Climate Connection: Food Security
The next big initiative of Transition Sitka, after the Electrification Expo on March 18, is to restore community gardens to Sitka. Why are we interested in local food production as we plan for a world with less fossil fuel?
One of the miracles of the last century was the increase in food production related to nitrogen fertilizers, a product of fossil fuels. The war in Ukraine affected international grain availability, both because Ukraine was a breadbasket for grain production and also a major source of nitrogen fertilizers. The instability of prices of fossil fuels affects the cost of food production, its preservation, and its worldwide distribution. If the barges bringing food to Sitka stopped coming, what would we eat?
Many trends threaten the stability of our international food resources: The productivity of agricultural land decreases with salination from irrigation and exhaustion of the soil from industrial agriculture, even with heavy fertilizer use. Our current systems, e.g., overfishing of our oceans, destroy the resources they depend on. Climate change is affecting food production through heat, drought, flooding, severe weather, ocean acidification, and fresh water scarcity. Demand for food is increasing with population growth and emulation of rich countries’ propensity to eat meat over vegetable protein. Food sovereignty and resilience in many peasant communities are eroded by vertically-integrated capital’s priority of industrial agriculture and profits. And, as mentioned above, our food system is dependent on fossil fuels for fertilizer, production with machinery, storage, and transport.
Prices for barged-in food have increased in Sitka from both inflation and some of these trends. Compared to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa, we do not anticipate mass hunger in Sitka. But we live in an uncertain world with concerns about food stamps, civil disturbance, bank instability, recession, and war. We are far from having a local resilient circular economy that can feed us if external inputs were to fail. For this reason alone, we think it worthwhile to begin to cultivate as much of our own food as we can. Community gardens are a start to enable persons living in apartments to grow their own fresh food, share seeds, soil amendments, and community. We join ongoing efforts, such as the Sitka Local Foods Network, Farmers Market, the Raven Radio garden shows, the seeds at the Sitka Public Library, and the training of master gardeners by the Agricultural Extension Service. We hope that the Sustainability Commission will recommend community composting as a means of decreasing our solid waste utility costs, while producing a local product to support productive gardens.
We have drafted plans for 50 plots in half-acre community gardens on municipal land on Osprey Street and Jarvis Street. If you have an interest, contact Joel Hansen to help make them a reality at captainjoel@alaskan.com.
-- Kay Kreiss, Transition Sitka
Sitka Public Library Celebration Saturday
Sitka Public Library will hold its 100th-year celebration 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Centennial Hall and at the library.
Food carts will be on the grounds of Centennial Hall and Sitka Public Library throughout the event. On sale will be hot dogs from Jessie’s Uptown Dogs; fry bread, Rachel Moreno; and Japanese-inspired food by Enoki Eatery.
At the library from 1 to 3 will be a family photo booth, rock art, community art show, Sitka Tribe of Alaska table with free children’s materials and activities, community art project, and library swag. A short program at 1 p.m. will be followed by a costume contest at 1:30.
At Centennial Hall, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. will be live music and cupcakes.
Life Celebration
For Nikki Nevers
A celebration of life of former Sitkan Nikki Michelle (Ryman) Nevers is planned 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at Sheet‘ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.
A potluck will be held in Nikki’s honor at the Halibut Point Recreation Area main shelter 5 p.m. Sunday, April 2.
All are welcome to join both events. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and beverages will be provided at the potluck. Those attending are invited to take a side dish to share.
ALFA Fishermen’s
Expo April 4-5
The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association Spring Fishermen’s Expo is set April 4-5.
Free, interactive virtual sessions will be on: young fishermen’s classes presented by Alaska Boats and Permits; Alaska Sea Grant’s FishBiz website and tools; break-even analysis from Spruce Root; insurance options for fishermen from Sea Mountain Insurance; skipper training for ALFA’s Crewmember Training Program; and other topics.
A raffle will be held for participants. Visit alfafish.org for information and to register. Call 907-738-1286.
