By BRENDA JOSEPHSON
Sen. Shelley Hughes is hosting a food security workshop on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon at Palmer Jr. Middle School.
In response to the Food Strategy Task Force’s call to improve local food security, the workshop will promote agricultural and food independence at both the household and community levels. Anyone interested in growing, raising, harvesting, or preserving food is encouraged to attend at no cost.
The event will include networking opportunities, local experts, the Mat-Su Farm Bureau, and students from the Future Farmers of America. Presentations and table discussions include a wide range of topics including livestock rearing, gardening, hunting, fishing, food processing, food preservation, beekeeping, hobby to commercial farming, and more.
Sen. Hughes invites everyone to attend.
“This is an exciting event and opportunity for Alaskans of all stripes. Whether you’ve always wanted your own fresh eggs, thought raising goats might suit your fancy, are hungry for more knowledge about best gardening practices, or are ready to maximize productivity despite your small space, this event will be the perfect venue for you to network with friendly and helpful neighbors-in-the-know,” she said.
Senator Hughes is chairwoman of the Food Strategy Task Force, directed in statute to develop and implement strategies to foster local food security
Hughes said she hopes other communities in Alaska will replicate this low-budget event, bringing residents together with local experts to spark interest and action in boosting greater food independence in their region of the state.
How much will this cost? And what dirty little Assembly member benefits?
Which assembly are you referring to? Anchorage?
It’s hosted in the Valley. Nothing to do with Anchorage.
Maybe if the idiots in Juneau didn’t steal the PFD from everyone, food security would be smaller issue.
Whether you have money or not does not determine if you are food secure.
As most of our food is shipped into the state, if something happens to the Port of Anchorage, or is the Port of Alaska I cant remember, then the entire state is food insecure.
Look at the stores when there are major storms between here and Seattle, or when a ship goes down for maintenance, produce is sorely lacking or totally out of stock as are many other items.
Interesting.
A great topic- I will be attending!
(Robert R. and David E. will be wondering why the government isn’t giving them free food – if something happens to the food supply chains)
In a SHTF kind of world, Alaska would be in a bad position, considering 99+% of the food in the stores is imported by barge or truck. Alaska would be standing alone and food is a big thing. We have a short growing season and farmland is being encroached by suburban sprawl. Most “new comers” think they can run to the store for groceries. All stores work on JITS” (Just In Time Shipping). Most stores would run out of food in a couple days if it were not for transportation infrastructure. Take away that transportation, Anchorage will be eating each other in less than 30 days.
The Alaskan Food Insecurity situation is becoming even more precarious than most realize. The vast majority is shipped in. The days of relying on our protein resources are all but gone. The salmon returns in many parts of the state are less than dismal. Moose numbers are not a fraction of what they were 2 decades ago. Gone are the days when you could drive pt mackenzie roads and count 50-100 head. I drove them yesterday. I saw zero. The caribou herds are collapsing. There is a coordinated effort to remove harvestable populations of fish and game. Predator worship, both two and four legged has been a factor in getting us to this point. The Board of Game and Fisheries are active working against Alaskan Food Security. Trawling rapes our waters to put a fish sandwhich in a paper bag in Seattle and beyond.
An Alaska legislator. Actually doing something practical and useful. Whoah, what got into her?