FIND YOUR SUSTENANCE
TRIPLE THE FLAVOR The three ingredients considered staples across Native American microregions are winter squash, corn and tepary beans, known as the “Three Sisters.” Iroquois legend claims the three crops need each other to survive. “They call them the Three Sisters because they help each other grow out in the field,” said chef Brian Yazzie, who likes to make Three Sisters soups, salads and stews. Yazzie was happy to share his recipe for Three Sisters soup with The Henry Ford. “This dish is about tasting the landscape,” he said. Three Sisters Soup Yield: 4-6 servings 1 bone-in turkey breast 1 bunch sage, thinly sliced Salt, as needed Garlic to taste Sunflower oil for rubbing 5 cups vegetable stock 1 cup pure maple syrup 1 whole acorn squash, halved and seeded 2 bunches dandelion greens, thinly sliced 5 cups nixtamalized hominy, cooked 4 cups black beans, soaked and cooked Garlic powder, to taste 2 bunches green onions, thinly sliced 1 cup roasted sunflower seeds turkey breast with sage, salt, garlic 1 Rub and oil. Place in a small roasting pan, pour in stock, cover roasting pan and bake at 275 F for 2 ½-3 hours. Uncover and rub with maple syrup. Bake at 400 F for 5-7 minutes uncovered until skin is golden brown. Cool 15 minutes and slice or shred. squash into medium cubes. Place 2 Cut on a sheet pan, toss with additional sunflower oil and bake at 400 F for 5-7 minutes until tender. Cool. dandelion greens over medium 3 Saute heat until wilted. squash, hominy and beans to 4 Add greens and heat thoroughly. Add salt and garlic powder to desired taste. vegetables in bowls and top with 5 Spoon turkey, green onions and sunflower seeds.
JUST GROW IT
It sounds simple, the notion of solving hunger and malnutrition by just growing what you need. Having enough food to meet your caloric and nutritional needs is much more complicated than growing the fruits, vegetables and protein sources needed to keep you healthy, happy and wise. Why are so many people food insecure? Because inequity and injustice restrict access to land, limit individuals’ freedom to grow the foods they need and undermine opportunities to make healthy choices. Furthermore, extreme weather and virulent diseases can destroy crops and livestock with catastrophic effects on food supplies across the planet. How can each of us take a more proactive role in meeting our own nutritional needs or in reducing food insecurity for others? Here are five steps you can take to start to make a difference. — DEBRA A. REID, CURATOR OF AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HENRY FORD
GO ON A DISCOVERY QUEST Learn about the interconnectedness of U.S. agricultural policy and social services designed to reduce hunger and malnutrition.
GROW YOUR OWN If you can grow fruits or vegetables in containers, a hydroponic kit or in your own backyard, do it. By doing so, you can get a better sense of the physical and economic investment needed to feed yourself (even if you raise only one tomato).
GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE Invest in local growers, learn their names, find their locations on a map, learn about how they grow and market their crops and how they adjust depending on the weather. Doing so can help you understand the fragile nature of the local, national and global food supply system.
DO THE TIME Volunteer at a food bank, soup kitchen or other service agency dedicated to helping people meet their food and nutritional needs.
DONATE TO THE CAUSE Contribute to a nonprofit dedicated to helping people feed themselves. Check the nonprofit’s rating to ensure that most donations go toward the cause and not administrative costs.
ILLUSTRATION BY GETTY IMAGES/HOLAILLUSTRATIONS
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JANUARY-MAY 2021