Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation Community Plan

Nov 27 - Day 3

2011-12-20T10:07:00.000-06:00

We started the final day of the build by installing the retro-fitted windows, finishing the roof, insulating and sheathing the interior and finalizing some finicky details. After a great weekend of building we've seen substantial changes in the GreenShed; just the framing and finishing of the end walls remain before the greenhouse is a warm, cozy place for plants.

a few more roof panels needed

installing insulation and vapour barrier

finishing the interior with plywood

the greenshed two mornings ago

parting shots...

Sept 26 - Day 2

2011-12-08T10:33:00.001-06:00

The 2nd day of the build started with a delicious community breakfast prepared by members of the Planning Work Group. The warm meal helped take some of the chill out of the cold, blustery morning.

Today's work included cladding the south wall and roof in red corrugated steel, finishing the double layer of polycarbonate glazing, framing the west end wall and retrofitting smashed windows with leftover poly. We also rescued a few of the flood-damaged raised beds from the berm and worked well into the night on interior elements

building paper attached - it's cold up here!

bed rescued from berm

end wall installed

cladding

cutting poly to fit

a finicky interior layer of poly is installed

roofing continues...

custom sliding doors

retro-fitting windows

GreenShed Build Continues - Nov 25

2011-12-06T13:24:00.001-06:00

Work has recommenced on the Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation GreenShed. The community garden/GreenShed site suffered damage during last spring's flood and several steps in the construction sequence remained to be completed. The GreenShed will be used to grow veggies throughout the winter, to start transplants to be moved into the summer garden and to grow heat-loving veggies, like peppers and tomatoes, through the hot months of high summer.

Construction began with an inventory of on-site materials and assessment of the existing structure. The stuccoed, straw bale panels stand strong after their first Saskatchewan winter and remain a promising addition to straw bale technology and prairie vernacular architecture. Today's work included repairing and installing strapping, sheathing the building exterior with plywood and installing polycarbonate panels in the greenhouse.

weathered but standing strong

roof work begins

plywood sheathing

interior rooms take form

polycarbonate panels installed

progress...

a gorgeous Qu'appelle Valley sunset

Standing Buffalo Flood Pictures!

2011-04-21T15:19:00.000-06:00

Band Office Holidays

2010-12-10T15:48:00.000-06:00

The Band office will be closed from December 22/10 - January 3/10.
Our band office will re-open on Tuesday January 4, 2011.
Merry Christmas & A Happy New

Christmas Break Festivities will begin December 27/10 - December 30/10

continuing from Sharon Venne's Presentation

2010-12-10T15:36:00.002-06:00

5 Bills Coming Against the First Nations People

2010-12-10T15:34:00.001-06:00

Excerpts from Sharon Venne's Presentation
Treaties 1-11, October 14, 2010 Regina, SK

Standing Buffalo Chief & Council Contact list

2010-12-09T10:17:00.000-06:00

PORTFOLIOS-EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 17, 2010

HOME # CELL #

CHIEF RODGER REDMAN 332-6700 331-7788

Administration
Economic Development
Dakota/Lakota Nations

COUNCILLOR VERGIL BEAR 332-6863 331-9880

Social Development
Pow-wow, Fundraising, Bingo Management
Elders
Cultural Activities

COUNCILLOR HERMAN GOODPIPE 332-1897 331-8245

Education
Membership

COUNCILLOR ARLEN YUZICAPPI 331-9488

Urban Affairs
Recreation
Justice/Police Management Board

COUNCILLOR DWAYNE REDMAN JR. 331-7075

Daycare
Headstart
Qu'Appelle Child & Family Services

COUNCILLOR CONRAD TAWIYAKA 332-5812 331-8009

Lands
Housing
Public Works
Fire Hall

COUNCILLOR RODNEY ISNANA 331-9787

Health
Lakeview Lodge
Buffalo

Planning Work Group Supper Meeting

2010-12-07T16:18:00.000-06:00

The Planning Work is meeting with CEU Heather & Kate from Dalhousie University today at 4:30pm in our Band Office.

Standing Buffalo Regina Urban Members!

