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Farm
teaches locals about farming in the Last Frontier
By Kimberly Warren Alaska
may be known for its oil, wildlife, dark nights and cold winters, but
there’s a lot more to The Last Frontier than meets the eye. Take,
for example, Calypso Farm and Ecology Center.
Located in Ester, Alaska – in the middle of a forest – the farm enjoys a three-month growing season where they harvest asparagus, rhubarb, broccoli, cauliflower, greens and squash – among other organic crops. “Back in the mining days, the miners here grew wonderful gardens, but with the advent of the railroad, it was cheaper to bring food in,” said Tom Zimmer, farm manager and assistant director. “ But Zimmer and the rest of the staff have built on that foundation laid by the miners and have learned to take advantage of a microclimate created by the hill where the farm is located. Their first frost-free day is in mid-May, and the season goes to the end of September. Playing with that microclimate is the trick, Zimmer said. “The growing season up here is fantastic,” he said. “It’s short, but when it’s on, it’s on.” An advantage created by Alaska’s cold climate is that there are very few pest pressures. Aphids and root maggots seem to be the farm’s traditional pest threats, but one pest many other U.S. growers don’t have to deal with is the moose. “Moose are relatively easy to deal with – it’s nice when you can actually see the pest,” Zimmer said. Disease pressures are few, as well. Zimmer said some potato blights have moved in, and to combat that, they’re making sure they’re using clean potato seed. All of the produce at Calypso is organic. “We definitely try our best to mimic natural cycles – that’s our main philosophy on organic,” Zimmer said. “We have great community support up here, but there’s always a few people who say ‘oh, you can’t make compost in Alaska.’ But we make tons of compost every year in a short season.” Calypso Farm is a new farm. It was started in 2000 for community education and to teach the importance of local food supplies. The farm sells its produce through a community-supported agriculture (CSA) venture and uses itself as an outlet to spread its educational message. “We’re at a pivotal point where we need to make sure that people have a connection to their food so they can understand what they’re eating so they can make healthy choices,” Zimmer said. The farm carries its education focus off the farm into local schools and community centers. Their school garden initiative helps schools develop gardens on-site. The staff at Calypso works with teachers to develop curriculum that goes with having that garden. “We have a short season that doesn’t match well with the school system,” Zimmer said. In the spring, the garden will be put in, and school goes out of session, and we have high school students working in the EATinG (Employing Alaskan Teens in Gardening).” Over the summer the students will operate a CSA with the produce grown in the garden. Calypso also has a partnership with a local women’s shelter where gardens provide some activities for the children and food for the shelter. Back on the farm, staff give educational tours to community members and offer classes on how to grow with limited space. The farm shows examples of what can be grown in a window box or in the small scale for those who don’t have a lot of land. The total area of the farm is less than five acres. “We need to help the younger generation reconnect with where their food comes from and realize it’s not only important for their life, but it’s fun and exciting to grow food and to experiment,” Zimmer said. “All the science that we learn in school is very applicable to growing our food. Some of the things they teach students and community members at the farm is about growing food, including doing seed experiments and growing transplants. The farm’s staff talks about soil, compost and decomposition. And all of the activities are hands-on. “We’re digging through compost and worm bins, we’re doing experiments,” Zimmer said. “It’s exciting having students come to the farm, and you can do it whether you have a large-scale farm or a small-scale farm.” People not only come to the farm for educational tours – they come for food. The farm’s on-site CSA has 40 member shares, with a goal to expand to 90. Through the CSA, Calypso is able to educate whole families. “We’re so removed from the basic needs of life – people spend more money on entertainment, and the food budget is really low, and they need to have access to as much information about where their food comes from,” Zimmer said. For more information, visit www.calypsofarm.org |
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The Vegetable Growers News 616-887-9008 | fax 616-887-2666 | email |
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