PARSHALL – The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation (MHA Nation) were scheduled to hold a groundbreaking ceremony today for Native Green Grow (NG2), a greenhouse project near Parshall.

Self-contained, climate-controlled greenhouses will grow vegetable produce from heat and electricity generated by converting captured gas from oil wells that is currently being flared, as well as, utilizing electricity from our dedicated WAPA allocation.

NG2 is a food sovereignty initiative that creates environmental stewardship by reducing the amount of flared gas on Fort Berthold while creating a stable food system and economy for our nation by growing our own healthy, accessible and fresh food.

“It’s one of the keys to ensuring that we survive, to ensuring our Nation will go into the future, growing our own crops, generating our own power, maximizing our water sources, and creating products to export so that when times do get rough, we’ve got a system in place that can really survive any difficulties that might lie ahead,” said Chairman Mark Fox.

The project site will utilize a substantial portion of a 38-acre tract set aside for economic development and the final buildout and construction is set to begin this spring.

Other aspects of the project include an administration building with an educational classroom, a heating plant, and storefront sales that will include an area for a seasonal farmer’s market.

The project site is along Highway 23 between the Healing Horse Ranch and the Parshall intersection.