Eagle Butte, SD — In recent weeks, the Cheyenne River Youth Project in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, has announced several exciting developments in its sustainable agriculture department.

Thanks to a grant from the Northwest Area Foundation and a major grassroots fundraising effort, the youth project is now advertising for a sustainable agriculture coordinator, has hired a summertime garden coordinator, is launching garden centric youth programming for children and teens, and has purchased much needed supplies for the two acre, naturally grown, pesticide free Winyan Toka Win garden.

But there's more. The Cheyenne River Youth Project has joined forces with the South Dakota State University Extension office and its representative, Marcella Gilbert, to offer canning classes at its East Lincoln Street campus in Eagle Butte, and it has purchased 10 stands so it can launch a weekly Farmers Market that will last through the summer and early fall months.

The canning classes are scheduled for 4:30 to 8:30 PM on Wednesday, June 26 and Tuesday, July 2. They're open to ages 13 and up, with an enrollment fee of $15 per adult; youth ages 13 to 18 are free. Participants will learn to pickle, make jellies, jams and salsas, and more.

"We're thrilled to finally be offering garden related workshops and classes at our facility that are open to the public,"

said Julie Garreau, Cheyenne River Youth Project executive director.

"Our relatives had these skills just two generations ago, but they've been overshadowed and even lost in recent years. So we're committed to sharing those skills and this knowledge with as many people as we can it's another important step toward food security, sovereignty and sustainability in our reservation communities."

The canning classes will incorporate fresh, healthy produce from Winyan Toka Win. This produce also will be on sale in the Cheyenne River Youth Project Farmers Market every Friday starting July 1, courtesy of the 10 new market stands. Northwest Area Foundation funding supported the purchase, and it's also supporting the canning classes.

"NWAF is dedicated to reducing poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity, focusing on organizations that are doing innovative, cutting edge work,"

Garreau explained.

"We're honored that they feel CRYP is such an organization, and we're deeply grateful for their support. The NWAF grant is enabling us to make significant strides toward achieving our long-term vision for our sustainable agriculture initiatives, as well as for the garden itself."

To learn more and register for the upcoming canning classes at the Cheyenne River Youth Project call 605.964.8200. If you're interested in being an instructor for one or both of the classes, you can contact Marcella Gilbert at the SDSU Extension office at 605.964.4955.

To take advantage of fresh, nutritious foods from the Winyan Toka Win garden, don't miss the weekly Farmers Market in Eagle Butte.