UTTC’s state-of-the-art, net-zero greenhouse boasts in-floor heating and a solar panel array that provides all the facility’s energy needs.

Since 2020, United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) has offered an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program in sustainable agriculture and food systems using a multidisciplinary approach that blends foundational STEM, agriculture, and food sovereignty courses; hands-on experience; and practices rooted in cultural and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). In the continued development of the program, UTTC recently completed construction of a 5,000-square-foot passive solar, net-zero greenhouse on campus where students will have the opportunity to engage in year-round production and indoor cultivation techniques, while also learning about propagation and seed regeneration of culturally important plants. All aspects of the greenhouse, from funding to design and construction, reflect the continued movement toward a sovereign, sustainable future in food and energy across Indian Country.

Major support for the UTTC net-zero greenhouse came from the first rounds of funding from the Keepseagle v. Vilsack settlement, a monumental class-action court case filed against the USDA on behalf of Native Americans denied equal access to crediting from the USDA Farm Loan Program. Named after the lead plaintiffs, George and Marilyn Keepseagle, citizens of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Keepseagle v. Vilsack alleged the USDA discriminated against the Keepseagles, their co-plaintiffs, and thousands of other Native American farmers seeking loans and financial assistance in the decades leading up to the case. In 2016, a settlement of over $680 million was reached, and the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) was created to administer and distribute funds nationwide. NAAF has continued to support UTTC in the completion of the greenhouse project.

Due to its location in central North Dakota and service to students from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, completing construction of the UTTC greenhouse is not only a significant achievement but is also symbolic. It serves as an inspiring beacon and physical monument to the years of hard work and dedication of the legal counsel for the Keepseagle case and its deserving beneficiaries.

The initial concepts of the greenhouse began in late 2020 in partnership with the Native-owned architecture firm, DSGW, headquartered in Minneapolis. Beginning with preliminary designs, several partners added input into the functionality and visual presentation of the structure, while always keeping in mind the roots of the college and communities served. From the beginning, incorporating renewable energy has been an important feature of the project. UTTC has already invested in several clean energy projects, including geothermal and solar, and the use of a net-zero design reflects a continued commitment to ancestral stewardship of natural resources. Net-zero signifies a building has 100% of its energy needs supplied by on-site renewable energy on a net annual basis. To achieve net-zero in the UTTC greenhouse design, the structure features a large south-facing heat bank wall, a mechanized roof opening for natural ventilation, LED lighting, radiant in-floor heating, and a large 24k-watts-per-hour solar panel array to offset all electrical needs of the building. In the future, designs from UTTC tribal arts students will be featured on the exterior to highlight Native agricultural histories and cultures.

In 2022, final funding was secured and a Native-owned contracting firm, Woodstone Inc., was hired to carry out construction. Despite logistical setbacks, the city of Bismarck issued its final permit on July 1, 2024, and the greenhouse became fully operational. The college celebrated completion of the greenhouse in August 2024 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and blessing for the community.

The newly constructed greenhouse will provide support to a number of departments and programs across campus, including extension and outreach activities. But the main focus will be on continued support and development of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems AAS program. The space will support many of UTTC’s tribal agriculture and food sovereignty initiatives and degree programs. It will not be a one-stop shop, but rather a space to grow the needs of Indian Country. The college plans on making this structure an example for other tribal colleges and organizations to come see what is possible with a year-round growing space.