2010-11-23T11:11:00.000-06:00

"Christmas meal & General Band meeting"
December 4, 2010 10am-3pm
The Gathering Place
4001-3rd Avenue North
Regina, Sk

Community Plans will be given out at this time!
Contact Cheryl for more information
1-888-363-0030
332-4685 or
(cell)351-9066

November 16

2010-11-19T10:58:00.000-06:00

2010-2013 Chief & Council elected November 16, 2010

Left to Right: Conrad Tawiyaka, Rodney Isnana, Herman Goodpipe, Rodger Redman, Vergil Bear, Arlen Yuzicappi & Dwayne Redman Jr.

November 2

2010-11-02T11:51:00.000-06:00

The Stucco is almost complete!

October 14 cont. pictures!

2010-10-22T11:47:00.001-06:00

November 1st

Kenton, Garth & Greg completing the stucco.

Eagle sitting on the river bank all morning!

Thanksgiving - Completing the Rafters and Roof Structure

2010-10-15T07:10:00.015-06:00

Volunteers were out on Thanksgiving weekend to work on finishing the roof construction of the GreenShed.

The rafters and upright supports are now all in place and are being attached to the straw-bale walls. This roof structure will not only provide shelter from the elements but will give structural bracing to the walls so that they won’t tip over in the event of a strong Prairie wind.

The team is almost set to add the roofing sheathing and strapping before the metal roof and siding is attached.

Charmaine working hard!

General Band Meeting Rescheduled - October 23rd

2010-10-15T07:02:00.004-06:00

Standing Buffalo has rescheduled the General Band Meeting and will now be holding it on Saturday October 23 from 10 am - 3 pm.

Contact the band office for more information at 306-332-4685.

General Band Meeting - October 16

2010-10-09T09:06:00.001-06:00

Standing Buffalo will be holding a General Band Meeting on Saturday October 16.

More details will be posted here shortly.

In the meantime, contact the band office for more information at 306-332-4685.

First coat of stucco is complete!

2010-10-08T08:56:00.001-06:00

The team continued to work on the first coat of stucco on all straw bale wall panels (including the fronts and backs, the structure has a total of 12 surfaces to apply stucco to). The first coat was completed this week. While a second coat will be required, it is a great feeling to have the bales sealed with stucco to protect them from rain, frost and animals!

Clinton and Greg get back to work on the stucco.

Stucco is definitely more than a one-person job!

The last panel is complete!

Continuing to work on the GreenShed...

2010-10-05T08:44:00.004-06:00

Dedicated volunteers continue to work on completing the GreenShed - with the guidance of Brendan Wajunta and ongoing work of Greg Ryder from the housing crew. Charmaine, Clinton, Curtis, Cheryl, Joy, Michael, Maureen and others have been busy! These photos highlight progress the team has made over the last week or so completing the first coat of stucco. It is important to seal the straw bale wall panels before it rains to keep them dry.

Volunteers are atill needed! If you are interested contact Cheryl 306-332-4685 or drop by the site next to the Youth Centre. The team will be working on sheathing the roof, building stud walls, applying a second coat of stucco and closing in the Greenhouse and Storage Shed.

Michael works to complete the rafters.

More sand is delivered to mix the stucco!

Without a hose nearby, the team has to haul water to mix the stucco. Joy brings several containers to the site.

The mixer is back on site so the stucco work can continue.

Applying stucco to the interior walls.

Almost all of the walls have been stuccoed! One and a half panels to go.

Michael and Charmaine work on the rafters.

The north wall of the GreenShed.

September 23

2010-09-24T19:53:00.001-06:00

A lot more happened on site today, including:

Preparing to stucco the walls, including installing flashing, control joints and stucco stop
Starting to stucco the straw bale walls (which will continue tomorrow to protect the walls before it rains!)
Installing and securing additional rafters and posts
Completing the compost bin and raised beds

The CEU team left at the end of the day to head home to Halifax after spending two weeks working alongside Standing Buffalo members. Work on the GreenShed will continue with the leadership of the housing department and continued involvement of community volunteers. For information on how to get involved, contact Plan Champion Cheryl Tawiyaka (306)332-4685.

Workers secure flashing around the windows to ensure that they are properly sealed. They also attach stucco stop and control joints (between the wall panels) before the stucco can be applied.

