Indigenous Community Garden at Virginia Tech

Home
United States
Blacksburg, VA
Indigenous Community Garden at Virginia Tech

Méku!

Members of the Virginia Tech Indigenous Community Garden work in this space to nurture and tend to heirloom crops and seeds tied to their communities’ traditional ecological knowledge.

06/09/2026

We’re excited to introduce Reed Yang, our 2026 Summer Intern for the Indigenous Community Garden (ICG) through the SARE Sustainable Green Corn Ceremony Restoration Program at a Land-Grant Institution (SGCRP)!!!

#

05/31/2026

Summer hours are here!

The Indigenous Community Garden (ICG) is excited to announce our summer volunteer hours:

Thursdays & Sundays
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Join us as we grow, tend, and learn alongside our plant relatives throughout the season. Whether you're a returning volunteer or visiting for the first time, all are welcome.

Stay connected for updates, events, and garden announcements by joining our GroupMe through the link in our bio. We look forward to this summer!

05/17/2026

We planted our first ridges of mą:ta:xe in the ICG!!! Soaking in kernels in our te fala im issito to assist with our germinating and keep the crows from plucking our seeds! Our Garden Caretaker, Miss Vicky shared with us her traditional ways of knowing and growing! 🤩

05/14/2026

Meku!

We are beginning our mą:ta:xe planting this weekend at the Indigenous Community Garden (ICG) on Sunday, May 17th!

Join us as we come together to plant, learn, and continue the important work of seed saving for our communities and future generations. This gathering is free and open to everyone — all are welcome to participate, connect, and share in community.

Snacks and beverages will be provided. We look forward to growing with you!

05/05/2026

Now Hiring: Undergraduate Summer Intern — Indigenous Community Garden (ICG) at Virginia Tech

The Indigenous Community Garden is seeking an undergraduate intern to support research and programming within the Sustainable Green Corn Ceremony Restoration Program (SGCRP).

This paid opportunity offers experience in:

Indigenous food systems & regenerative agriculture

Community-engaged and land-based research

Technical documentation and educational resource development

Position Details:

Pay: $13.00/hour

Duration: Up to 70 hours (Summer 2026)

Schedule: ~5 hours/week

Students will work directly with culturally grounded agricultural practices and contribute to ongoing research supported by SARE Graduate Student Research Grant: Sustainable Green Corn Ceremony Restoration Program at a Land-Grant Institution (SGCRP).

Eligibility:

Current Virginia Tech undergraduate student

Eligible to work in the U.S.

Full Job Description: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g-D1Kfhl_w6rI-jh1TkbMBJhnlz6mgQr8m3GzBzckf0/edit?usp=sharing

For any questions or additional information, please contact:

Bryce Burrell
Email: [email protected]

Dr. Donna Westfall-Rudd
Email: [email protected]

04/27/2026

Five Days Away!!!! Ati: Wa: Oki Indigenous Community Center and Native at VT welcome everyone to join their 9th Annual Spring Powwow!!! Come and enjoy at Solitude-Fraction House this weekend on May 2nd!!! Grand Entry starts at noon!

04/26/2026

Sowing mątamaį and ha:di:ne in our ridges! 🤩

04/20/2026

On Sunday, April 19th, we came together to carry out a prescribed burn at the garden, marking the beginning of our new growing season!

Led by our Garden Caretaker, Victoria Persinger Ferguson (Monacan Indian Nation), and Bryce Burrell (Mississippi Choctaw), this burn reflects an ongoing commitment to Southeastern Woodland land stewardship practices and preparing the soil in a good way for what’s ahead.

Prescribed burning plays an important role in caring for the land. It helps remove corn and squash pests, clear away dead thatch and old vegetation, suppress invasive species, and return nutrients back into the soil through ash. These practices support soil health and create stronger conditions for growth throughout the season.

Students were also involved in shaping burn trenches and ridges, helping prepare the space for the upcoming ma:ta:xe planting.

04/16/2026

In celebration of the conclusion of the Indigenous Fellow in Residence 2026 Program, Dr. Mary Jo Ondrechen (Mohawk Nation) will be visiting the Indigenous Community Garden at Virginia Tech (ICG) to share insights on Haudenosaunee land stewardship practices and the cultural origins of the Three Sisters.
Panera Bread will be provided. This event is free and open to all.

The gathering will take place from 10:00–11:00 AM at the Turfgrass Research Center, 615 Southgate Drive.

04/08/2026

We are sharing this message in support of our relatives on Hawaiʻi who are currently going through severe storms impacting their homes and communities.

Some of our community members and families are organizing support efforts and are seeking assistance through donations of supplies or funds to help with recovery.

Needed supplies include:

Tarps

Bungee cord packs

Sump pump hoses

Air purifiers

Wheelbarrows

Shovels

Gas/Diesel or funds to help cover fuel costs

If you are able to help, please consider contributing or sharing this post to help reach others who may be able to support.

Mahalo for standing with our relatives during this time. Please share and repost and donate if you can.

Address

615 Southgate Drive
Blacksburg, VA
24060

Website

https://ccc.vt.edu/index/aiicc/agency-education/garden.html

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Indigenous Community Garden at Virginia Tech posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Indigenous Community Garden at Virginia Tech:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Shop in Blacksburg?