Planting with Dr. Dorame
Announcements
Announcements
Our students took their education from the classroom to the Taos Day School grounds. Students strengthened their understanding of culture, science, technology, environment, and math with the guidance of Dr. Anthony Dorame, Jr., a teacher and owner of the Indigenous Education Network. Dr. Dorame, led by his affinity for Indigenous knowledge and values, pursued degrees in Wildlife Biology, Environmental Studies, and Justice Studies, which he incorporates into existing Biology and Agricultural curriculums.
As part of this agricultural education program and workshop, students learned to cultivate squash, corn, beans, watermelon and tomatoes on Taos Day School’s campus. Dr. Dorame instructed students on how to use seed ball-forming trays to grow seedlings. Seed balls are a mixture of soil, clay, and seeds that protect the seeds by securing them in one place until they receive enough water to grow. Students were able to create and plant 1,070 of these seed balls on Taos Day School’s fertile soil.
Dr. Dorame’s seeding and planting instructions were essential in connecting our students with nature and sharing Traditional Ecological Knowledge. In addition to discovering different soil types, students learned how the “Three Sisters,” (corn, squash, and beans) all help each other grow. This agricultural and environmental education will ensure sustainable food production for our Pueblo community. Eagles are becoming knowledgeable stewards of the land after receiving important cultural knowledge and Western scientific concepts.
