Subarctic School Maslin
Kindergarteners, 1st graders, and community volunteers broadcast a mixed field of storage seed crops in interior Alaska.
Description
Students broadcast a mixed field (buckwheat, sunflower, oats, quinoa, dill, pea, forget-me-not, clover, flax, marigold, nasturtium, and daikon). This mix has been selected because it approaches shelf-stable complete nutrition that may grow in interior Alaska. The field is not maintained over the summer (no watering or weeding) and harvested and processed by students after they return to school. I hope the crops will become increasingly adapted to this low-input system, our local (extreme) climate, and one another.
2024 Project Narrative: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1btbFm7Y0d4yIIbC0rZhLDSBCdNPJXjGBKDa…
2024 Project Data: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O_LqXQSSusJw_tsNFrWrOrVTlSCzu84…
Researcher background
I am an early elementary public school teacher in Fairbanks, Alaska. For over a decade, I have taught students how to identify and harvest wild foods (mostly berries) as well as planting and harvesting potatoes in our school garden.
In 2021, I was inspired by a family history of growing wheat to experiment in my home garden. Simultaneously, a non-profit planted cover crops in our school garden (rather than running their usual summer programs). That fall, I saved a portion of the oat seed and my students hand harvested the rest which we processed and incorporated into birch water challah (I saved a small portion of that seed).
In 2024, the non-profit ceased maintaining the school garden. I took this opportunity to expanded my home experiments into a school garden project.
My classes meet monthly with Elders from Fairbanks Native Association Community Services (FNA) to share meals and hands-on activities. Each fall we go berry picking together and FNA staff helped students harvest and sort crops in 2024. Almost all of the seed produced has been retained for replanting, a portion has been given to the John Trigg Ester Library, and some has been eaten by students and Elders.
In 2021, I was inspired by a family history of growing wheat to experiment in my home garden. Simultaneously, a non-profit planted cover crops in our school garden (rather than running their usual summer programs). That fall, I saved a portion of the oat seed and my students hand harvested the rest which we processed and incorporated into birch water challah (I saved a small portion of that seed).
In 2024, the non-profit ceased maintaining the school garden. I took this opportunity to expanded my home experiments into a school garden project.
My classes meet monthly with Elders from Fairbanks Native Association Community Services (FNA) to share meals and hands-on activities. Each fall we go berry picking together and FNA staff helped students harvest and sort crops in 2024. Almost all of the seed produced has been retained for replanting, a portion has been given to the John Trigg Ester Library, and some has been eaten by students and Elders.
Are you seeking volunteer growers or other types of volunteers?
No, do not require volunteers.
Is this a multi-year project?
Yes
Can volunteers expect to be able to keep some germplasm (seeds, bulbs, cuttings, spores, etc) at the close of the project?
Yes, of course
Anything else?
I would love to continue adding genetic diversity to the project. The climate and growing conditions create significant filters. I would love to exchange seed!
Researcher Location
99709
United States