Installing the stucco stop to the top edge of the north wall.

Stitching the straw bale walls with tie wire to ensure the stucco wire is secure before applying the stucco.

The first window is installed. This wall will be part of the storage shed.

Applying stucco to the first wall panel (part of the market stall). The stucco will provide a seal against moisture, pests and fire.

A view of the GreenShed building with the first wall panel completely stuccoed.

Rafters seen from above; the rafters are spaced using 2x4 blocking along the top of the north wall.

The rafters that will support the roof for the storage shed and greenhouse are installed.

Panorama of the north wall showing how far the crew has made it so far applying the stucco.

The raised beds are completely filled with topsoil.

The final touches on the compost bin (sliding doors with handles) are complete.

The completed compost bin adjacent to the large garden.

September 22

2010-09-24T00:23:00.000-06:00

The work continues! Today we:

Augered holes for the four piles for the tractor port
Poured concrete and set U brackets in place (to support the posts)
Installed the four remaining straw bale wall panels
Secured the wall panels with glue, hurricane strapping and cross-bracing
Put up posts and rafters (from the market to the shed to the greenhouse)
Worked until 11 pm with the help of many members of the housing crew and volunteers


Augering holes for the concrete piles (5 feet deep by 8 inches wide).

Securing the stucco wire on the wall panels.

Installing the posts and rafters.

The first two wall panels with the rafters extending past the wall. The first section (market) reuses the concrete slab from the storage shack as its foundation, tying into the newly-poured grade beam that supports the rest of the north (straw bale) wall.

Working on the rafters into the evening.

September 21

2010-09-23T23:33:00.066-06:00

Another busy day of construction for the work crew. It was an exciting day as the first straw bale wall panel was tilted into place. Other wall panels were filled with straw and completed as well. We also met with teachers to discuss how the garden connects to their curriculum; the school is interested in starting a composting program.The team will work with the school to develop ideas and lesson plans, and ensure that youth are involved year-round with the community garden.

Here are some photos from the day:


The crew works on tying half straw bales. Each wall panel will include 17.5 bales with two full bales and a half bale in each row.


Greg retying a bale to create half bales.

Unloading bales.


It can be hard to get the bales stuffed into the wall panels as tight as they need to be. Sometimes you have to jump on them!

Another technique is to push on the bales with your feet. This only works for the first few rows. At the top of the panels, we sometimes used plastic sheets to try and get the bales to fit more tightly. For others, we stuffed the top row with mini bales (smaller than the half bales).

Pieces of rebar were driven through each panel vertically after the balled were stuffed in to provide stability when the panels were tilted as well as to prevent settling.

Crushed rock between the pressure-treated base plates provides drainage below the wall panels.

Brad and Colton were pretty excited when the first wall panel went up successfully.

The vent that will be installed over the earth tubes to allow for air circulation (and prevent animals and dirt from getting in).

Leveling out the floor of the GreenShed with sand, and later gravel.

Ladies behind the first wall panel.

Building a box for the window that will be installed at the top of the wall in the storage shed and greenhouse. The window will be installed after the wall is raised and attached to the foundation.

The crew makes sure the operable windows, salvaged from housing renovations, will be snug and secure in the new window boxes. These windows can be opened to provide ventilation in the enclosed buildings (storage shed and greenhouse).

Late night angle grinding to sharpen the rebar so it can be driven through the panels.

Putting tarps over the straw bale wall panels in case of rain overnight.

September 20

2010-09-23T22:50:00.001-06:00

A long overdue post - the last few days have been very busy working on the GreenShed. Here are a few highlights from Monday:


The CEU team decides to stay for a few more days...


Grade 3, 4 and S4S students complete the compost bin.


The first load of compost is placed in the bin. Tatanka Najin School will be starting a classroom composting program this fall.

Compost bin adjacent to the large garden (and across from the raised planter beds).

Students fill the raised beds - and search for worms!

Digging soil for the raised beds.

Raised beds behind the youth centre. Each grade will plant and look after their own bed.


A worm!

Students added rocks, twigs and drilled pieces of wood to the bug palace.

Cheryl provides a delicious lunch of chili and bannock for all the youth and workers. Lunch was provided every day on site to keep the volunteers fed.

