gardening

Aromatic coffee brews quietly, filling the small café at Mazopiya with a rich, morning scent. The warm drink is especially welcomed today, as the light drizzle outside rings in the cold season at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) reservation in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

My fascination with growing food started in the third grade, when the entire class grew tiny tomato plants on the windowsill of our classroom. The plants died before sprouting any fruit, but my interest in gardening took root. Since then, I’ve had many more successes in the garden: strawberries, melons, fresh salad greens, and yes, even tomatoes.