In 1892, under the McCumber Agreement, the Turtle Mountain reservation was slashed to 34,000 acres, covering a six-by-twelve-mile area, making it one of the smallest reservations in the United States. After enduring diminished fur trade and the near extinction of the buffalo, the agreement created additional challenges for the community. A few decades later, they were faced with another crisis. The Great Depression had sunk its claws into the entire country, devastating towns and reservations alike. The Chippewa adopted farming and gardening as a way of survival, hoping to ward off starvation. Gardening became a family and community affair.

As soon as the snow melted and the ground thawed, preparation was in full swing. Potatoes were cut for seed and placed in the ground. Families picked ripe wild berries like raspberries, chokecherries, cranberries, Juneberries, and plums. While some were enjoyed fresh, most of the produce was canned and stored in root cellars for use throughout the year. Pukons or hazelnuts, medicinal herbs, and other edible plants were also collected.

The changing leaves, shorter days, and cooler temperatures of fall marked a busy time for everyone. Hay was put up in stacks for livestock and gardens were harvested and processed. The Turtle Mountain people worked hard to make a living for their families by preserving food, making clothes, hauling water and wood, and tending to livestock.The community gardens have been a source of pride for years, a sign of resilience and cooperation.