Learn the basics of starting and running a home-based foods business as Sarah Lewis teaches students How to Start a Cottage Foods Business from 4:30-6 p.m. on Monday, June 24, via Zoom.
This class is to help vendors prepare for the upcoming Sitka Farmers Markets hosted by the Sitka Local Foods Network.
Sarah Lewis — the home, health and family development agent for the Juneau office of the UAF Cooperative Extension Service — will teach this class by videoconference from Juneau. Students will learn about state laws regarding home food businesses, and get ideas for businesses you might take to the Sitka Farmers Market or local trade shows. The first part will be spent discussing food safety rules and regulations, and the second part of the class will be for questions and answers.
The Sitka Local Foods Network is offering students of this class half off their Sitka Farmers Market vendor fee for the first market of the season where they host a table. Representatives from the Sitka Local Foods Network/Sitka Farmers Market and (hopefully) the Sitka food safety office of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation are planning to attend so they can answer any questions potential cottage foods business owners may have.
For more information and to get the Zoom link, contact Charles Bingham at sitkalocalfoodsnetwork@gmail.com or 907-623-7660.
Join the UAF Cooperative Extension Service for an introduction to pruning techniques workshop with Casey Tennis from 10-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, at a Sitka location TBA.
Students will receive a solid base in the science and practice of selective pruning. This will include a demonstration on anything we have access to: deciduous trees, evergreen shrubs and possibly deciduous shrubs. Location TBA and will be sent to participants in advance.
The cost for this workshop is $10. Register at https://bit.ly/SitkaPruning. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made seven business days in advance to Jasmine Shaw, jdshaw2@alaska.edu, 907-747-9440.
A workshop in Sitka will teach participants how to make a classic French dish — with a Southeast Alaska flair.
Chef Jayme Schroeder said ratatouille is his favorite dish, and this version will include fresh ribbon kelp and abalone. The class is a collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service.
Schroeder came to Sitka in 2011 and fell in love with the region’s biology and ecology. When he’s not working as an anesthesiologist, he is diving in the waters around Sitka. The workshop also will include a presentation of underwater photos showing the kelp and abalone in their natural habitat.
The workshop will be 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, at the Sitka Lutheran Church kitchen, downstairs at 224 Lincoln St. Please use the back entrance to the church located on Harbor Drive, as the front door will be locked. The entrance is located down a one-way alley, and parking is limited. Please use on-street parking and don’t park behind the church.
The cost is $35 and includes all materials. Register online at https://bit.ly/SitkaRatatouille. Registration is limited to 12 participants and closes at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 4.
Youths younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Contact Jasmine Shaw at jdshaw2@alaska.edu or 907-747-9440 for more information.
Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five days in advance to Shaw.
The Southeast Alaska Master Gardener Course 2024 is open for registration. Classes will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. on most Mondays, February 26 to May 13, and two Saturday workshops, from 9 a.m. to noon on April 20 and May 11.
All community members from throughout SE and Coastal AK are encouraged to join! From Metlakatla all the way up to Kodiak, gardeners will find that the information, expertise and techniques taught will apply to our shared “mild” wet conditions unique to our very Northern NW Pacific Coast.
*All classes will be Zoomed for participants outside of Juneau’s face-to-face classes. Out of Juneau workshops are dependent on local capacity — see registration page for more info*
For this course, UAF Extension and local experts will provide about 40 hours of in-depth training to experienced gardeners and, in return, participants complete 40 hours of service through a range of educational and community projects. When complete, a rebate for $150 of the $300 tuition will be credited back to you.
All projects and service efforts will be supported. No worries about what you can or can’t do — we have a great Southeast Master Gardener community who wants to help you successfully garden and share your love of gardening with others.
Contact darren.snyder@alaska.edu with any questions. More information also can be found on the registration portal at bit.ly/SoutheastMG
The class takes place from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12, in the kitchen at Sitka Lutheran Church (downstairs, use entrance from alley off Harbor Drive, please use street parking and not the back church parking lot). The class cost is $35, which includes supplies. This class is at the former location of the Sitka Kitch.
Students can register and pay at https://bit.ly/SitkaKimchi. For more information, contact Jasmine Shaw at 907-747-9440 or jdshaw2@alaska.edu.
Sarah Lewis of the University of Alaska FairbanksCooperative Extension Service will teach a series of online Preserving Alaska’s Bounty classes about home food preservation. The classes will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday afternoons, Jan. 7, Jan. 14, Jan. 21, Jan. 28, and Feb. 4 using Zoom. For more information, or to register, please visit bit.ly/PAB2024.
This course is designed to lead students through a series of food preservation methods, building on food safety knowledge and the development of skills for use in the home. Each module will start with a live lesson, instructing students on the topic and outlining the assignments to be completed for the module.
After completion of all modules, students will have both the knowledge and the experience to confidently continue preserving food in their homes. There is an optional exam available for participants who wish to become Food Preservation Educators within their home community.
There are important, but simple, food safety considerations when preserving food at home. In Alaska we preserve a variety of wild harvested meats, vegetables, fruits, and berries to ensure food security and nutrition through the non-harvest seasons. Alaskans also preserve their garden harvests for the winter months.
