On Wednesday, Aug. 21, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center Research and Education Chair Mark Varien and Educator Paul Ermigiotti will present a lecture on “The Pueblo Farming Project.” The program will be held at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, 23390 Road K, Cortez, Colo., at 7 p.m. The event is presented as part of the Four Corners Lecture Series and is free of charge.

In 2006, Crow Canyon joined with traditional Pueblo Indian farmers to plan an innovative new project — the Pueblo Farming Project — to create a bridge linking ancient and modern Pueblo farming techniques. The now ongoing project seeks a better understanding of ancestral Pueblo farming practices in the Mesa Verde region and how climate change affects crop yields. Further, the project addresses a concern of modern Pueblo Indians: the preservation of knowledge about Pueblo farming techniques and the cultural context in which they occur.

Since 2008, Pueblo farmers have joined Crow Canyon staff as part of the project to plant and harvest experimental gardens on the Center’s campus, using farming techniques and varieties of seeds employed by Hopi farmers. Using data from each harvest, Crow Canyon researchers are examining how crop yields are affected by yearly changes in precipitation and temperature. Beyond facts and figures, researchers are also acquiring a greater knowledge of the cultural significance of farming, food preparation and food storage to Pueblo people, and they are incorporating that knowledge into educational programs.

In their presentation, Varien and Ermigiotti will discuss how the project was created through a collaborative effort between Crow Canyon and Pueblo Indian tribes from Hopi, Jemez, Ohkay Owingeh and Tesuque. They will speak about what has been learned so far, bring along traditional tools and harvested materials for the audience to view, and—if there is time and interest—lead a tour of one of the experimental gardens.

For a preview of the presentation, tune in to KSJD Dry Land Community Radio on Aug. 19, 8:30–9:30 a.m., to hear an interview with Varien and Ermigiotti.

Organized by a consortium of area organizations, the Four Corners Lecture Series features presentations by guest speakers from around the Southwest. This year’s theme is “Knowing the Greater Southwest.” The location of the lectures rotates among the sponsoring organizations.

This year’s sponsors are the Anasazi Heritage Center; the Bureau of Land Management; the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center; the Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society; KSJD Dryland Community Radio; Mesa Verde National Park; the Mesa Verde Museum Association; and the Fort Lewis College Office of the President, Department of Anthropology and Center of Southwest Studies.

For more information, call (970) 564-4396 or (800) 422-8975, ext. 136.