Youth enjoying lunch, sitting on a pile of lumber.

In the afternoon, it started to rain. Greg put up a tarp to create a sheltered work area and we continued to cut the rafters and posts in preparation for the next day.

September 19

2010-09-20T07:18:00.000-06:00

Today was a very productive day! We started early and had lots of volunteers come out. These photos document some of the many things that were accomplished today.

Assembling the wall panels - putting in blocking to strengthen the walls.

Working on the wall panels.

Making sure the panels are perfectly square.

Attaching stucco wire to one side of the panel. We will stuff in the straw bales, then add another layer to the other side to keep them in place. The wire is also used once the panels are installed to attach the stucco.

Working on another wall panel.

Putting the wall panel into place. The bales will be put into the panels on site, then the panels will be tilted into place on top of the grade beam and attached.

A row of wall panels along the north grade beam.

The work site through stucco wire.

Treated 2x6 plates are bolted onto the grade beam using expanding bolts. A layer of vapour barrier wraps over the foundation and around the inside board to ensure that moisture had a path into the ground and away from the wall panels.

Wayne brings his cultivator to the site to start to prepare the large garden site.

The cultivator breaks up the soil. In a week or so, the soil can be worked further with a discer, and then compost and manure can be added to prepare the garden for planting in the spring.

September 18

2010-09-20T07:07:00.000-06:00

The day started off chilly, and warmed up into a beautiful sunny afternoon. We had a large and energetic work crew out. Several visitors also helped out (Ross from CEU, Brenda-Dale from Regina, Mark from Winnipeg).

Work crew assembling for the day.

Removing the form work once the concrete has dried.

Brenda-Dale getting the corner piece of the form work out.

Removing more of the form work.

The base of the grade beam, showing how the straw sits underneath the concrete (below the sleepers). As mentioned previously, over time this will decompose and create a space below the grade beam.

The crew installs rigid insulation on the exterior of the foundation. A few inches of vapour barrier extend below the insulation to ensure moisture travels away from the base of the wall panels and into the ground.

The start of a trench for the earth tubes. These non-perforated tubes will be buried below the ground, bringing air from outside the GreenShed to the inside. This will provide cooling in the summer, and ensure that air within the GreenShed ventilates properly out of the top windows on the north wall.

Mark and Ross hard at work bringing gravel over to back fill around the insulation to keep it in place.

September 17

2010-09-17T23:05:00.001-06:00

Today the team:

Poured and finished the concrete foundation (grade beam)
Finalized the design and organized materials for the wall panels
Worked with Grade 7/8/9 students to prepare the raised beds (lots of digging!) and get materials ready for the Grade 5/6 students who will build a compost bin this weekend (using recycled pallets from the landfill). Grade 7/8/9 students will come back on the weekend to complete the raised beds using rough cut lumber for the edging.
Put boards and sand over the foundation to insulate it overnight (the temperature has dropped below freezing so we need to ensure the concrete sets properly)

Ross from CEU came to visit and help out - he will be back on Saturday along with some other colleagues and Planning Network members to help build and install straw bale wall panels.

Anyone who's interested should come out this weekend - a lot of building will be happening and the team can use all the hands we can get!

Securing the rebar in place before concrete is poured.

Here comes the concrete!

Smoothing out the concrete.

Students move the bug palace to its home next to the raised planter beds.

Students remove the grass to prepare the areas for the raised planter beds.

More digging!

On top of the pile of topsoil excavated from the foundation area. This will be used to fill the raised planter beds.

Students prepare old pallets that will be made into a compost bin for the garden.

Removing some of the boards from a pallet.

September 16: When it rains...

2010-09-17T09:34:00.003-06:00

It was raining in the morning but the team still got to work completing the forms for the foundation. We also worked with Grade 5/6 students to explore starting a composting program at the school. Students will come out on Sunday at 5 pm to build a compost bin and start this important part of the garden.

We also finished the forms for the foundation, laid in rebar and ordered concrete - the grade beam will be poured tomorrow morning.

A BBQ is planned for all volunteers this Sunday September 19 at 5 pm. Come out and help build this project - and celebrate with community members, volunteers and Planning Network participants!


