In my experience, there are no secrets when it comes to growing food in Alaska. Whether growing at home or growing to make a living, the transparency, support, and cheerleading among agriculturalists in this state is outstanding and truly unique. While we are a new project, the contributors of Henderson Community Farm have decades of experience they are eager to share.

To pay that forward, here are some of our favorite tools and resources that are easy on the wallet and body:

Broadfork:

If you haven’t seen one before, a broadfork is like a double-wide hard-tined fork. It has two handles and requires much less stooping. We use broadforks to break up compacted soil, aerate it, and to harvest root crops like potatoes and carrots. Our forks were handmade in Fairbanks, but Treadlite has been recommended as extremely durable with cheap shipping.

Stirrup hoe:

Another back saver! The stirrup hoe is long-handled with a hinged scraper (looks like a stirrup) on the bottom, used for shallow weeding. They are typically four to six-inches wide and used to scrape the surface of the soil in between rows without bending over. Try this on a sunny day and watch those weeds wilt!

Flame weeder:

Available at the hardware store, the flame weeder attaches to a small propane tank to torch weeds, weed seeds, and even slugs. This can bring out the wild pyro in all of us, so please use responsibly and contact the Haines Volunteer Fire Department for a burn permit and best practices.

Soil blocker:

We start most of our plants indoors and transplant once the outdoor soil temperature warms. Instead of planting in those flimsy plastic cups, we use soil blockers. By filling the press tightly with soil, they create firm cubes, perfect for planting. Soil blocks prevent seedlings from becoming root bound, reduce transplant stress, and take up less space. Soil blockers come in many sizes and have stand-up models.

Biochar:

Those black, porous chunks of unburned firewood in your stove may be the cheapest gift to give your garden or compost. Charcoal has an extraordinary amount of surface area, creating a sort of high-density apartment building for beneficial microorganisms. The “bio” part comes from “charging” the charcoal with a living substance like compost, kombucha or kimchi juice. Once crushed up to rice-sized pieces, charged biochar can be directly added to your garden bed. Kelpie Wilson is the true expert and can convert any skeptic.

Korean Natural Farming:

Korean Natural Farming leans heavily on fermentation and cultivating “indigenous microorganisms” to give your soil exactly what it needs. Dr. Cho’s Global Natural Farming is a great recipe book for homemade soil amendments and is available free online. Many of his ingredients are endemic to tropical climates, but innovators have been successful subbing in wild locals such as nettles, comfrey and seaweed. 

Ditches and swales:

A lot of water moves through the Henderson field. In some zones, we embrace the wet by planting things that can handle soggy feet. In others, we dug ditches to divert water and swales to hold it. A swale is a wide, shallow depression that holds water and also slows its descent when situated on a hill. If located above crops, this can create an auto-irrigating system, keeping downhill soil moister while water in the swale seeps out.

Community:

Do you really want to save your back? Share the load. More than any tool in our shed, community support is our greatest resource. Our small team couldn’t manage these thousands of plants without volunteers. Team up with friends at your home garden and see how much easier (and more fun!) the work can be. Plant a little extra and surprise your garden-less neighbor – that feels pretty good too. Try a Victory Garden or Henderson Community Farm work party. Get a plot at the community garden at the fairgrounds. Sharing the bounty makes everyone wealthy.