Alameda Native History Project

Indigenous Land Lab

Ancestral Landscapes Revived

Sections:

What is the Indigenous Land Lab?

The Indigenous Land Lab is a Restoration Nursery and Demo Garden in the East Bay. Its principle purposes are to increase local biodiversity and serve as a nursery for propagating and fostering native plants until they are ready to plant out.

What else will the Indigenous Land Lab do?

Grow medicinal and ceremonial plants. The Land Lab will also host an Acorn Granary. And serve as a workspace for projects like tanning hides, and drying and storing various foods sourced from the surrounding area, for example.

Other experiments include:

A water catchment system; and threatened/endangered plant propagation.

Building the Lab

Right now, the Indigenous Land Lab is a 30 x 30 foot square area in the East Bay.

In January 2025, we will begin to work in this area and begin to till and condition the soil to start our plants in March!

Throughout the year, we will continue to work the land, and introduce new native plants, as well as build our flagship granary, and conduct our own special Indigenous Land Lab Acorn Harvest.

The Land Lab “Before” Pic
After knocking down the weeds
Covered with silage tarp

Indigenous Land Lab Design

This is the current design of the land lab.

Parts of the Indigenous Land Lab explained:

Tunnel House

Seedling propagation and nursery before planting out. This is where we’ll also grow Indigenous Loofah for sale at a farmer’s market near you!

Vegetable Bed

Three Sisters Victory Demo Garden with Corn, Squash, and Beans.

Medicine Garden

Sage, Mugwort, Lavender, Gooseberry, and more, will be grown here. Plants which wish to grow alone, or can’t be mixed, will be planted in pots.

Drying Rack

Usually for vegetables like beans or corn. Other drying racks may occasionally hold meat, or other natural products.

Shade Area

For more sensitive plants, and for acclimating. Also as a potting workstation.

Water

Will be connect to a water catchment system for both rain and condensation/dew.

Granary

To hold the acorns harvested from local Oak Trees, including the Grandmother Oak on the ridge.

How Can I Help?

Volunteer for one of our Work Days

Come join us in building the Indigenous Land Lab.

There is plenty to do. Most of it is physical work; and all of it is outdoors.

We provide water, and snacks. We can even sign off on your community service hours for school or whatever.

All we ask is that you sign a waiver and abide by our community guidelines.

Please fill out this Volunteer Application if you’re interested in volunteering.

2025 Land Lab Volunteer Application

How Can I Support the Indigenous Land Lab?

There are many ways you can support the Indigenous Land Lab:

  1. Donate to us through our fiscal sponsor.
    Use this link to make a donation to the Alameda Native History Project through or fiscal sponsor. The Alameda Native History Project is fiscally sponsored by The Hack Foundation (d.b.a. Hack Club), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 81-2908499).
  2. Purchase tools & equipment from our wishlist.
    The Indigenous Land Lab Wishlist on Amazon has a list of the tools and equipment we’re currently seeking. You don’t have to get it from Amazon. Just reach out to us before you mail it. If you’re local, we can pick up tools & equipment. Reach out at lab @ nativehistoryproject .org (no spaces.)
  3. Donate your tools or equipment.
    Do you have a rototiller just gathering dust? A bunch of shovels you’re not using? Maybe some smaller gardening trowels and stuff? Let us know what you’ve got, and we can come pick it up and give you a donation receipt you for your records. All donations (monetary or in-kind) are tax deductible.
    Email us at lab @ nativehistoryproject .org (no spaces.)
  4. Lend your equipment or time & labor.
    We totally understand not wanting to part with perfectly good equipment. And we feel the same way about lending it to someone who might not know the in’s and out’s of your equipment as well as you do. Frankly, we’re only going to use something like a rototiller once. So maybe coming out to the lab and tilling our little plot for us is better? Think about it.
    Email us at lab @ nativehistoryproject .org (no spaces) if you’re interested.