Sitka Food

Despite the challenges of a short growing season, Sitkans have opportunities to eat well, locally!

SUCCESS STORY: The Sitka Local Foods Network has been active in promoting the health and taste benefits of fresh, locally grown food, which hasn’t been picked weeks before peak ripeness in order for it to be shipped up here. With many local food production projects already well-established Sitka has expertise, knowledge, and resources for becoming self-sufficient and healthier between now and 2030. Read on to see more about the challenge and the amazing resources we can use to meet it.

Our challenge…

Did you know that 95 percent (or more) of our food is shipped to Alaska?  “Food security, or insecurity, is a big issue in Alaska and in Sitka,” Sitka Local Foods Network board president Charles Bingham said. “We have special challenges in Alaska, with our remoteness and climate, and we see that every time the grocery store shelves are empty… Sitka has a bit of an advantage over some of the other communities, because in 2014 the Sitka Community Food Assessment Indicators Report, provided baseline data about food security in Sitka. But most of the data is a decade old. While the challenge is large, our local knowledge, interest, and person power is awesome!

2023

ASSESS:
Update the Sitka Community Food Assessment

2025

ACTION:
Sitka Food Security Action Plan is being implemented.

2030

DEADLINE!
Sitkans produce 85% of what they consume!

2040

FUTURE VISION:
Sitka is part of a SE AK food production network!
Promising directions…

Community gardens, kitchen gardens, hydroponics, aquaponics, goats, chickens, ducks! What can we produce for ourselves to reduce our food miles? What could we trade with other communities in Southeast?

NEW! Sitka Community Gardens Project
Transition Sitka and Sitka Local Food Network are working together to create up to 50 raised beds (allotments). See the community gardens proposal and frequently asked questions document for more details, or phone Joel Hanson at 907-747-9834 to get involved with this important food security project.

Farmers markets, food coops, seafood share programs are all examples that are being worked on in Sitka. What else could help us keep our local economy and local businesses thrive?

The land and waters surrounding us have generously provided for local people over thousands of years. What can we learn about managing for greater abundance and ecosystem health? It’s time to ask, accept some guidance, and show our gratitude for the blessings of Tlingit Aani.

How can we break the ‘food chain’ and turn it into a cycle that reduces waste and produces more food? Can we purchase and produce food in ways that creates great soil and fertilizers? And reduces our shipments to a Washington landfill? Yes, we can!

NEW! Sitka Community Food Assessment 2023
Transition Sitka and Sitka Local Foods Network are supporting an update of the Sitka Community Food Assessment Indicators Report (2014) which is a community wide food assessment to better understand the economic challenges facing Sitkans and the special role that wild local foods play in the health and well-being of Sitka families.

Growing more of our own food can start small! Great information about growing fruit and vegetables, and managing livestock is everywhere and we have been pulling together some of the most useful Alaska-based resources to help people get started.

NEW! Check out our starter guides and resource sheets at https://transitionsitka.org/gardening-guides/

Resources

Sitka Local Food Network – The Sitka Local Foods Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit group whose mission is to increase the amount of locally produced and harvested food in the diets of Southeast Alaskans. Find out more about this group at https://sitkalocalfoodsnetwork.org/about/ and how you can get involved as a volunteer at https://sitkalocalfoodsnetwork.org/%E2%80%A2-volunteer/

Sitka Food Coop – Community members purchasing together to get the benefit of bulk pricing. Organic produce, and meats. Dry goods, and fair trade delights like coffee and chocolate! See more at http://sitkafoodcoop.com

Community Greenhouse – The Sitka School District’s Pacific High School is one of two schools in Alaska to receive a Farm To School (F2S) grant from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. The grant is for $50,000 and will be used to improve Pacific High School’s edible garden. Pacific High School is currently raising funds to improve the drainage on their site.

St. Peter’s Fellowship Farm – St. Peter’s By The Sea Episcopal Church supports a cooperative communal garden located behind the St. Peter’s By The Sea Episcopal Church at 601 Lincoln St. (the brown church above Crescent Harbor). Most of the food being sold at the farmers markets or used by non-profit groups. St. Peter’s Fellowship Farm is recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s The People’s Garden program. 

Kayaanyí Commission – The mission of the Kayaaní Commission is to preserve the Tlingit people’s spiritual way of life by preserving and protecting traditional ways and ancestral knowledge. For more information see https://www.sitkatribe.org/pages/kayaani

UAF Cooperative Extension Office @ UAS Sitka Campus – UAF’s Extension is part of the largest informal education system in the world, and offers hundreds of publications, containing practical information of interest to Alaska residents. Major program areas include: agriculture and horticulture; health, home and family development; natural resources and community development; 4-H and youth development. See more at https://www.uaf.edu/ces/districts/sitka/

Sitka Farmers Market – The Sitka Farmers Market takes place during summer and has supported local distribution of food grown or harvested in and around Sitka for 14 years.