Mariner’s First Aid,
CPR Class in Sitka
Alaska Marine Safety Education Association will offer a Mariner’s First Aid and CPR/AED class 8 a.m.-3 p.m. April 20 at NSRAA, 1308 Sawmill Creek Road.
Attendees will receive the U.S. Coast Guard-accepted two-year first aid and CPR certification from the American Safety & Health Institute.
The class will cover CPR and automatic external defibrillators; treatment of choking; medical emergencies; trauma; environmental hazards; patient assessment; medical communications; drowning and hypothermia; and common fishing injuries.
The cost for the class is $125, including sales tax. Mariners may register online at www.amsea.org or call (907) 747-3287.
‘Let’s Talk’ Series
Continues Sunday
This week’s topic for the Unitarian discussion series “Let’s Talk” will be “Could We End Wealth?”
All can attend at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall. Gathering begins at 10:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 10:45 a.m. The hall is located at 408 Marine Street, with parking behind, off Spruce Street.
Honoring Women
Celebration Set
For April 22
Sitkans Against Family Violence invites the public to its Honoring Women Celebration 7 p.m. April 22 at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Jennifer McNichol, Kari Lundgren, and Sandy Poulson will be acknowledged for their long-standing services to the community. Additionally, SAFV will honor their beloved colleagues Deanna Moore and Sharon McIndoo Dawe, who passed away in the last weeks of 2022.
The event includes appetizers by Chef Edith Johnson, a no-host bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, dessert, a ceremony with slide shows of the honorees, a cash raffle for $1,000 with a drawing during the event, and dancing afterwards. Tickets cost $35 each and are available online at safv.org, or at Old Harbor Books on April 8th. Raffle tickets are $10 each and will be sold on the weekends at grocery stores.
For more information, call 907-747-3483 or email info@safv.org.
Easter Bread,
Chowder on Sale
St. Michael’s Sisterhood will hold an Easter bread, chowder and fried bread sale noon-4 p.m. Saturday, April 8, in the ANB Founders Hall.
The Sisterhood also will have craft and used goods tables available, at a cost of $15 for the day. For table reservations, contact Marie Young at 907-738-4166 or Cheryl Duncan at 907-738-1676.
Historical Walking
Tour Set April 8
Friends of the Sitka Public Library will hold a historical library walking tour 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8.
Walkers will meet at the library and be guided from the location of an early reading room to other places that once accommodated Sitka’s center of books and knowledge in its 100-year history.
The tour leads through downtown commercial and residential neighborhoods, past places of fire and eviction, and will end at City Hall. It is 1.5 miles long and will take about an hour. The tour is free of charge, and participants will receive a booklet of the tour.
For information, contact Martina Kurzer at 907-738-0161.
Orders Taken
For Pansies
Mt. Edgecumbe Preschool is taking orders for its annual pansy sale.
Pansies will cost $65 for a full flat of 18 plants; $35 for a half flat of nine plants; and $5 each. Those who want their plants delivered will be charged $10 extra.
Each purchase enters the buyers into a drawing to win a large hanging basket from Garden Ventures. Anyone is welcome to purchase spring plants to donate to organizations around town. The orders will be delivered by the preschool.
Orders are being taken online at www.mtedgecumbepreschool.org/shop or call 907 966-2675.
Pansies will arrive Thursday, May 11, and can be picked up at 129 Seward Street 1-6 p.m. May 11, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 12; and 9a .m.-1 p.m. May 13.
Seasonal Sales
Tax Rate Changes
The seasonal sales tax rate will increase to 6% on April 1 through Sept. 30.
Bed tax for rentals fewer than 30 days remains at 6% year-round.
Those with questions can contact the tax office at 907-747-1840 or tax@cityofsitka.org.
Critical Secondary
Water Treatment
Ribbon Cutting Set
The ribbon cutting celebration and tours of the Critical Secondary Water Treatment Plant are set 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 10, at 4658 Sawmill Creek Road.
The plant location is in the Gary Paxton Industrial Park. Refreshments will be served, and tours will be held from noon to 1 p.m.
