Alaska Pacific University’s Spring Creek Farm is preparing for an abundant spring of fresh produce and they want you to enjoy it!
In effort to bring the freshest and tastiest produce available to individuals in the Anchorage area Spring Creek Farm Manager Megan Talley wants you to know that it’s time to sign up for the 2016 CSA program.
What is a CSA?
It’s an opportunity to purchase a share of crop yields from a local farmer, so that you will be provided with some of the freshest produce grown in your local region. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which means that by investing in your local sustainable farmers you are also reducing the carbon footprint of your diet, supporting local business, and munching on some of the freshest vegetables around, all of which will be totally free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
What can you expect to find in your CSA?
Farmer and Production Manager at Spring Creek, Joshua Faller said, “Members can choose full shares which provide 18 weekly shares over the course of the season, or half shares which distribute every other week. We focus on growing old standbys like potatoes, cabbage, and carrots, as well as more adventurous and heirloom crops like black cherry tomatoes and romanesque broccoli. Every week we include recipes and preservation ideas for items in the share in order to help members get the most out of the CSA!”
Spring Creek Farm, which is located in the Valley off of the Glen Hwy, is APU’s hidden gem. It’s easy for us Anchorage-ites to forget about the fresh, local and sustainable produce we have access to. But as spring months are steadily approaching Spring Creek Farm workers, along with Megan Talley and Joshua Faller, are preparing for the hardworking months of summer to secure Anchorage residents with healthy, locally produced and environmentally mindful food choices. “We use our CSA as a vehicle to train new farmers in small scale organic production methods,” said Joshua. Even in Alaska’s harsh growing conditions, some of their freshest produce is delivered to APU’s Famers Market and CSA deliveries each week. The farm maintains a vision toward sustainable food production and distribution, by implementing farming practices that protect soil quality, wildlife, groundwater, and also support access to fresh agriculture for low-income families through the “Alaska Tilth” program.
CSA shares are open to the public and are limited to a first-come first-serve basis.
If you have questions, or would like to reserve your share, please contact Spring Creek Farm Manager, Megan Talley at mtalley@alaskapacific.edu or 907-746-2714.
Staff and Faculty members, you can also contact APU’s Office of Accounting directly to pay for your share or have it deducted from your APU paycheck.
