Several years ago, a grant from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) helped establish farms in Kodiak’s rural villages of Port Lions, Ouzinkie, Old Harbor and Larsen Bay. The farms now bloom with fruits and vegetables every summer. They provide a critical source of fresh food for communities where things like apples and lettuce typically arrive on expensive shipments, if they come at all.
But Kodiak’s growing season is short, meaning many people in the archipelago still struggle for fresh produce in the colder parts of the year. This isn’t only a problem in the villages, but in the city of Kodiak as well.
A new grant from ANA will go some way toward solving this problem by constructing hydroponic growing containers where things like lettuce, spinach, kale and mustard greens can sprout all year long. Tribal elders and household members will get priority for the food. The grant will also pay for part-time workers at each site who will tend to the cabinets. Training is happening now, with the workers learning everything they need to know about water chemistry, plant nutrients and light to make plants prosper indoors.