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At the end of a long summer of cooking, I was presented with one more job at DQ university.  After the first day, we nick-named it the ‘apocalypse’, when we arrived to 100 degree weather, no potable water, vandalized buildings,  flies everywhere,no electricity, and fridges full of old rotten  food.  Where were we?  What happened here? Why?

Penny Livingston, the visionary and teacher at the Regenerative Design Institute, was asked by the board of DQ university to teach a permaculture course to bring vision and direction to the place.

DQ has a long history stemming back to the occupation of Alcatraz by Indians of All Tribes group in 1969. The group occupied the island for 19 months, and one of their demands was an all tribe university. This group later occupied an army base outside of Davis, which became DQ university.  This place was, and still is a bomb shelter.

The purpose of D-Q University, created in 1971,  was to provide alternative ideas and methods of education to Native American people. Among its goals were the preservation and re-institutionalization of traditional Native American values, the perpetuation and exercise of Native American  religion and beliefs, the establishment of a Native American Research Institute, the development of field-based educational delivery systems to Native Americans who could not attend the school itself, and the maintenance of social and personal support systems for D-Q students and staff.

It was the only all tribe college in California.

The university fell into in-fighting and loss of accreditation several years ago, and fell into ruin. Outside vandals came in and broke the window and even up to the day before the course, stole equiptment.  There is a very powerful Yolo county neighbor who wants lease their land and spray chemicals on it, which the university refuses to allow. The neighbor sprays anyway and farms the land illegally for profit.  The first night we were there, a white truck drove up and the driver threatened to burn the place down. The group responded by having watch 24 hours a day.

In the middle of the week, we were sprayed on by pesticides for mosquito control.  There was a huge talk about whether we would evucate or not, 15 minutes before lunch time! After the spray hit, the birds left the land because all their food had been killed.

My bedroom door had been kicked in at some point, and the curtains were bomb proof metal slats.

So lets just say, the situation was a little tense.

I am humbled by the power of permaculture and what having a vision can do.  One of the first nights, where was a talking circle around a fire for 80 people that went all night. That fire burned throughout the entire course.  On another day, a tree was planted to represent new growth for the place.   I was so honored to actually be invited to this land and asked to contribute what myself, Anne, Wowzer, Jeremy Jodie and Nick could do.

I was nervous about the food. How could I feed such a diverse and keep everyone happy? There were tribal elders, and vegans all in the same room.  Would my California organic world food cut it?  There was a request to not have as many desserts to ease up on the sugar for diabetics in the room. Darn! Desserts are the great equalizer that makes everyone happy.   Seriously, I was sweating it, inside and out.  Slowly, we found the way, and given the extreme environment, the food worked out really well. Susan, one of the board members and I have been talking about food. She thanked us for firing up the hearth of the community. She told me that in native american culture, food was always a part of it, at every gathering,  and festival. It is central.   I like this and resonate with this.

So I made paella. on the asphalt no less.Paella in the apocalypse as the sun was setting. Not too bad. Will, Lauren and DH got stuck in the mud trying to bring wood back for this fire. They were stuck for hours. In the mud around them were coyote tracks…..and the taste of the asphalt only seasoned the food to perfection.

DQ is launching a new campaign about healthy food and well being as a core part of their university. I am excited to have ties to this place and watch it flower. Hopefully I will cook for their 40th anniversary event.  The tree is taking root, people are living on the land,   and that fire is still burning.