Hoop House Building Workshop
On Friday, September 27, 2024, the Tó Nizhóní Ání Food Sovereignty team facilitated a hoop house and lasagna bed workshop in honor of the late Tyrone Thompson of Leupp, Arizona. Tyrone was a father, an avid grower, and an advocate for food sovereignty here in the Navajo Nation through his work with Chi’shie Farms. Before his passing, Tyrone worked with a young Diné grower and stellar mountain biker named Rain Jackson from Dilkon, Arizona.
Rain attended many of Tyrone’s workshops, which inspired her to start her garden, Desert Rain Garden. Here, she grows her produce for her family while giving some away to her community and selling it to raise funds for her mountain bike races, such as the one that took place that weekend in the White Mountains (MBAA Enduro Sunrise). Tyrone had planned to help Rain construct her hoop house to further her passion for gardening; unfortunately, he passed in May 2024 before he could start the hoop house. Tyrone was a huge supporter and teacher to much of the food sovereignty team with Tó Nizhóní Ání. Therefore, our organization felt it was critical to help continue Tyrone’s legacy by building a hoop house for Rain Jackson. This workshop build was conducted in collaboration with the Little Colorado River Agricultural Cooperative and, most importantly, Ch’ishie Farms, now under the care of Tyrone’s wife, Philecia Yazzie, and their children.
Ahéhee’, thank you all for joining us in Dilkon, AZ, as we completed the hoop house for Rain. A hoop house is a vital tool for extending growing seasons and enhancing food production. For more information on this workshop, please contact our Food sovereignty coordinator, Audrey Narindrankura, at audrey@tonizhoniani.org.
