May 2015 newsletter

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Sitka Local Foods Network
http://www.sitkalocalfoodsnetwork.org/
https://www.facebook.com/SitkaLocalFoodsNetwork
408 Marine Street, Suite D
Sitka, Alaska 99835
sitkalocalfoodsnetwork@gmail.com
Board of directors — Lisa Sadleir-Hart, president; Matthew Jackson, vice president; Maybelle Filler, treasurer; Alli Gabbert, secretary; Charles Bingham, communications director; Michelle Putz; Jennifer Carter; Brandie Cheatham; one vacancy

In 1800s, Sitka was Alaska's garden center

Even though Sitka doesn’t have much in the way of commercial agriculture and gardening these days, at one point in the 19th Century and early 20th Century Sitka was Alaska’s original garden city.

Read our story to learn more about Sitka's rich tradition of growing food that dates back to the Tlingít and Russian eras. Sitka also was the site of the first USDA Experimental Farm in Alaska, where acres of food was grown from 1898-1931.

Education classes on tap

Sitka Local Foods Network garden classes continue with two free workshops on planting potatoes on May 3 and May 6. Don't forget, you also can attend our garden mentor classes for our first-year and second-year students. These classes also are free and open to the public. Watch our website for more information about these and other upcoming classes. IN addition, if you're an experienced gardener who would like to teach an informal class, then call Jennifer Carter (747-0520) or Michelle Putz (727-2708) to get on our schedule.

Sitka Farmers Market hires manager and assistant

The Sitka Local Foods Network hired Debe Brincefield as the Sitka Farmers Market manager for 2015. Debe was one of our co-managers last year, so she brings some experience to the job. We are in the process of hiring an assistant manager, and that should be done by early May.

This year you can help celebrate Independence Day by attending the first Sitka Farmers Market from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Founders Hall (235 Katlian St.). Then there will be markets every other Saturday until Sept. 12. Our dates this year are July 4 and 18, Aug. 1, 15 and 29, and Sept. 12. All six markets are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the ANB Founders Hall. Don't forget we accept WIC and SNAP farmers market benefits, for those people in those supplemental nutrition programs, and ask how you can double your dollar.

If you are interested in being a vendor, we have updated forms, policies, and other information available here. We are planning a meeting for prospective and past vendors to go over market policies, food safety rules, etc. That meeting is tentatively set for 5:45-7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, but we're waiting for a confirmation on the location. Please watch our website for more details.

Plant a Row for the Hungry in your garden
As you plant your garden this spring, please Plant a Row for the Hungry. This is an international program about growing food for those less fortunate that has its roots in Alaska. Read our story.

Copyright © 2015 Sitka Local Foods Network, All rights reserved.

You are receiving this email because you joined our listserv or gave us your email at one of our events. We thank you for your support of local foods in Sitka and Southeast Alaska. We do not share our email lists with other groups.

Our mailing address is:
Sitka Local Foods Network
408 Marine Street, Suite D
Sitka, Alaska 99835

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