🌱 Farming Grants & Funding for Urban Indians (Post-OMB Definition Update)
- Ishmael Bey
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Introduction: A Shift That Changes Everything
In a historic update, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revised its federal definition of "American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN)" in 2024, removing the long-standing qualifier: "who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment." This seemingly subtle change has profound implications for Urban Indians who have long been marginalized by federal policies, funding programs, and land-based resources.
Urban Indian farming now stands at the intersection of sovereignty, food justice, cultural restoration, and economic empowerment. With new doors open through the OMB revision, the time is ripe for Indigenous people in urban environments to reclaim ancestral knowledge, access funding, and grow futures rooted in tradition
🔹 1. USDA Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program (2501 Program)
Agency: USDA Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement (OPPE)
Who Can Apply: Non-tribal Native groups, urban farming collectives, Native nonprofits
Why It Matters: The 2501 Program supports farmers who are AIAN by self-identification under OMB’s definition. It funds outreach, technical training, business planning, and land access.
✅ OMB’s change means Urban Indians no longer need tribal enrollment to qualify.
2. USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)
Agency: USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Benefit: Grants and education for new and beginning Native farmers (0–10 years experience)
Why It Matters: Preference is given to socially disadvantaged groups, including AIAN by OMB race definition. Urban Natives reclaiming farming traditions are eligible.
3. USDA Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Grants
Agency: USDA Office of Urban Agriculture
Benefit: Direct funding for community gardens, hydroponics, rooftop farms, and ag-tech projects
Why It Matters: Urban Native nonprofits, collectives, and food sovereignty groups can qualify with AIAN self-identification.
4. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – EQIP & CSP
Programs:
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Who Can Apply: Native farmers, land stewards, co-ops
Why It Matters: NRCS uses OMB AIAN data to support conservation on Native lands. Urban farmers leasing land or operating community gardens are eligible.
5. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Microloans
Who Can Apply: First-time and socially disadvantaged Native growers
Benefit: Up to $50,000 with simplified paperwork
Why It Matters: No tribal enrollment is needed—AIAN identity under OMB applies.
6. Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) – Community Grants
Who Can Apply: Urban Native nonprofits reclaiming cultural foodways, farming, or rematriation of land practices
Why It Matters: ILTF may prioritize OMB-based Native identity post-definition change.
7. Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF)
Who Can Apply: Native-controlled orgs, educational institutions, and co-ops
Why It Matters: NAAF uses a flexible interpretation of Native identity. The OMB revision strengthens Urban Indian orgs’ applications.
Urban Indians: The Invisible Majority
Today, more than 70% of Native Americans live in urban areas, many due to forced displacement, relocation programs, and economic survival. Despite representing the majority, Urban Indians have often been excluded from programs that required proof of tribal enrollment or "community attachment" — a phrase that frequently disqualified those disconnected from reservations but still deeply connected to Native identity.
The OMB’s updated AIAN definition now recognizes self-identified Urban Indians without requiring documentation of tribal affiliation. This opens the door to equal inclusion in federal data, funding, and opportunity — including agriculture and land stewardship programs.
✅ What You Can Do Now
Step | What It Means for You |
Mark “AIAN” on all USDA and grant applications | You now qualify under the updated OMB standards |
Apply through a Native-led nonprofit, co-op, or Urban Indian organization | They can act as fiscal sponsors for group grants |
Use the term “Urban Indian” and cite the 2024 OMB change in applications | This shows awareness of your eligibility and shifts in federal inclusion |
Partner with city food sovereignty or sustainability programs | Many local governments prioritize BIPOC and Indigenous food initiatives |
The best crops for Urban Indian farming combine cultural relevance, high market value, and ease of growing in small or non-traditional spaces (like community gardens, rooftops, raised beds, or hydroponics).
Here’s a breakdown of top crops by purpose:
🌽 1. Traditional & Culturally Significant Crops (Food Sovereignty Focus)
These crops reconnect Urban Indians to ancestral foodways, ceremonies, and land stewardship.
Crop | Why It’s Important |
Corn (especially Blue Corn) | Sacred in many Native cultures; used in ceremonies, meals, and trading |
Beans (e.g., Tepary, Anasazi, Hopi Black) | Protein-rich, drought-tolerant, culturally vital |
Squash (e.g., Calabaza, Hubbard) | Staple of the Three Sisters; stored well, grows easily |
Amaranth | Ancient grain, edible leaves, nutrient-rich |
Sunflowers | Native plant, oilseed use, ceremonial and pollinator support |
Chilies / Indigenous Peppers | Tied to Southwest Native cuisine and medicine |
Tobacco (for ceremonial use only) | Sacred plant used for offerings and prayer (not commercial sale) |
🌿 These support cultural revitalization, youth education, and seed sovereignty
🥬 2. High-Value Small-Space Crops (Urban Market Farming Focus)
Ideal for CSA boxes, farmers markets, restaurants, or local food hubs. They grow well in raised beds, containers, or hydroponics.
