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INVESTIGATOR: Willsrud, S.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
CALYPSO FARM AND ECOLOGY CENTER
4780 OLD NENANA HIGHWAY
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA 99709

GROWING SELF-RELIANT FARMERS IN ALASKAN VILLAGES AND BEYOND

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The Growing Self-Reliant Farmers in Alaskan Villages and Beyond project builds on the success of immersive, farm-based farmer training programs held at Calypso Farm and Ecology Center (Calypso) in Fairbanks, Alaska since 2013. This current project focuses on supporting the existing farmer training programs at Calypso Farm and expanding the farmer training opportunities to include a new program centered on Alaska Native farmers from rural communities. The program for Alaska Native farmers will be designed, taught and led by Alaska Native farmers. The over-arching goal of the project is to meet the educational needs of a diverse population of first generation aspiring farmers interested in small-scale diversified farming operations by offering a variety of structured training programs that teach a broad array of hands-on educational topics covering: in depth farming practices, extensive farm business planning and practical skills such as construction, chain saw use, food preservation, and much more. Extensive input from beginning farmers has and will continue to shape the program curriculum, design and teaching methods. Partners working with Calypso on this collaborative project include: Igiugig Tribal Village, Tyonek Tribal Conservation District, Kawerak, Inc., On the Land Media Collective and the Folk School Fairbanks.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of the Growing Self-Reliant Farmers in Alaskan Villages and Beyond project is twofold: 1) to continue offering successful, hands-on Farmer Training Programs focused on small-scale, diversified farming, from which participants emerge with the practical skills and confidence to start their own successful farms and 2) to expand the training opportunities to include an Indigenous led program called Growing Alaskan Farmers: An agricultural training program for Alaska Native people and their communities, providing hands-on education in small scale, diversified farming methods with an emphasis on providing participants with the information and experience for them to become agricultural leaders in their own communities and teach others.

APPROACH: Continue to offer farm-based, hands-on, immersive farmer training programs for a diverse audience of aspiring and beginning farmers. Existing trainings include a five-month program, several one and two week programs with specific focus areas such as farm business planning and field production as well as many stand-alone workshop topics.Develop and implement a hands-on training program led by and for Alaskan Native farmers who are interested in growing food in their own communities and sharing their knowledge.Develop and implement a multi-media based program evaluation process.