Ancient Ho-Chunk Land Preserved
2009-01-12

Garden beds, created by the Ho-Chunk people more than one-thousand years ago, will now be officially preserved well into the future.

The land where the ancient gardens are situated has been donated to the Sauk County Historical Society.

Officials say the area is in pristine condition and untouched by development. Bev Vaillancourt, a Sauk County Historical Society board member, hopes the rare garden beds become an important educational site.

Vaillancourt added, "This is an incredible opportunity to do a collaboration between the Sauk County Historical Society, Sauk County, the Ho-Chunk Nation, and the University of Wisconsin and area schools to understand the culture that once thrived in this area and flourished in this area."

The ancient Ho Chunk people used the raised garden beds to grow specialized garden plants for sustenance. Four acres out of the six still have garden beds intact today.

The site is located along Birchwood Road near its intersection with Highway H in the Town of Delton. The land was donated by Bill and Phyllis Pierce.