Crop | Why It Works |
Leafy Greens (Kale, Arugula, Lettuce, Spinach) | Fast-growing, popular with chefs, continuous harvests |
Herbs (Basil, Cilantro, Sage, Mint) | Low-maintenance, high-margin per square foot |
Microgreens | Very profitable, quick turnover (7–14 days), can grow indoors |
Tomatoes (Heirloom, Cherry) | High demand, good for value-added products like sauces |
Hot Peppers | Great for hot sauce or spice blends with Native branding |
Strawberries | Popular with schools and markets, easy in grow bags |
Edible Flowers (Nasturtium, Calendula) | Used in Indigenous teas and restaurant plating |
🌱 3. Medicinal and Healing Plants (Wellness & Community Healing)
Can be used in Native medicine-making, wellness workshops, and elder programs.
Plant | Use |
Sweetgrass | Braiding and spiritual cleansing |
Sage | Smudging and purification |
Yarrow | Natural wound care, teas |
Echinacea | Immune support |
Mint & Lemon Balm | Teas for anxiety, digestion |
Lavender | Aromatherapy and healing salves |
💧 Bonus: Low-Water or Drought-Tolerant Crops
Perfect for rooftop or dry-climate gardens:
Tepary Beans
Amaranth
Okra
Malabar Spinach
Orach (Red Mountain Spinach)
🌎 Want to Focus on Climate or Regenerative Agriculture?
Urban Indian farms can integrate:
Pollinator plants (milkweed, bee balm)
Cover crops (clover, radish)
Compost systems and rainwater catchment
Native perennials for soil healing
Policy Meets Possibility: The OMB Change in Action
With the new OMB definition, Urban Indians can now:
Apply for USDA grants as self-identified Native farmers (e.g., 2501 Program, UAIP, BFRDP)
Be accurately counted in race-based funding and outreach efforts
Form cooperatives and nonprofits to receive agricultural training and funding
Launch community gardens and cultural farms with public support
Connect traditional farming with housing, education, and health programs through HUD and other agencies
This is not just a policy update — it’s a redefinition of Indigenous presence in America’s cities.
Growing herbs in urban settings is perfect for Urban Indians—they require little space, grow well in containers or raised beds, and connect cultural healing with modern wellness. Many traditional Native herbs are also climate-resilient and can thrive on rooftops, balconies, or community gardens.
🌿 Top Herbs for Urban Indian Gardens
🔹 1. Sage (Salvia spp.)
Traditional Use: Smudging, purification, medicine
Urban Benefit: Hardy, drought-tolerant, grows well in pots
Note: White sage is sacred and should be grown respectfully or substituted with garden sage
🔹 2. Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata)
Traditional Use: Braiding, ceremonies, offering
Urban Benefit: Can grow in pots or raised beds with moist soil; slow-growing but deeply meaningful
3. Mint (Mentha spp.)
Traditional Use: Tea, digestion, cooling medicine
Urban Benefit: Thrives in containers, spreads quickly, great for community harvests
4. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Traditional Use: Calming tea, stress relief, child wellness
Urban Benefit: Easy to grow, good for workshops and elder care programs
5. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Traditional Use: Wound healing, fever remedy, ceremonial herb
Urban Benefit: Perennial, attracts pollinators, grows well in poor soil
6. Echinacea (Coneflower)
Traditional Use: Immune support, cold remedy
Urban Benefit: Beautiful flowers, good for pollinators and teas
7. Bee Balm (Monarda)
Traditional Use: Antiseptic, cold/flu tea, traditional medicine
Urban Benefit: Bold flowers, edible leaves, grows well in small plots
8. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Traditional Use: Healing tea, burns, headaches
Urban Benefit: Drought-resistant, aromatic, ideal for herbal blends
9. Lavender
Traditional Use: Aromatherapy, stress relief
Urban Benefit: Drought-tolerant, great for salves, sachets, and elder care
10. Chamomile
Traditional Use: Calming sleep tea
Urban Benefit: Grows in containers, good for children’s health programming
🧺 Bonus: Culinary & Market Herbs for Economic Use
Perfect for teas, seasoning blends, or herbal products at markets.
Basil (Sweet or Sacred/Tulsi) – culinary, spiritual
Cilantro – fast-growing and great for food sovereignty meals
Parsley – nutritious and easy to grow
Oregano & Thyme – hardy, medicinal and culinary
🌱 Tips for Urban Herb Farming
Use vertical planters or wall-mounted herb gardens for space-saving
Harvest regularly to encourage new growth
Dry herbs for teas, bundles, or value-added products (ointments, smudge sticks)
Offer community workshops on herbal medicine-making and food justice
What’s Next: Growing Power Through Action
To take advantage of the new definition:
Mark "American Indian or Alaska Native" on all federal forms and grant applications.
Form or support Native-led organizations that focus on food sovereignty.
Apply for USDA, HUD, and nonprofit funding under the inclusive AIAN criteria.
Engage youth and elders in farming projects to restore knowledge.
Tell your story — Urban Indian visibility changes policy and hearts.
Resources:
USDA Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement: https://www.usda.gov/partnerships
Native American Agriculture Fund: https://nativeamericanagriculturefund.org
Urban Indian Health Institute: https://www.uihi.org
FIRST TRIBE
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