Climate Connection:
Investigating a tasty angle
for Sitka’s indoor
gardening experiment
By Barbara Bingham
Picture This:
Locally grown organic produce supplying our grocery stores year-round — tomatoes, greens, herbs, cucumbers, strawberries. Produce, picked at the peak of ripeness and height of nutritious quality, transported a few blocks to market, not thousands of miles. Minimal to no packaging (think of the savings in plastic). Refrigerated vans and harmful chemicals applied to retard spoilage? Nope, don’t need those either.
In fact, we don’t really even need sunlight, rain and soil.
Indoor farms, also called “controlled environmental agriculture,” using hydroponics, vertical growing and other techniques are being established in urban areas around the country, and the world, turning the utopian scenario described above into practical reality. This growing industry (no pun intended) tripled between 2015 and 2017, and is beginning to attract millions of investment dollars from venture capitalists.
Would it work in Sitka? We have limited space. “80 Acres,” a pioneer indoor farming company, is so named for the 80 acres worth of vegetables they first began growing in 12,000 sf of container vans (a little more than a quarter of an acre). By comparison, the retail space at Sea Mart is 36,000 sf. We could grow 240 acres worth of produce in an area that size! We have abundant hydropower and water – “80 Acres” uses only 3% of the water needed for traditional farming. Systems that mimic ideal natural conditions require significant financial investment and technical expertise, but the growth of global indoor farming is spurring innovation and creating meaningful, well-paying jobs. As for Sitka, all we need is a motivated entrepreneur, a handful of container vans, and some seed money to bring farm fresh organic food to our tables, year-round.
For more information, check out: www.eafarms.com; or if you’d like to give it a try yourself on a smaller scale, www.farmshelf.com can set you up for about $7,000, and simpler yet, www.homehydrosystems.com.
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Barbara Bingham, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Sitka
Paint and Snack
At Seafood Festival
Sitka Seafood Festival will host a family-friendly paint and snack 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at 304 Baranof Street.
Admission is $20, and $10 for each additional child. Participants will receive canvas, paint, brushes, painting instruction, finger foods/snacks, smoked salmon and drinks.
The ‘‘Alaskan Salmon’’ theme is joining celebrations around the world for International Year of the Salmon.
The painting event will be lead by a local artist and naturalists to mix art and science education. Space is limited; children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. For information or to RSVP, call 747-3400 or email asft.outreach@gmail.com.
Seafood Festival
Banquet July 25
The Alaska Longline Fisherman’s Association and the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust will sponsor a seafood banquet to celebrate the Sitka Seafood Festival 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 25, at Centennial Hall.
Food will be served buffet-style from local restaurants. Tickets are $45 per person. A cash bar, dancing and live music are planned.
For information or to purchase tickets contact 747-3400 or asft.outreach@gmail.com. Tickets also will be available for purchase at Old Harbor Books starting on July 10.
Tlingit Language
Classes on Tap
Community Tlingit language lessons are being held this month, sponsored by Sitka Tribe of Alaska and the Outer Coast.
X’unei Lance Twitchell, associate professor of Alaska Native languages at UAS, will instruct.
A beginning Tlingit lesson will be offered noon-2 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.
Intermediate Tlingit lessons will be taught noon-2 p.m. Sunday, July 14, at Centennial Hall Silver Room.
Advanced Tlingit lessons will be noon-2 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Centennial Hll.
Participants will receive an introduction to various concepts in the Tlingit language, ranging from basic words and phrases to more advanced grammatical functions. No prior experience with Tlingit language is needed for any of the three classes.
Elder Services,
Housing Discussed
The Sitka Health Summit’s action group that’s working on improving services and housing option for elders will meet 1:30-3 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at the Swan Lake Senior Center. All are welcome.
Sacred Harp
Sing July 14
The second Sunday Sacred Harp Sing will be 3:30-5 p.m. July 14 at the Pioneers Home Chapel, or on the porch if sunny.
All are invited to learn to sing four-part a cappella harmony in an American tradition dating back hundreds of years, organizers said. Beginners and listeners are welcome. Singing will be from the red Denson book, and loaner books are available.
For information, call Sara, 747-2915.
Free Volleyball
Camp July 23-24
A free volleyball camp with Lauren Schad, professional European volleyball player and Nike N7 ambassador, is planned July 23-24 at the Blatchley Middle School.
Grades 6-8 will meet 10 a.m.-noon, followed by grades 9-12 from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
To register or more information email Zallen@alaskandreamcruises.com.
Annual Property
Taxes are Due
The city’s finance department reminds taxpayers real and personal property tax bills have been mailed and are due Aug. 30.
Those taxes not paid – or postmarked – by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, will become delinquent, with progressive penalty and interest applied, the city said.
Payments may be made online by creating an account at xpressbillpay.com. Cash, check and credit card payments are being accepted at the customer service desk at 100 Lincoln Street between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Additionally, credit card payments may be made via phone by calling 747-1818. Payments sent via mail can be sent to 100 Lincoln Street.
Super Saturday
Event at Fire Hall
The annual Super Saturday fundraiser for the Sitka Fire Department will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at the fire hall.
Chili, hot dogs and beverages will be for sale. Grace Larsen’s famous fry bread will be available. A silent auction, the bouncy castle, dunk tank and fire house also are planned.
Tables are available for a donation to sell garage sale treasure, independent ventures, crafts and other items. To sign up for a table, call 747-6875 or 747-1860 to leave a message.
T’ai Chi Chih
Set for Saturday
T’ai Chi Chih Practice will be 10 a.m. Saturday, July 6, behind Sitka Public Library.
Volunteer Positions
On City Boards
Volunteer positions are available on the following municipal boards and commissions: Animal Hearing Board, Building Department Appeals Board, Historic Preservation Commission (at-large seat), Library Commission, Local Emergency Planning Commission, Planning Commission, Police and Fire Commission, and Tree and Landscape Committee.
Individuals may submit a letter of interest and board application to the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 100 Lincoln Street. Applications are available online at www.cityofsitka.com or at the clerk’s office. For further information, call Melissa at 747-1826.
‘Affordability’ Topic
Of City Workshop
The city Health Needs and Human Services Commission will host an open Affordability Solutions Workshop 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at Centennial Hall.
The purpose of the gathering is to generate and evaluate ideas, strategies and proposals to help year-round residents by reducing the cost of necessities while maintaining or improving services, public health outcomes, and quality of life.
For information call Melissa Henshaw at 747-1826.
Faculty Art Share
Planned Sunday
Sitka Fine Arts Camp’s faculty will present an evening Art Share of music, writing and dance 7 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at the Sitka Performing Arts Center.
The event is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.
STA Swim
Canceled
Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Strengthening Families through Healthy Activities open swim at the Mt. Edgecumbe High School pool on Saturdays and Sundays open has been suspended due to the budget veto and pool closure.
Volunteer Work
Party at Boathouse
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society will hold a volunteer work party at the Japonski Boathouse 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, July 6.
Volunteers will meet at the boathouse for a short training on historic preservation before beginning the hands-on work, repairing one of the boathouse’s original walls.
All are invited to join in.