Straw bales make a great work bench!

Preparing the rebar using rectangular stirrups to hold it in place. This will be placed in the form before pouring concrete for added structure and strength in the foundation.

Charmaine and Michael fill the bottom of the form with straw to create a void form. After the concrete dries, the straw will decompose creating a space underneath the grade beam. This is important so that any freeze and thaw in the ground below will not cause the foundation to shift or break; it will be supported by the concrete piles.

Brad and Curtis make some final checks on the piles and forms.

Rebar is laid into the forms.

Backfilling the forms to make sure they stay in place when the concrete is poured tomorrow.

Making signs to advertise the volunteer BBQ on Sunday.

A late night outdoor picnic for the hard workers. Notice how the straw bales also make a great table!

September 15: Form work for the foundation

2010-09-16T09:31:00.001-06:00

Here is a quick update on what has been happening on site. Today we spent a lot of time working on:

Building forms for the grade beam (foundation) for the GreenShed.
Preparing rebar for the grade beam, and tying in to the existing slab foundation.
Staking out the large garden and plotting out where the raised beds will go.
Getting materials and supplies.

The work is moving along with the help of carpenters, the housing crew and many community members.

Building the forms for the grade beam (foundation).

Curtis continues to work on the forms.

Curtis and Brendan work on the forms.

"Official" site supervisors take a break on the bales.

Ange and Crispin stake out where the raised planter beds will go.

The team took many photos every day from the same spot, so at the end of the project a time series can be put together to show the whole construction process.

Charmaine & Joy add soil to support the forms so when the concrete is poured they stay in place.

Ange and Heather inspect the day's work.

September 14: Late-night foundation work

2010-09-15T17:46:00.000-06:00

In the evening, team members got together to prepare the piles that will support the GreenShed's foundation and structure. We augered 11 holes (each 8 inches wide and 4 feet deep), placed cardboard sonotubes in the holes, cut rebar, mixed our own concrete and then poured the piles. The forecast for Wednesday calls for rain, so we wanted to get the piles poured and starting to set as soon as we could. This step also had to happen before the forms could be built for the grade beam (foundation).

Volunteers worked late into the night, thanks to Ralph's flood light and Cheryl, Ayden & Heather's pizza run into Fort Qu'Appelle. The piles will start to set overnight and work can begin tomorrow on the form for the grade beam.

A few final measurements before augering the holes.

Our philosophy - measure twice (or three times), auger once!

Ayden and Crispin cut the sonotubes to the proper length.

Augering the holes and putting sonotube in place.

Late-night concrete mixing for the final few piles.

Clinton and Greg pour the last pile of the night.

September 14: Funeral

2010-09-15T17:30:00.000-06:00

Preparations and construction for the GreenShed project were put on hold out of respect for the funeral for Elder Adeline Redman. The CEU team joined community members at the funeral; it was a very moving service. Our deepest sympathies for the family and entire community.

September 13: Site preparations

2010-09-15T17:24:00.001-06:00

With design, preparation and construction well underway, this blog will become more of a photo essay (with commentary). The team had a busy day preparing the site.
Here are some of the highlights:

Staked out the GreenShed building
Kindergarten, Grade 1 & 2 students visited and built a pollinator / bug palace!
Excavated the site for the foundation / footings
Moved the storage shack across the road

The team's day ended before 5 pm for the wake. The funeral for Elder Adeline Redman is taking place on Tuesday so out of respect, construction will be put on hold until after the feast.

Students draw their favourite foods and discuss what could be grown in the Community Garden.

Youth on a scavenger hunt to find materials for the pollinator palace (a.k.a. bug hotel).


Youth putting together the bug hotel, which will attract frogs and salamanders that will eat slugs and other insects that can be pests to the vegetable garden. Helpful pollinator insects such as bees will also live in the palace, helping the garden grow.


The boys add straw to the bug hotel.

The students enjoy lunch after their busy morning of activities on site.

The team discusses foundation details before the excavation starts.

And the excavation begins! Wendell Peigan from Pasqua First Nation brings his machinery to the site.

More excavation - this time the bobcat gets stuck, but only for a minute!

