Southeast Alaska’s coastal fishing communities, natural resource economies, and subsistence way of life are all deeply connected to the watersheds that support healthy salmon runs, wild game, and wild edibles. Maintaining these wild food sources requires sustainable management of lands and waters.
Local Food Systems
We envision a localized food system that supports resilient, self-sustaining communities, stewardship of natural resources and ecosystems, and promotes community well-being.
Our work aims to bolster local food systems at the community and regional level in Southeast Alaska by creating more local value from our current food supply chain.
Strategies include increasing locally cultivated and/or wild harvested foods to displace imported foods that rely on a vulnerable system. We support efforts to reduce food waste and for nutrient and waste recovery systems to create local soil and soil amendments. Our programs promote local and traditional food system knowledge and engagement through educational programming and activities that foster stewardship of local ecosystems that support edible natural resources.
Current Projects
Mushroom Cultivation Feasibility Study:
The Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition (SAWC) and the Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP) are interested in supporting more resilient community food systems in Southeast Alaska. Supported by a USDA Specialty Crop grant, we are conducting a feasibility study to help inform current and potential commercial growers with identifying promising markets for locally-grown mushrooms and other considerations for establishing a successful mushroom cultivation business.
Results of the study will be published and posted online as a free resource on the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition, Salt and Soil Marketplace, and partner websites that include the Sustainable Southeast Partnership, the Alaska Food Policy Council, and the Sitka Local Foods Network.
The final report and a one-page infographic handout summarizing key points will be shared with stakeholders and distributed via email, social media, and print to those who participated in the study, along with current producers in Southeast Alaska. The report and summary will also be shared at relevant local food and producer gatherings, such as the 2021 Southeast Alaska Farmers Summit, and the next Alaska Food Policy Council conference.
Starting in 2022, Salt And Soil Marketplace will be housed at Ecotrust, a non-profit that focuses on creating an equitable, prosperous, climate-smart future.
Southeast Alaska’s online farmers market – Salt & Soil connects Southeast Alaska food consumers with growers, fishermen, foragers, and gardeners through a community marketplace that merges the best of online and real-time shopping.
The Marketplace helps support local economies, keeps food dollars within our region and provides high quality local foods to our neighbors, helping Southeast Alaska be more sustainable, resilient, and prosperous. Learn more
SOUTHEAST ALASKA FARMERS SUMMIT
A bi-annual event bringing together the region’s food producers to share, learn, and connect; builiding a strong network aimed at increasing Southeast Alaska’s production of local foods and agricultural business capacity.
Each year Moby will travel to a different Southeast Alaskan community where it will live for a whole growing season, starting March or April through September or October. The greenhouse will be delivered equipped with soil, a teacher guide, and an activity manual for grades K-12. The recipient will be responsible for providing seeds to plant and will be chosen based on their commitment and readiness. Moby is a project of the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition and the Sustainable Southeast Partnership.
Recent Posts
[catlist id=163 numberposts=5 date=yes excerpt=yes]Program Staff
Jennifer Nu – Community Food Sustainability Program Director; Food Security Catalyst with the Sustainable Southeast Partnership
(907) 205-4028 | jnu@ecotrust.org
Meghan Stangeland – Salt and Soil Marketplace Manager
(907) 723-9211 | mstangeland@ecotrust.org