Gitigaan/Gtegan/Kitigaan Kits

Aanii Boozhoo!

The FRTEP “Gitigaan/Gtegan/Kitigaan (Garden) Kit Distribution" program is a yearly spring program that provides garden materials and educational resources to four FRTEP tribal communities in Northern Michigan. Each kit contains a mix of seeds, plant starts, planting information, and/or recipes. We strive to ensure the seeds and plant starts are non-GMO, heirloom varieties, that are picked for our growing region (climate zone). 

Click your community below to see information about the available kits:

Salad Kit

Four Sisters Kit

Pickling Kit

Cold and Hearty Kit

Salsa Kit

Home Lawn and Garden Soil Test Mailer

Lawn and garden plants require 18 nutrients for healthy growth and productivity. By having your soil tested, you can learn which nutrients are present and which ones may need to be added. 

How to Order MSU Extension Soil Tests

Learning to Garden

MSU Extension Resources: Gardening in Michigan

How and what to prepare

Soil 101

Planting basics

Tips and tricks to make gardening accessible

Caring and tending to your garden

End of Season

Anishinaabe Culture and Language Gardening Resources

Design a Relationship Garden

Giizhenindan Inawemaagan-gitigaan

A guide developed by Ojibwe.net that connects the responsibilities we have as humans with our plant relatives within a garden.

Watering the Garden

Ikidowinan

Ojibwe gardening vocabulary list from Niigaanibines (Don Jones) and Ogimaawigwanebiik (Nancy Jones)

Miijim (Food) Cards

Students from several schools in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, joined together to research and create Miijim (Food) Cards as a classroom project. Each card features a hand-drawn miijim item available at the Brimley Bay Mills Farmer's Market, paired with the names of each food item in Anishinaabemowin. This project came about after the students visited their local market, which left them wondering if there was a way to incorporate their culture and language more fully into this important hub for the community. 

This project was created in partnership with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, MSU Extension, and the Tribal Food Sovereignty Collaborative, with translation services generously provided by Aamookwe (Amy McCoy). 

View Miijim Cards

Anishinaabemowin@home

Plants and gardening Ojibwe language activity and resources blog by Anishinaabemowin@home.

Summer Medicine Harvest

Niibin Mashkiki Bway'ige

First Nations Development Institute Knowledge Center

Center for publications on Indigenous food system reports, Native agriculture, traditional subsistence activities, Indigenous food sovereignty sources, guides, assessments, and more.

Food Preservation Resources

Interested in learning more about safely preserving your harvest? Visit Michigan State University Extension's Food Preservation web resources:

MSU Extension Food Preservation Information

Michigan Fresh: Translated Spanish Resources

Recipes

  • Bison and Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

    Published on June 23, 2023
    A hearty dish packed with lean ground bison and vitamin-rich sweet potatoes.

  • Squash and Wild Rice

    Published on June 23, 2023
    The nutty flavor of wild rice combined with sweet maple syrup and winter squash make this a tasty and nutritious side dish.

  • "Three Sisters" Harvest Soup

    Published on June 23, 2023
    This vegetable soup is just one way to include the Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash) in your cooking.

  • Maple Banana Berry Crumble

    Published on June 23, 2023
    This is a simple way to use those berries you picked this summer, with added sweetness from local maple syrup and honey.

  • Easy Roasted Butternut Squash

    Published on June 22, 2023
    Save time with this side dish using frozen, cubed butternut squash and maple syrup.