October is National Farm to School month. Along with thousands of students across the country who are learning from school gardens, last week, children in the Alaska Native village of Tyonek helped harvest potatoes and carrots. For these students of Tebughna School ("Tebughna" means "Beach People"), this potato harvest was especially meaningful.
The garden, which at 1.5 acres might be more accurately called a farm, is a community project in Tyonek. The village is off the road system, about a 25-minute flight from Anchorage and an inspiring though unlikely champion for local food.
About 200 people live in Tyonek, and there is no grocery store, so food is either flown in by small Bush airplanes or hunted, caught, grown and foraged locally.
Because processed and nonperishable foods are cheaper and easier to fly in, fresh produce is not easily accessible to residents. And when a bag of salad mix or head of broccoli does make its way over, it is often wilted or past its prime.
The village decided it wanted a community garden in 2010. To make this possible, the Tyonek Native Corporation leased the land for the garden to the tribe, and the Tyonek Tribal Conservation District (TTCD) was asked to manage it. Formed in 2005, TTCD was the first tribal conservation district in Alaska and the 31st in the nation, created through a mutual agreement between the village, the Native corporation and the USDA.
The garden is intended to enhance food security and provide organic vegetables for the Dena'ina Athabascan village. Three seasons in, the garden now has two high tunnels, solar-powered irrigation and ventilation systems, 15 raised beds, 1,000 feet of potatoes, 45 rhubarb plants, rows of raspberries and plans for expansion in the coming years.
This year, the garden produced 1,400 pounds of produce, which included tomatoes, peas, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, lettuce, radishes, onions, scallions and herbs. At a harvest celebration in August, residents even munched on fresh Tyonek corn on the cob.
Students have been engaged in every step of the farming process. That includes planting and caring for the seeds in the school, transplanting them into the garden in spring, weeding, harvesting and helping distribute to community elders. This summer, four local high schoolers were employed to help TTCD manage the garden.
"By using the garden as a workforce training program we are able to build capacity in the village," said TTCD Executive Director Christy Cincotta.
Vegetables harvested from the garden are always shared first with elders and then distributed to the village at a weekly farmers market. Tyonek and Anchorage elders received a total of 140 pounds of the first and last harvest, with additional weekly contributions made to the elders lunch program totaling 170 pounds.
Over 700 pounds of potatoes were harvested by the students of the Tebughna School and about 200 pounds will be available for purchase Friday, Oct. 10, in Midtown Anchorage.
"The Tyonek Tribal Conservation District would like to welcome all potato lovers to stock up for the winter on our delicious organic potatoes grown in the village of Tyonek," said Nicole Swenson, conservation project manager. All proceeds will support next year's garden program.
Tonya Kaloa, a program assistant and TNC shareholder, said the garden is creating a positive behavioral change for the people in Tyonek.
"We grew pumpkins this year, but people didn't know how to use a fresh pumpkin except carving it for Halloween. So we are learning cooking skills as well," she said.
Tyonek garden potato sale
When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10
Where: Parking lot of Kaloa buildings, 1689 C St., Anchorage
Available produce: Potatoes (Yukon Gold, NorDonna (reds) and Purple Viking)
Price: $2 per pound (cash or check only)
Shannon Kuhn lives in Anchorage, where she writes about food and culture.