Curtis Whiteman helps prepare the storage shack for relocation.

Derek Stevenson from Pasqua First Nation has a building moving company, and helps out with the move.

The shack is finally on its way across the road to its new home; housing will repair the shack and use it to store tools.

September 12: Show + Tell, GreenShed Design Session and Site Preparation

2010-09-13T15:44:00.001-06:00

The first day of the GreenShed project began with a pancake breakfast at the school. Community members and many Planning Network participants came together to share ideas about community gardens. Judy and Connie from Flying Dust shared experiences from their organic community garden. They brought produce from the garden for design session participants to see, share and taste. Participants enjoyed fresh carrots, peas, beans and cucumbers.

Connie spoke about her newfound passion for gardening and "playing in the dirt" - she never realized a potato plant could look so pretty. Flying Dust sees their garden as a way for the community to be more self-sufficient. The project started out small two years ago, and through its success has expanded to an eight acre garden. Produce is distributed to community members. More recently, the garden has been selling produce to the local Co-op in Meadow Lake.

Connie & Judy from Flying Dust share stories and produce from their garden with Standing Buffalo members and visitors from Pasqua's Planning Work Group.

We also discussed and explored design ideas for the GreenShed structure. Some elements were determined at the last community design workshop – location, using straw bale for wall panels and including a greenhouse, storage shed and market space in the structure. Community members were encouraged to sign up to come out and help build the GreenShed; the project will be possible only if many people get involved.

Participants discuss ideas for the community garden site plan and GreenShed structure.

Proposed structure for the GreenShed consisting of straw bale wall panels on the north wall, and a simple roof/wall frame along the south side of the building.

A lot more site preparation was needed than the team had anticipated. Workers cleared away brush and debris from the site, and also trimmed shrubs and trees to make room for the GreenShed. An existing chain-link fence was also removed. The storage shack had to be moved and cleaned out – one side was full of old materials and pigeon poop! The crew moving the building would have to come back the next day to move the shack to its new home across the road. Some of the utilities had to be located and disconnected. Tomorrow the shack will be moved and excavation will begin for the footings for the building.

PWG members look on as the fence is removed.

Volunteers clear brush and debris from the site.

A fragile bird's nest is safely removed from a shrub before pruning.

Brad and Crispin suit up to tackle the pigeon poop in the storage shack so the building could be moved off site. This messy job could not have been done without the fearless help of Curtis, Clinton, Maureen and Cheryl.

September 11: Plan Launch Celebration!

2010-09-13T15:21:00.000-06:00

A cake to celebrate the launch of the Community Plan.

Community members, together with visitors from Flying Dust, Kahkewitsahaw, Pasqua and Dalhousie’s Cities & Environment Unit, celebrated the launch of the hot-off-the-press Community Plan. The afternoon opened with a prayer from Elder Velma Goodfeather, and an Honour Song from Standing Buffalo Singers. Curtis Whiteman was the MC and introduced Cheryl and the Planning Work Group.

Community members enjoy a pot luck meal at the Plan Launch.

The Plan is a major accomplishment for Standing Buffalo, representing the hard work, ideas and aspirations of many, many community members. The Plan includes a long-term Vision for the future and specific ideas for local action to get there. This Plan Launch is particularly exciting because it is also the kick-off for the Community Garden + GreenShed project.

The CEU team discusses design details with Curtis Whiteman.

The Planning Work Group was introduced, and members each shared their thoughts and experiences on their involvement in developing the Plan:

“When you focus on positive projects, that’s all you see.” (Minnie Ryder)

“I enjoy it because it’s volunteer… there’s always lots of people there.” (Elder Rosabell Goodwill)

"I am proud to be involved because I wanted to be here - I wasn't appointed." (Curtis Whiteman)

Standing Buffalo Planning Work Group (PWG) members.

CCBP Planning Network members spoke about the importance of having a community plan. Here are a few of their thoughts:

“You don’t have to be elected to be a leader to make a difference in your community.” (Judy Bear, Flying Dust First Nation)

“Future generations will be proud of what we do today.” (Bev Chicoose, Pasqua First Nation)

Several members of the Pasqua PWG were in attendance, as well as Councilor Amanda Louison from Kahkewistahaw. It was great to have the support of other communities as Standing Buffalo continues to make positive change happen using their Plan.

