What makes the Mother Earth Eggs brand so unique? Well for starters, when you purchase this product you’re buying farm fresh eggs that are produced with a lot of TLC. You’re also supporting an indigenous based “buy local” concept and business.
The story of Mother Earth Eggs began back in 2016, when Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Agriculture Manager, Wally Ransom, along with his team from within the Environment Division, collaborated with 10 students, grades 9 to 11 – teaching them the intricate process of raising chickens. This was all part of a pilot program meant to build capacity in the areas of food production, self-sustainability and business.
But long before any coops were built, or chickens were fed and cared for, or eggs collected, the concept was introduced by Ransom – who would later be joined by the late Christopher Thompson, SRMT’s former Director of Economic Development. Back in 2016, both Ransom and Thompson had the foresight and passion to collaborate on this initiative that would take an important step towards advancing food sovereignty in Akwesasne. Thompson once said, “the skills learned through this process are invaluable and will provide youth with the tools to succeed.”
Ransom added, “originally the thought was to teach local youth how to raise and care for a flock of chickens, with the hope of having them earn money from their hard work from the eggs they produce. The bonus was that it became a family affair, with siblings and parents joining the process of raising chickens.”
Before long, the eggs were packaged and put in stores. Mother Earth Eggs thus began its foray into the world of locally grown produce. One of the main goals was to increase understanding of agricultural production and promoting a healthy lifestyle through locally grown produce.
After the students learned all they could about raising chickens, Ransom said the program outgrew itself and in order to reach market demand, a decision was made to move the chickens to one location, where they could be cared for more easily.
Present day, the SRMT has 600 chickens that are housed in the ‘400 building’, which was constructed in 2018. Initially built to house 400 hundred chickens, but the demand for Mother Earth eggs grew, and now the agricultural program is able to produce approximately 380 dozen eggs per week. This barely meets the demand of local shoppers, who prefer the cage free, free-range quality.
With the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Agricultural Program had some financial setbacks, as did many other SRMT programs, when the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort(AMCR) closed its doors back in March. Many Tribal programs are funded by the AMCR and incoming funds are limited and stretched thin.
But Ransom and his team forge on and continue to deliver Mother Earth Eggs to Akwesasne and the surrounding communities.
The eggs are steadily sold at local businesses, and the Akwesasne Farmers Market. These eggs are as fresh as they can be, because they’re locally and naturally raised…since 2016.
To purchase Mother Earth Eggs, visit these fine suppliers: Speedway,
Minimart, Wild Bills, #9, Twin Leaf, Red Fox, all in Akwesasne, Martins
Store in Bombday, or the Potsdam Food Co Op.
