Interior 4-H Counters Pandemic Isolation
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Alaska went into lockdown, kids were shut up in
their houses and away from their friends. Read more
Citizen Science at Matanuska Experiment Farm
The closure of the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center due to the pandemic
made continuation of its citizen science programming challenging as people could not
gather to share their passion for science. Read more
Socially Distanced Community Potato Harvest
The Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center hosts an annual potato harvest
for community members. The potato harvest is an opportunity for the farm to provide
food for familes, while showing them where their food comes from. Read more
Botanical garden partners with Nanook Grown
The Georgeson Botanical Garden collaborated with the UAF Office of Sustainability
to accommodate twice the number of students who usually participate in the Nanook
Grown Student Gardener Training Program. The program teaches students through experiential
learning how to grow their own food. Read more
Vegetable Variety Trials
Alaska’s climate is changing and growing seasons have lengthened in many areas of
Alaska. It may be possible to grow different vegetable varieties than have grown here
previously. Plant breeders also develop new varieties and update older varieties.
Continued trials in different locations are important to determine what will grow
best where, so the information can be shared with gardeners and farmers, strengthening
Alaska's food security. Read more
Grain Varieties and Cultivation Methods
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Alaskans faced food security issues stemming from
the state's dependence on out-of-state food suppliers. Shipments from Outside were
limited and in-state suppliers could not meet public demand for agronomic crops. Read more
Delivering Food Donations and Nutrition Information in a Pandemic
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that one in seven Alaskans struggles
with hunger and good security issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment rates
increased, putting greater strain on food resources throughout the state, including
the MatSu area. Read more
Matanuska Experiment Farm Outreach Work
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension
Center closed its doors to the public but its education and outreach activities continue
by distance delivery. Read more
Matanuska Experiment Farm Variety Trials
The Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center participates in vegetable variety
trials to help determine which varieties flourish in the Mat-Su area. Read more
Working Through the Pandemic
As a result of the pandemic, many 4-H families in Bethel have experienced limited
access to child care, food resources and youth activities. Working with the Food Bank
of Alaska, the Bethel 4-H Program continued its At-Risk Snack program, which provides
nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children. Read more
Radon Testing and Mitigation Assistance
Every year approximately 20,000 Americans die from lung cancer as a result of breathing
in radioactive radon gas at their homes, schools and workplaces. Extension has provided
educational outreach on radon for more than 30 years. Read more
Master Gardener Class Comes To Sitka
The agriculture and horticulture Extension agent based in Sitka retired in 2013 and
the office was reorganized as an outreach center without an agent. Research-based
gardening education in the community was piecemeal and infrequent, despite high interest
in the topic. Read more
Getting Creative During the Pandemic
The Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center closed its doors to the public
in March due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Extension specializes in hands-on public
outreach, so this created a significant barrier. Read more
MAPTS Mine Training for Rural Residents
Alaska's rural regions are mineral-rich and home to several production mines that
employ thousands of people in well-paying jobs. Too often, the people living in or
near these mines have not benefited from their stable and long-term employment. Read more