Gearing up to grow garlic

By Linda McClean
Washington State University Colville Reservation Extension

Garlic enthusiasts from the surrounding area gathered at a site located on Columbia River Road, Nespelem, WA, to learn about Inchelium Red Garlic. This variety is the oldest strain of garlic grown in North America. It
Helping hands holding Inchelium Red Garlic cloves ready for planting. Photo Credit: WSU Colville Reservation Extension
originated in the small community of Inchelium, WA, for which it is named, and is believed to have been growing on the Colville Reservation before European Settlers arrived.

This event was hosted by the Inchelium Red Garlic Revitalization Coalition (IRGRC). This group is a collaborative effort by several organizations – LIGHT Foundation, Colville Reservation Conservation District, Conservation Northwest, Blue Sky Minds, Intertribal Agriculture Council and WSU Colville Reservation Extension FRTEP (Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program). Each organization was available to provide cooking demonstrations, native plant education, soil health education, and general agriculture and natural resources information. The focus of IRGRC is to get more people growing and producing Inchelium Red Garlic, with a long-term goal of marketing garlic and garlic products produced on the Colville Reservation.

The garlic demonstration site has been established by the Colville Reservation Conservation District (CRCD), on property managed by Colville Confederated Tribes Forestry Greenhouse project. During the garlic planting celebration, participants gained hands-on experience as they learned how to plant garlic and then physically planted Inchelium Red Garlic cloves on site. The garlic demonstration site will be monitored and maintained by CRCD with support from the IRGRC.

Over the last four years, WSU Colville Reservation Extension FRTEP has facilitated garlic distribution to
Reservation residents planting Inchelium Red Garlic on Colville Indian Reservation. Photo credit: WSU Colville Reservation Extension
reservation residents. Linda McLean, Director for WSU Colville Reservation Extension stated, “These garlic distribution events were born in COVID. As Food Sovereignty education is one of our main outreach areas, the garlic distribution events were mechanisms to reintroduce Inchelium Red Garlic to communities and encourage people to plant fall gardens.” Since 2020, three hundred sixty-eight pounds of garlic along with educational information has been distributed on the Colville Reservation. This year, participants received enough garlic to grow either a 5-foot square or 10-foot square garlic patch. McLean said, “On average, one pound of garlic planted will produce 4 -7 pounds of garlic at harvest time.” She continued, “The goal of the IRGRC is to help people to develop their own Inchelium Red Garlic growing operations to enhance their economic opportunities.”

The garlic demonstration site is the next step on the path to Food Sovereignty. McLean shared the vision of IRGRC, “The plan is to grow and harvest this garlic and use it for distribution in 2025. This will bring us closer to developing a food system whereby food is grown locally by reservation residents for reservation residents.” 

If you would like more information, please contact Linda McLean, Colville Reservation Extension Director, (509) 634-2305 or ljmclean@wsu.edu.