The team was saddened to hear of the passing of Elder Adeline Redman on Thursday. While it was decided that the Plan Launch and project should proceed, it is also important to pause and show respect. As such, project activities will be put on hold on Monday afternoon and Tuesday for the wake and funeral.

Community Plan Launch this Saturday!

2010-09-11T12:29:00.000-06:00

Standing Buffalo will officially launch the Community Plan on Saturday! Community members, friends and Planning Network participants are invited to celebrate.

Saturday September 11
1 pm onwards
Tatanka Najin School Gym

A great potluck lunch will be provided. There will be presentations, songs and an open house about some of the projects Standing Buffalo will be working on to achieve the Vision, including the GreenShed + Community Garden. Band members will receive a copy of the Plan (one per household).

Preparing for the Plan Launch + GreenShed project

2010-09-08T14:19:00.003-06:00

Signs are emerging in Standing Buffalo that something exciting is about to take place....

Contact Cheryl to sign up to volunteer - or come out when you can to get involved!

Community design sessions held

2010-09-05T15:51:00.001-06:00

On August 24 and 25, community design sessions were held to explore the site and possible designs for the Community Garden and GreenShed. The location for the project was confirmed - between the Youth Centre and Bingo Hall, replacing the storage shack currently located on site. The location of the GreenShed gives the Garden project a presence in the core area, while connecting people back into the site.

The GreenShed has four main components:

Market stall / covered walkway (a place to sell and distribute produce from the garden)
Storage shed (a place to store gardening tools and equipment, possible cold storage for produce)
Greenhouse (a place to plant early, extend the growing season and teach about gardening)
Covered seating area / tractor port (a place that provides seating / shade for gardeners, and a spot to park the garden tractor)

Preliminary site plan showing the approximate location of the GreenShed and Gardens.

The GreenShed will be built using as much local materials and labour as possible. Some materials available include: straw bales, windows that have been replaced by the housing department and surplus lumber. The way the GreenShed is built will also be a test for larger community projects, such as the Community Hall, which will also be located in the core area. The north wall will be made of straw bale panels to explore this building material and process in a smaller scale building. These projects reinforce one another, and start to create a more vibrant, safe and active community core.

Other considerations include how to get water to the site to water the community garden - some have suggested using a simple pump to bring water in from the lake. The large garden will be located behind the current Youth Centre, and will be about 50 feet x 65 feet. This is large enough to plant a number of crops next spring, but small enough to be manageable for the first season. The soil will be cultivated this fall. A smaller garden close to the GreenShed could be home to herbs and other plants, perhaps in raised beds.

Planning Work Group members measure out the site for the garden.

Approximate size and location of the large garden (looking southeast from the bingo hall).

Community Plan launch kicks off the Community Garden project

2010-09-01T13:40:00.000-06:00

After many months of hard work by many people, Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation completed a comprehensive Community Plan. To celebrate, a Plan Launch is being held on Saturday September 11 (more details to follow)

Now is the time for action! An important project has been chosen to kick start the Community Plan - the design and construction of a GreenShed, a greenhouse and storage shed for the new Community Garden. The project will not only work toward achieving the Community Vision, but will also help achieve the following goals articulated in the Community Plan:

Encourage members to work together and cooperate;
Provide opportunities for members to connect with Dakota culture and traditions, using and connecting with the land;
Increase local food production and self-reliance;
Create fun ways for the community to learn and share together;
Provide opportunities for youth to develop leadership skills.

The project is also a way to learn and explore how to build with local materials, and a starting point to determine as a community how we can design and build a Community Hall. The GreenShed will be built by local people, using local materials and seeing this project as a way to achieve many of the goals set out in the Plan.

Standing Buffalo is continuing to partner with Cities & Environment Unit (CEU) at Dalhousie University to design and build the GreenShed. From September 11-19, CEU and CCBP Planning Network volunteers will be in Standing Buffalo working with community members to design and construct the GreenShed and prepare the Community Garden for planting next spring.

For more information about the project or to get involved please contact Cheryl Tawiyaka, Plan Champion at 306-332-4685.