b'Featured Story(Left) Ernest Pompey and Noah Cudd in the greenhouse at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation afterharvesting tomatoes. (Above) Ernest Pompey harvests tomatoes in the greenhouse. (Below) Heirloomtomatoes grown by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Photo courtesy of Noah Cudd.Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Growing Food and Health with UConn ExtensionThe mission statement of theUConn Extension and theUSDA-NIFA with the goal of having the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal NationDepartment of Plant Science andtribe share their ideas for growing food (MPTN) states they will establishLandscape Architecture received theand health, and help them learn about a social, cultural and economic foun- four-year Federally Recognized Tribesthe Extension resources that are available. dation that can never be underminedExtension Program (FRTEP) grant fromAs a result of the grant, the relationship or destroyed, says Tribal Councilorbetween MPTN and UConn is strength-Daniel Menihan, Jr.ening, and there is growth in agricultural MPTN was facing challenges growingproduction, food security, and health for their fruits and vegetables at a scale tothe tribal people.meet the tribes needs on their land inMPTN is still learning, but they are Ledyard, and some members were strug- now able to grow their own food, in gling with diabetes. what looks like a commercial setting, UConn has enjoyed a long historystates Shuresh Ghimire, PhD, Vegetable of engagement with members of theCrops Extension educator and principal Mashantucket Pequot Tribal community.investigator on the grant. They have high Despite the fact that there is an Extensiontunnels, a rototiller, a plastic mulch layer, office only 10 miles from the reservation,and cold storage, which are common tools MPTN had rarely participated in anyfor a commercial farm. educational outreach or training offered. 6 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 7'