Food security is a concern for all Alaskans. Approximately 95 percent of food purchased in Alaska is imported, accounting for around $2 billion in sales sent out of state each year, according to the Alaska Food Policy Council. Because of its remote location, extended winter climate, and short growing season, the logistics of getting food to Alaska comes with a high price tag.
"We're in rural Alaska. Everything that comes into our community that we go and buy in our grocery store is trucked in or shipped in," said Margaret Johnson, a peony and berry grower in Homer.
"Food security is huge, just being able to have the quality of food that you want, and then also the affordability factor," said Ryan Lee, Homer resident and backyard gardener.
Alaskans like Margaret and Ryan, and many others, are stepping up to the challenge and growing their own food through small-scale agriculture. The number of farms in Alaska continues to grow. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Alaska showed a 54% increase in the total number of farms from 2012 to 2022, and Alaska now ranks second in the nation for the percentage of female farmers and new/beginning farmers.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has become a trusted resource for small-scale agricultural producers and backyard gardeners in Alaska. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help growers address natural resource concerns on their property while also supporting local food production.
Seasonal high tunnels
Jared Baker, Homer resident, and backyard gardener, worked with NRCS to install a seasonal high tunnel on his property. High tunnels are polyethylene, plastic, or fabric-covered hoop structures that create a controlled growing environment for growing plants.
Jared said his high tunnel has extended his growing season, improved crop quality, and allowed him to grow a wider variety of crops that otherwise could not be grown outdoors in Alaska.
"Winters are long and so it's difficult to wait until Memorial Day to start planting outside," Jared said. "I wanted to grow the season by a few months, so building the high tunnel was one way that I could do that."
A seasonal high tunnel installed with assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Homer, Alaska
"High tunnels allow our producers to manage the climate within their tunnel," said Emily MacDonald, NRCS soil conservationist in Homer. "It can be anything from increasing the water to help the plant ripen at the correct time, to managing mold and pest issues by reducing the humidity around the plants. It also increases the heat during the daylight hours."
NRCS has worked with a multitude of growers in and around the Homer community to install seasonal high tunnels using the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
"NRCS is like the framework, literally and figuratively, that allows me to be successful growing a wider variety of crops than I ever could," said Carey Restino, owner and operator of Homer Hilltop Farm. "And being able to respond to a wide range of environmental conditions in a place as extreme as Alaska is really essential."
Emily MacDonald, soil conservationist with NRCS, and Carey Restino, owner and operator of Homer Hilltop Farm discuss plant starts inside a seasonal high tunnel
"NRCS gets you to a point where you have the helping hand of the cost of infrastructure and building systems that work with natural elements as opposed to against them, and that's pretty profound," Carey said.
Micro-irrigation systems
Because high tunnels prevent direct rainfall from reaching plants, growers can use precise tools like drip irrigation to efficiently deliver water and nutrients to plants. NRCS helps growers design and install micro-irrigation systems, also using the EQIP program, to improve water-use efficiency which saves water, labor, and energy.
Carey Restino grows salad greens in a seasonal high tunnel
"Before this, I just had a hose going from my house down here [to the high tunnel], and then watering every row, or I would put the sprinkler out and try to remember to move it after a half hour," Ryan said. "Having the system and being able to spot water and knowing exactly how much water I'm putting in the ground, that's huge. It's huge time savings and money savings."
Low tunnels
In addition to high tunnels and irrigation systems, another popular conservation practice offered through the EQIP program is low tunnels. Low tunnels provide some of the same benefits as a high tunnel, but they are smaller, easier to install, and less expensive. Low tunnels are less than 4 feet tall and consist of a series of hoops draped with plastic or cloth. They can help protect crops from frost, manage moisture, and control pests.
"I have seen in these low tunnels the salad is just amazing under here," Carey said. "It's warm and wet, like a little rainforest, and the crops grow twice as fast. I'm a big fan of the low tunnels."
Local grower Ryan Lee and his daughter Amelia, with Emily MacDonald of the Natural Resources Conservation Service inside a seasonal high tunnel
These are just a few conservation practices that can help small-scale growers and backyard gardeners. NRCS offers many other practices that can address the unique needs of each operation to conserve and protect natural resources. For more information, contact your local USDA Service Center.