Within minutes of the cover going on, Amanda and Robert claimed that the temperature was already warmer inside.
Alaska Bounty Blog by Izetta Chambers is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Inside High Tunnel #1
Within minutes of the cover going on, Amanda and Robert claimed that the temperature was already warmer inside.
Progress
Robert diligently working on getting High Tunnel #1 up on the Alaska Bounty farm in Naknek, Alaska. We will be producing fresh, locally-produced organic produce for the 2010 season. Photo courtesy of Amanda Wlaysewski, May 20, 2010.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Photos of our lovely soil
From top to bottom: (1) Here is our basic production of fish-enhanced biochar;(2)
Last year's soil, produced with locally available wild Alaskan salmon.
(3) A 6x20 foot garden bed, getting ready to add soil.
(4) Our garden bed, with the potato patch next to it.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
So grateful
I'm so grateful that I have the following people on my team for this project: Jake Custer, Orin Williams, Robert Allan, Amanda Wlaysewski, Everett Thompson, my parents Betz and Fred Bonin, and of course, my husband Chet Chambers.
Although this project only entails the installation of two high tunnels on a 1.2 acre parcel, it is more significant than just a simple construction project. This project is really the first large-scale commercial organic farm in Naknek, Alaska, perhaps in the entire Bristol Bay region. We are attempting to actually grow food for consumption and for sale, not just as a hobby or to supplement our own subsistence food supplies.
High Tunnel #1 is being constructed, and High Tunnel #2 arrives into Anchorage on Monday, May 17th. Although a slightly more expensive option, we are air freighting out the second high tunnel so that we can maximize our growing season this year. Otherwise, we would have had to await the arrival of the next barge, sometime in a few more weeks.
In a strange way, I am also a little grateful to my critics, who will go unnamed in this blog. They know who they are. I love a challenge, and having people against you from the beginning only adds a new layer of depth to this project, a human element that far surpasses any weather, environmental, seasonal, timing or other natural barriers.
Although this project only entails the installation of two high tunnels on a 1.2 acre parcel, it is more significant than just a simple construction project. This project is really the first large-scale commercial organic farm in Naknek, Alaska, perhaps in the entire Bristol Bay region. We are attempting to actually grow food for consumption and for sale, not just as a hobby or to supplement our own subsistence food supplies.
High Tunnel #1 is being constructed, and High Tunnel #2 arrives into Anchorage on Monday, May 17th. Although a slightly more expensive option, we are air freighting out the second high tunnel so that we can maximize our growing season this year. Otherwise, we would have had to await the arrival of the next barge, sometime in a few more weeks.
In a strange way, I am also a little grateful to my critics, who will go unnamed in this blog. They know who they are. I love a challenge, and having people against you from the beginning only adds a new layer of depth to this project, a human element that far surpasses any weather, environmental, seasonal, timing or other natural barriers.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
So much to do - so few days of summer
Gardening in Alaska has many challenges - chief among them is our short growing season. All of the seeds that I've purchased so far have a date of no longer than 85 days to maturity. And, those are the ones that I started indoors in March! The seeds that we are going to be sowing directly take about 55 - 65 days to mature.
Here is the to do list for what still needs to be done:
1. about 4 loads of fill dirt need to be deposited on the property, so that there are no low spots and we can have a good level spot to install the high tunnels;
2. the second high tunnel needs to be shipped from Anchorage and hauled to the farm;
3. the rest of the debris that is visible needs to be removed;
4. we need to scrape our precious peat moss from the location it's at now, and move it over to the side, so that it doesn't get buried with the fill dirt on Monday or Tuesday;
5. that big crate needs to be hauled from the fish plant to the farm, so that it can be made into a raised bed;
6. put some of the existing topsoil and the peat moss in that raised bed and plant it;
7. cover the raised bed with plastic to make sure that the soil is warm enough for the seeds to germinate;
8. plant the rest of the covered flats with our seeds that need to be started indoors;
9. have fun doing all this without me! I will miss working on this project, but will be back at the end of this month.
Here is the to do list for what still needs to be done:
1. about 4 loads of fill dirt need to be deposited on the property, so that there are no low spots and we can have a good level spot to install the high tunnels;
2. the second high tunnel needs to be shipped from Anchorage and hauled to the farm;
3. the rest of the debris that is visible needs to be removed;
4. we need to scrape our precious peat moss from the location it's at now, and move it over to the side, so that it doesn't get buried with the fill dirt on Monday or Tuesday;
5. that big crate needs to be hauled from the fish plant to the farm, so that it can be made into a raised bed;
6. put some of the existing topsoil and the peat moss in that raised bed and plant it;
7. cover the raised bed with plastic to make sure that the soil is warm enough for the seeds to germinate;
8. plant the rest of the covered flats with our seeds that need to be started indoors;
9. have fun doing all this without me! I will miss working on this project, but will be back at the end of this month.
