Meet the Farmer
David and Patra Wise live in Sawyer, Minnesota, on the Fond du Lac Ojibwe Reservation. Thousands of years ago David's ancestors traveled to Northern Minnesota in search of the “food that grows on water” or the wild rice native to Minnesota. They became some of the very first experts of the land where David and Patra now live and farm. Today, David and Patra own NativeWise LLC, a farm and business where they grow and harvest local plants for food and natural medicines. David and Patra believe that good, clean food is the best medicine for your body and mind.
The farming techniques that the Wise Family use are designed to keep the soil, water and air clean and grow healthy foods in healthy ways.
One of the ways David and Patra keep the land they farm on healthy is by using cover crops. Cover crops are plants that are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. Cover crops help to improve soil health, increase plant yield and provide pollinator habitat. David and Patra plant and harvest everything on their farm by hand with the help of their family and their community. Planting and harvesting without the use of heavy machinery helps to decrease pollution in the air from exhaust and the cost for fuel and maintenance.
David and Patra love to eat what grows naturally around them too! Foods like Manonmin or wild rice, wild blueberries, mushrooms, and turning sap from the maple trees around their farm into maple syrup are just a few of the foods that the Wise family harvest in the woods around their farm.
Another unique way the Wise Family cares for their land is by grazing bison. Bison are an important part of the Ojibwe culture. They relied heavily on bison for their survival and well-being, using every part of the bison for food, clothing, shelter, tools, jewelry and in ceremonies. On the Wise Farm bison eat the cover crops and their hooves help to loosen the soil and allow roots from the crops to grow deeper. Bringing back bison to their land is one more important part of how David and Patra care for the environment, their community and their family.
For 7 Generations
When making an important decision, an ages-old Native American question was: "How will this affect the people seven generations from now?"
What do you think this meant?
How would thinking like this make a difference in what we do to the environment today?