This blog is for those of you who would like to add more local foods to your diet, meet local farmers, learn new recipes based on seasonal eating and preserving the summer harvest. Food is political too, so here you can learn about and influence local and national agriculture issues, and participate in helping to rebuild the Alaska food system. May each of you chew happily and wisely.
Kim came to Alaska in 2000 and studied sustainable development at APU. Working for Chickaloon Native Village, she helped launch a sustainable foods initiative that included organic gardening classes, community gardens and a four-season greenhouse that produces fresh produce. She helped bring the national conference, Bioneers, to Alaska in 2004. Her passion in working toward food security and rejuvenating the Alaska food system influences all aspects of her professional and personal life.
NEWSLETTER
Sustainable Agriculture for Alaska
This July-Sept., 2008 Cooperative Extension newsletter includes a story by Matt Shaul of Cranberry Ridge Farm on how his Wasilla farm got started in goat cheese production.
EATING LOCAL
High grocery bills spur CSA interest
Read this June 9, 2008 Fairbanks News Miner story on three Fairbanks-area CSAs and growing demand for their local produce.
Look here for a comprehensive list of local farmers' markets.
DNR's new farm, food, etc. directory
This Excel spreadsheet includes 16 categories from farms to farmers markets, herbs to aquaculture. Provided by the Div. of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources
Find local produce, eggs, fowl and meat nearby.
WEB RESOURCES
Envisions a future food system based on principles of high quality and taste, environmental sustainability, and social justice.
Explains the hows and whys of buying local, plus an action kit.
Helpful website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food. Local producers also register on this site.
Dedicated to educating the public on a sustainable food and agriculture system that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially just, and humane.
The nation's leading advocate for farm and ranch land conservation.
Community Food Security Coalition
Dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food.
Dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the human diet through education, research and activism.
Alaska Food and Farm Directory Survey - 12/11/2008 6:24 pm
EATING ALASKA COMES TO ANCHORAGE - 12/1/2008 3:26 pm
Alaska Division of Agriculture Seeks Community Comments on 2009 Strategic Plan - 11/24/2008 4:51 pm
Community voices needed to support Ak's food system - 11/12/2008 11:07 am
About root cellars - 10/24/2008 5:10 pm
Stocking up for winter offers comfort and security - 10/16/2008 9:55 pm
Dear Mr. President-elect.... - 10/16/2008 6:46 pm
Ethan Berkowitz Unveils Agriculture, Food Security Plan - 10/11/2008 9:08 am
Palmer's first Potato Pageant Wed Oct 8th - 10/7/2008 7:51 pm
Farmers' Market Update from Arctic Organics - 10/6/2008 4:52 pm
Are you a Bioneer? - 9/25/2008 10:57 am
Palmer & Anchorage Farmers' Market Harvest update - 9/25/2008 9:40 am
New CSA Launches Year-Round Box Program For Alaskan Grown - 9/16/2008 10:20 am
New Produce Market in Palmer - 9/6/2008 12:24 pm
The all Alaskan produce box may be on its way... - 8/28/2008 4:01 pm
Kitchen Literacy and the Loss of Culture in American Food - 8/28/2008 3:29 pm
FREE ALASKAN BROCCOLI!! - 8/25/2008 3:03 pm
Farmers' markets, local fish, in the news - 8/23/2008 10:11 pm
Its Harvest Season!!! time to get picken... - 8/22/2008 10:40 am
Farmers Market: what's fresh this week - 8/19/2008 4:39 pm
Got cabbage? Get sauerkraut! - 8/17/2008 4:40 pm
Sustainable communities - 8/15/2008 10:19 pm
Posted: October 24, 2008 - 5:10 pm
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Root Cellaring, the book
Allie Barker, a home gardener, wild foods harvester and root cellar builder was a guest speaker at the recent Bioneers Conference at UAA. She brought her own copy of the book pictured above, written by Mike and Nancy Bubel, for the information table, and even some potatoes and carrots from her root cellar so conference attendees could see the good shape her year-old vegetables were in after their time in her root cellar.
Barker spoke Saturday, Oct. 18 at a session called "Building a food system that works for Alaskans." Along with this blog's anchor, Kim Sollien, Allie also shared the podium with Kathy Ciarimboli, the sustainable foods coordinator for the National Outdoor Leadership School in Palmer.
Back to Allie. She lives in Chickaloon with her partner and they grow all the food they eat, storing it in a root cellar for winter-time use. After Allie spoke, she agreed to a brief interview in one of the nearby classrooms. She describes the reasons why having a root cellar makes sense in Alaska. She introduces some photos that show the inside of her root cellar and the front view of a friend's. (The photos will appear in a day or so).
Here are three short video clips from that interview. The first is a general introduction.
The second is a chance for Allie to explain why the self-sufficiency of a root cellar is worth it to her.
And this last segment helps explain why the produce that Alaska can grow works well in root cellar storage.
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