Seed garden set up for success
Brooke Rice (right) with Dr. Andrew Judge (left), who shared how to create the circular seed garden in Kahnawake. Courtesy Brooke Rice
Community members of all ages did their part to prepare the land for the planting season last weekend, coming together to care for the community garden project led by Tkà:nios.
“It’s exciting, because we’re going to watch this circular space that’s right now grey and brown and beige and turn into a circular green colourful space,” said Brooke Rice, who founded and operates Tkà:nios.
The group decided to create a circular seed garden within the space, inspired by a class she took at Wilfred Laurier University, where she learned about sacred geometry and incorporating Indigenous ways of knowledge into ecology and land restoration from Anishinaabe professor Dr Andrew Judge (Mkomosé).
She reached out to him and asked if he would assist in creating a circular garden within the community garden project, and soon the idea for a “circular charged seed nest” was born.
“We’re envisioning this seed nest where we’re building the ground with regenerative planting, but it’s also a hub that’s going to store seeds and plant seeds, and we’ll be able to add seeds every year,” Rice said. “And as we’re doing that, we’re building up the land.”
Over 40 people came out to build up the space, which Rice said is “energetically charged,” with intentional positioning in relation to the moon, sun, and other elements.
“We’re honing in on the energy of our cosmological relatives, so we’re going to be planting in the moon phase with Grandma Moon, and our space to walk into the circular garden is facing the east, and that’s where the direction of the sun rises, with our Elder Brother Son,” Rice said. “It’s charged with these cosmological events, so as we’re sitting in there, we’ll be able to watch the sun set during that time of winter and summer solstice.”
Kahnawake’s youngest were amongst those who got their hands dirty to set the seed garden up for success. Courtesy Brooke Rice
The energy rice talks about also comes from the people doing the planting, and their relationship with the land around them.
“We’re remembering that we’re co-creating with all of nature, we’re really building reciprocity with the sun and the moon and using their energy to cultivate our planting space,” she said.
The space was opened by Spencer Lyons, the husband of project coordinator Ashley Lyons. Spencer is from Onondaga and led the opening, which also included a tobacco burning, as well as a song and story from Judge, who was the consultant on the project.
“A lot of intention and good energy went into the space,” Rice said.
One enthusiastic attendee was Brooke Delormier, who said that energy was something she felt strongly while working.
“It feels like I’m reconnecting with my roots, honouring the traditions and culture that have shaped who I am. The process of nurturing is not just about plants growing, it’s about my own growth and a deeper sense of connection to the community and my heritage,” Delormier said.
The growth wasn’t just personal; it was felt between community members as they worked arm in arm to recognize their vision.
“The seed circle represents not only the growth of plants but also the growth of our community, strengthening the bonds between us and honouring the traditions that tie us together,” she said.
Some families bringing their toddlers and babies to witness the occasion – and get stuck in with some light digging work – making the experience truly intergenerational.
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Donations also came from community members, including fish guts for fertilizer from Rice’s uncle Eric McComber, woodchips from Shawn Brascoupe, and horse manure from Wishe Bush.
“We’re giving back to Mother Earth, instead of taking from her,” Rice said.