Potato Patch planted, and named
We planted the first potato patch today, and named it Red Fingers - to signify that it is a patch with red potatoes, Finnish fingerlings, and Yukon Gold. I know, the Yukon Gold's don't figure into the name, but the reds and fingers do, hence the name.
My entire body aches from hauling, shoveling, mixing, planting, and working during all of the daylight hours. Tomorrow is the last day of my weekend in Naknek, and then Robert will be left to hold down the fort. I hope that my family will help him out and provide him some support over the next couple of days, until his girlfriend arrives. I feel bad leaving him all by himself, but he will have our vehicle and the little cabin, so at least he'll have housing and transportation. Plus, Big Jake is helping out on the project, so that makes me feel much more comfortable. Jake's the man - I don't know what we would do without him!
My entire body aches from hauling, shoveling, mixing, planting, and working during all of the daylight hours. Tomorrow is the last day of my weekend in Naknek, and then Robert will be left to hold down the fort. I hope that my family will help him out and provide him some support over the next couple of days, until his girlfriend arrives. I feel bad leaving him all by himself, but he will have our vehicle and the little cabin, so at least he'll have housing and transportation. Plus, Big Jake is helping out on the project, so that makes me feel much more comfortable. Jake's the man - I don't know what we would do without him!
Friday, May 7, 2010
The Dirt is Beautiful
I have been running the roto-tiller yesterday and today, over at the land. Our new friend arrived today, Robert. He's a friend of a friend that wants to help us get our high tunnel installed and planted. In return, I'm doing what I can to help him find a fishing job on a boat.
The soil is thawed at least 1 1/2 feet down. We got the high tunnel off the barge yesterday (5/6/2010) and are hoping to get it installed in a couple of days. I'm so grateful to have so many great people helping out on this project. My stepdad, Fred, dropped off the high tunnel boxes yesterday.
Robert and I got the perimeter of the high tunnel location tilled. The frustrating part has been the removal of so much debris, but it is getting a little easier. We put together a garden cart and that has made the hauling of material a lot easier.
We are going to be hitting it all day tomorrow too. Two tons of fun!
The soil is thawed at least 1 1/2 feet down. We got the high tunnel off the barge yesterday (5/6/2010) and are hoping to get it installed in a couple of days. I'm so grateful to have so many great people helping out on this project. My stepdad, Fred, dropped off the high tunnel boxes yesterday.
Robert and I got the perimeter of the high tunnel location tilled. The frustrating part has been the removal of so much debris, but it is getting a little easier. We put together a garden cart and that has made the hauling of material a lot easier.
We are going to be hitting it all day tomorrow too. Two tons of fun!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Spring 2010 Dillingham
Saving the worms. You need to make piles like this, and the worms will continue to burrow to the bottom. After harvesting the top layers, then you keep going, and you are left with worms on the bottom layer. In reality, you need to pick out worms all the while as you are sorting through it. It sounds gross, but it's actually not that bad. We washed our hands really well after this (several times), because worm castings are loaded with bacteria. It is poop, after all.
Spring 2010 Dillingham
Chet harvesting about 25 pounds of worm castings. This came from our worm bin over one winter's worth of kitchen scraps.
Crop Record - indoor starters and fertilizer production
March 15, 2010 - Started onions indoors in recycled milk cartons.
March 30, 2010 - Started 10 cabbages indoors in recycled yogurt cups.
April 3, 2010 - Started broccoli indoors in recycled milk cartons.
April 4, 2010 - Started 42 basil plants in plug cells with coir pellets.
April 4, 2010 - Started 30 cilantro plants in plug cells with coir pellets.
April 4, 2010 - Started Brussels sprouts in recycled milk cartons.
April 20 and 21, 2010 - applied worm tea to basil, cilantro, and Brussels sprouts.
May 1, 2010 - Harvested approximately 25 pounds of worm castings from worm bin. Worm castings will be mixed into soil on Lot 6, Rose's Subdivision (Alaska Bounty Farm).
May 2, 2010 - Started one flat arugula and 3/4 flat mixed greens in Pro-mix.
March 30, 2010 - Started 10 cabbages indoors in recycled yogurt cups.
April 3, 2010 - Started broccoli indoors in recycled milk cartons.
April 4, 2010 - Started 42 basil plants in plug cells with coir pellets.
April 4, 2010 - Started 30 cilantro plants in plug cells with coir pellets.
April 4, 2010 - Started Brussels sprouts in recycled milk cartons.
April 20 and 21, 2010 - applied worm tea to basil, cilantro, and Brussels sprouts.
May 1, 2010 - Harvested approximately 25 pounds of worm castings from worm bin. Worm castings will be mixed into soil on Lot 6, Rose's Subdivision (Alaska Bounty Farm).
May 2, 2010 - Started one flat arugula and 3/4 flat mixed greens in Pro-mix.
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