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Dine College - The Higher Education Institution of the Navajo since 1968

Read about our mission as the Land Grant Office.Here is we do under the Endowment Funding.This is our Edcuation page.Surprise! This is the link to the Extension Program.Check out this group of folks who run the office.See what we have in store for you all.

Land Grant Office Education

Demonstration Farm

SunflowerThe Diné College Demonstration Farm has been developed to help foster student learning and research. Over the years students have experimented with several crop varietals and implemented numerous watering techniques with the drip irrigation system that was established by the students for the farm. The drip system is used to conserve water by channeling the water directly to the seeds and plants throughout the planting and growing seasons. A consistent watering schedule and drip-line checks are important to the outcome and can make for a pleasant harvesting season. The students have also worked with a transplanting system that is started early in the year inside the hoophouse and cold-frame greenhouses. That gave them the chance to start the season early but a cold spring disrupted the process because the ground was still cold and growth was stunted.

Field WatertankOur office has also provided a space at the farm for community members to plant their own crops. There are about 6 plots that have been occupied since we first offered this to the community. During the harvesting season, our office hosts a Farmer's Market here in Tsaile near the local convenience store. The market is fun. Many local families come and buy the produce and ask questions about the farm. Overall, this event is good for the community's spirit.

GreenhouseGreenhouse Dripline

Through our extension partnership with New Mexico State University, the infamous agricultural specialist Del Jimenez, led the LGO effort to build two greenhouses to help facilitate the agricultural project here at Diné College. The hoophouses will be utilized as a tool to help students learn greenhouse maintenance and extend their knowledge of supervising plant growth. Our extension agent, Felix Nez has been working with Lukachukai Community School in establishing a gardening project there for their 21st Century after-school program. They have built a greenhouse and their plants are growing and have actually began harvesting. They also want the students to enter 4-H shows with their produce and participate in farmer's markets. Introduction and education in sustainable farming is a valuable asset the youth can attain.

Native plantsNative Flora

The floral project will conduct a systematic collection, classification and description in English and Navajo languages. Prime resources, limited to the flora in our specific geographical region will help to address our need to develop instructional materials that are based on local resources and emphasize indigenous science, and develop a herbarium collection that can serve the academic community, and enhance students’ experiential learning.

 

1 CIRCLE DRIVE PO BOX 7B TSAILE, AZ 86556 PHONE: (928)724-6941 FAX: (928)724-6949