Farmers, farmer wannabes and the scientists who support them will convene at the Chilkat Center this weekend for the second Southeast Alaska Farmer’s Summit.

The biennial event was launched in Petersburg in 2015 and is aimed at people interested in aspects of commercial agriculture.

The summit will run Friday evening through Sunday. Registration is full, but drop-ins can attend presentations held in the Chilkat Center auditorium, said local organizer Meredith Pochardt of the Takshanuk Watershed Council. A fee will be charged for drop-ins.

Thirty Haines residents are registered and about 50 people will come from out-of-town, including 10 presenters, Pochardt said.

Presenters from the private sector, government and universities will join Four Winds Farm owner Sally Boisvert of Haines, who will present “Building and Using Cold Storage on Small Vegetable Farm.”

The Southeast Islands School District will present on biomass-heated aquaponic greenhouses. Other presentations address soil management, seeds, raising pigs with food waste, business planning and small farm finances.

In all, there are more than 15 presentations, three discussion groups and a free movie, “Symphony of Soil.” The film will be shown 7 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium and is open to the public.

To see a full schedule, go to alaskawatershed.org and link to “conference information.”

Besides the local watershed council, sponsors include Southeast Alaska Sustainable Partnership, Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition, USDA, Spruce Root Community Develpment, Alaska Brewing Company and Alaska Glacier Seafoods.

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