Sawyer, MN
“For over two decades, Spirit Lake Native Farms has been a Minnesota-grown product and local source of pure maple syrup and wild rice. Our unwavering mission is to share this tradition with not just our children and community but also to educate the general public about food sovereignty. Last year, we finished approximately 12,000 pounds of wild rice and 300 gallons of pure maple syrup. We set up through the summers at the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) farmers market and also provide individual tribes, businesses, and families with wild rice and maple syrup throughout the year.”
– Bruce Savage and Tawny Smith-Savage, owner
The Project
The farm is planning to upgrade its gravity-separating table for processing wild rice. The goal is to improve the process, enhancing the overall business while keeping sustainability at the forefront of operations.
Environmental Impact
Spirit Lake Native Farm’s main objective has always been to achieve sustainability. They use salvaged slabwood from a local sawmill to fuel their roasting process; their wild rice is certified organic; and they primarily sell wild rice within the local and Great Lakes region. They have established networks that directly benefit indigenous families and communities.