The preservation methods you will learn about (and practice in your own kitchen throughout this course) include: pickling and fermenting vegetables; boiling water-bath canning of fruits, berries, and pickles; pressure canning of meat, fish, and vegetables; dehydration of fruits and vegetables; making jerky; smoking fish. Other topics will include emergency preparedness, how to start a Cottage Foods business, and information about wild harvested plants. At the end of this course, students will feel confident that they have gained the skills necessary to safely preserve foods for the benefit of their household.
Those students who wish to receive a certificate of course completion and become a Food Preservation Educator within their home community may do so by attending all sessions, completing all assignments, and passing a final exam. Students who wish to become Food Preservation Educators must complete all assignments and pass a final exam to receive a certificate of completion.
Participants must be 16 or older (unless joining a household adult). The registration deadline is Sunday, Dec. 31. A course fee of $150 per household or Zoom connection includes one class textbook, which will be mailed to students. A 50-percent reduction is available if requested. The Preserving Alaska’s Bounty series will be taught by Sarah Lewis, an agent with the University of Alaska FairbanksCooperative Extension Service‘s Juneau District Office. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made 10 business days in advance of the Jan. 7 start, to sarah.lewis@alaska.edu.
The class takes place from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, in the kitchen at Sitka Lutheran Church (downstairs, use entrance from alley off Harbor Drive, please use street parking and not the back church parking lot). The class cost is $30. This class is at the former location of the Sitka Kitch.
Students can register and pay at https://bit.ly/CajunRedBeans. For more information, contact Jasmine Shaw at 907-747-9440 or jdshaw2@alaska.edu.
Thank you, Sitka, for taking, sharing, and supporting the Sitka Food Security Survey! Our survey ran from September to the end of October, and we gathered more than 400 responses. This survey is part of a larger effort to better understand food security in Sitka and capture the ways in which we can make it easier for all Sitkans to have access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant food. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support and for each person who took time out of their day to complete the survey.
This work is a result of a partnership between the Sitka Local Foods Network and Transition Sitka, both local nonprofits with a vested interest in food security in Sitka. We are grateful to the dedicated members of those organizations who donated their time to help spread the word about the survey, especially Charles Bingham, Leah Mason, Barbara Bingham, and Toby Campbell. This work would not be possible without the dedicated support and guidance of our steering committee which include community partners at the Sitka Tribe of Alaska Social Services Department, The Sitka Public Library, Sitkans Against Family Violence, Blessings in a Backpack, Sitka Conservation Society, and UAF Cooperative Extension Services.
A special thanks to the organizations and events in town that shared and hosted the survey including the Sitka Sound Science Center, the Sitka Public Library, Indigenous People’s Day, Coffee with Elders, Southeast Alaska Independent Living, UAS Sitka Campus, AC Lakeside, Sitka Homeless Coalition, Sitka Sentinel, and Raven Radio.
Gunalchéesh, thank you for your support in this work! We plan to share results from the survey in early spring. If you would like to be added to our listserv to receive updates, including summary survey results, please email sitkafoodassessment@gmail.com.
In gratitude and service, The Sitka Community Food Assessment Team
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service will host its “Sitka Salmonganza” on Sunday through Tuesday, July 30 to Aug. 1, at various locations in Sitka.
Classes about how to use and preserve will be taught by Sarah Lewis, a Juneau-based Cooperative Extension agent. Preregistration is requested so we have enough ingredients and supplies for everyone. Register at https://bit.ly/salmonganza
Sunday, July 30, 1-7 p.m. Salmon Social: Sitkaʼs summer parties require salmon and salmonberries. In this hands-on workshop you will learn to safely pressure can salmon and waterbath can berry syrup. Youʼll also learn ways to use canned salmon for party dishes and make salmonberry soda. All experience levels welcome, all ingredients and supplies included. Sitka Lutheran Church kitchen (224 Lincoln St., enter from back of church but use street parking), Fee: $35 per person. Free for Southeast tribe members and youth under 16 (attending with an adult).
Monday, July 31, Noon-1 p.m. Salmon Nutrition: Discover the healing benefits and uses of salmon, seeds, and oils. The discussion will include a variety of topics including inflammation, omega fatty acids, and cooking oils. We will be using videoconferencing technology to tie-in instructor Audra Henderson but meet as a group in person. Sitka’s Harrigan Centennial Hall. Free.
Monday, July 31, 5-7 p.m. Family Meals with Canned Salmon: In this hands-on workshop you will learn to cook creative family dishes with delicious and healthy canned salmon. All ages and experience levels welcome, all ingredients and supplies included. Blatchley Middle School Home Ec Room. Fee: $20 per person. Free for Southeast tribe members and youth under 16 (attending with an adult).
Tuesday, Aug. 1, Noon-1 p.m. Smoking and Canning Salmon Basics: In this class you will learn basic techniques for smoking fish at home and how to safely pressure can it for delicious meals all year. Sitka Public Library. Free.
Tuesday, Aug. 1, 5-7 p.m. Saucy Pickled Salmon: In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to pickle fish and make a few sauces. Impress your friends and family this summer with fancy fish dishes, no need to tell them how easy it was! Blatchley Middle School Home Ec Room. Fee: $20 per person. Free for Southeast tribe members and youth under 16 (attending with an adult).
For more information, contact Sarah Lewis at sarah.lewis@alaska.edu or call 907-455-2010.
Sitka Local Foods Network 
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