Sitka Local Foods Network monthly newsletter for April 2018

SLFN announces 2018 spring gardening classes

The Sitka Local Foods Network is recruiting volunteer gardening instructors who want to share their knowledge with other Sitka residents this spring. Our classes usually are free (or may have a small supply fee) and are offered from March through May (with the occasional class in the fall). We have hosted classes on a variety of topics, such as Sitka Gardening 101, How to Raise Chickens, How to Grow Potatoes, How to Extend Your Garden Season, and more. If you are interested in teaching a class or two this spring, please contact Charles Bingham at 623-7660 or charleswbingham3@gmail.com. We're hoping to announce classes in mid-March. For more information, click this link. Also, the Sitka Kitch has launched a Seasonal Cooking class series, with a variety of cooking classes from January through May. For more information, click this link.

March is last month for Pick.Click.Give.

Today (March 31) is the deadline for Alaska residents to file for their Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends. Don't forget when you file for your PFD you can donate to more than 600 participating nonprofit organizations in the state, including 23 in Sitka, where Alaskans can give back to their communities. After a year's absence due to a clerical snafu, the Sitka Local Foods Network is back in the program. The PFD application deadline is March 31, and you can file by going to pfd.alaska.gov and filling out the online application. If you forget to donate through Pick.Click.Give., you can go back into your application and add or change your donations through Aug. 31 (so long as you filed your PFD application by the March 31 deadline). To learn more about the participating nonprofits and to use the new Pick Tool, which allows you to look for nonprofits by location, cause type or focus area, go to www.pickclickgive.org. To learn more about how your donation can help the Sitka Local Foods Network, click this link. We appreciate your support

Sitka food business innovation contest due

Do you have a great idea for a new product or service using food in Sitka? The Sitka Local Foods Network is launching the Sitka Food Innovation Contest to encourage entrepreneurs to come up with new ideas on how to get more local food into Sitka's food system. We will have two $1,500 prizes — one for established businesses and one for start-up businesses (two years old or younger). The contest is open to food businesses and individuals making and selling food products in Sitka, Alaska. All food business ideas must be geared toward getting more locally grown, harvested and/or produced food into the Sitka marketplace through sales in grocery stores, the Sitka Food Co-Op, the Sitka Farmers Market, restaurants, or individual marketing (such as a community supported agriculture/CSA or community supported fisheries/CSF program). Our judging panel will score your presentation and entry form based on how your idea has a measurable impact on providing local food in Sitka (25%), has the potential for commercialization (25%), provides new employment in Sitka (25%) and fills a need in the Sitka marketplace (25%). There is a $25 entry fee and entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2018, at Sitka Local Foods Network, Sitka Food Business Innovation Contest, 408-D Marine Street, Sitka, Alaska 99835, or by email at sitkalocalfoodsnetwork@gmail.com (put Sitka Food Business Innovation Contest in the subject line). For more details and the entry form, go to http://www.sitkalocalfoodsnetwork.org/contest.

SLFN 2018 sponsorship program continues

The Sitka Local Foods Network launched a sponsorship program in 2016, and we are now accepting sponsorships for 2018 from businesses and individuals concerned about food security in Sitka and Southeast Alaska. We have four levels — Grower ($2,500 or more), Harvester ($1,000-$2,499), Planter ($250-$999), and Friend ($50-$249). Businesses and individuals who sponsor the Sitka Local Foods Network support the Sitka Farmers Market, St. Peter's Fellowship Farm communal garden (where we grow most of the produce sold at the market), our gardening education programs, and our matching program for those using WIC and SNAP produce benefits at the market. In 2018 we also hope to launch a local food business innovation contest to inspire Sitka entrepreneurs. We also want to thank our 2017 sponsors, who all renewed for 2018 — the Alaska Comprehensive Cancer Partnership (Grower level), SEARHC (Harvester level), Sitka True Value (Planter level), and White's Inc./Harry Race Pharmacy (Planter). So far, we've had one new business — ALPS Federal Credit Union (Planter level) and three individuals sponsor us for 2018 — Charles Bingham (Harvester level), Beth Short-Rhoads (Friend level), and Jeff Budd (Friend level). To learn more about our sponsorship program, click this link. Also, thanks to the Sitka White Elephant Shop, aka the White E, which gave us a grant of $1,000 to use to match produce purchases of up to $20 by SNAP/WIC beneficiaries at the Sitka Farmers Market.

Like what we do? Please join our board of directors

Are you enjoying the fresh local veggies at the Sitka Farmers Market this summer? Did you take one of our garden education classes this spring? Do you have an interest in getting more access to locally grown, harvested and produced food, and an interest in food security? If so, then please consider joining our board of directors. We need new board members to keep offering these programs, and we'd love to have you join us. For more details, please click this link. This page has links to our board job descriptions and applications. Also, our next board meeting is from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11, at the Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) office at 504 Lake Street, Suite C. Feel free to check us out. Our meetings are open to the public.