Resources

Seed Starting 101

Which Seeds to Start Indoors and Which Seeds to Direct Sow

Vegetable Seed Germination Temperatures

February Educational Resources

The Process of Fertilization and Pollination

January Educational Resources

Seed Diagram

Diagram of a Seed

10 Tips on How to Improve Germination

Kick Off Event Educational Resources

Seed Cohort Opening Letter

Seed Cohort Contact Page

Seed Saving Tri-Fold

Seed Packet Labels

Pumpkin Oatmeal Bar Recipe

Cornbread Recipe

Seed Saving Guide

Plant Pollution and Seed Maturity

How to Grow a Three Sister Garden

How to Store Seeds

Six Pillars of Indigenous Food

Plant and Seed Anatomy

Table of Plant Types

Ojibwemowin Plant Names

Seed Saving Book

Quantity Plant Guide

Squash Cross Pollination

Vegetable Seeds Per Ounce

Crop Specific Seed Saving Guide

Seed Saving Terminology

Comparison - Wet Seed & Dry Seeds

Seed Cohort Opening Letter

Seed Cohort Contact Page

Seed Saving Tri-Fold

Seed Packet Labels

Pumpkin Oatmeal Bar Recipe

Cornbread Recipe

Seed Saving Guide

Plant Pollution and Seed Maturity

How to Grow a Three Sister Garden

How to Store Seeds

Six Pillars of Indigenous Food

Plant and Seed Anatomy

Table of Plant Types

Ojibwemowin Plant Names

Seed Saving Book

Quantity Plant Guide

Squash Cross Pollination

Vegetable Seeds Per Ounce

Crop Specific Seed Saving Guide

Seed Saving Terminology

Comparison - Wet Seed & Dry Seeds

Contact Information

Connect with our staff for guidance, support, and answers to your questions.

WETCC Staff

Sativa Warren

Sativa Warren

Community Extension Garden Educator
sativa.warren@wetcc.edu
218-936-8363

Maria Fatz

Maria Fatz

Community Extension Coordinator
maria.fatz@wetcc.edu
218-936-8349

Diane McArthur

Diane McArthur

Community Extension Supervisor
diane.mcarthur@wetcc.edu
218-936-8350

Tammy Bellanger

Michelle Warren

Community Extension Director
tbellanger@wetcc.edu
218-936-8351

White Earth Natural Resource

Nicole Desjarlais

Nicole LaFriniere

Food Sovereignty and Security Coordinator
nicole.laFriniere@whiteearth-nsn.gov
218-935-3562

White Earth Public Health

Gina Boudreau

Tobacco Coordinator
gina.boudreau@whiteearth-nsn.gov
218-401-3174

White Earth Land Recovery Project

Margaret Myhre

Margaret Rousu

Executive Director
rousu20@gmail.com
218-375-2012

A collaboration around seed saving between WELRP and White Earth Extension is rooted in a shared commitment to protecting and revitalizing Indigenous food sovereignty, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. Together, the two organizations combine community-based knowledge with agricultural science and education to ensure that traditional seeds and the knowledge that sustains them continue to thrive for future generations.