Greenhouse Projects - Summer 2010
Sustainable Girdwood and the UAA School of Engineering are collaborating on some short-term summer-season greenhouse projects to experiment with passive solar energy in a sub-Arctic climate, and to collect data on temperature, sunlight, humidity, and other factors that affect plant growth. On June 5, 2010, volunteers assembled three of the UAA-purchased greenhouses: installed at the community garden at the Girdwood Chapel, and one of kits was installed in front of GRRdwood Pets and Green Goods (see photos below). One of the greenhouse kits was later moved from the community garden to Jack Sprat restaurant.
The greenhouse kits tested (with a late start) during the 2010 growing season will be taken down in the autumn, before for the snow falls. They will be stored during the winter season, and re-assembled in spring 2011.
A variety of trial structures have been assembled throughout the Girdwood area in addition to UAA greenhouse kits.
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Sustainable Girdwood, Year Round Heated & Lighted Greenhouse
For Local Year-Round Organic Food Production and Security in Girdwood, Alaska
Expedited Funding Request - $1,000 (or more) From Girdwood 2020
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Dear Members of Girdwood 2020
Sustainable Girdwood is asking Girdwood 2020 for a $1,000 (or more) grant to help fund a local food production and security project to begin in January 2010. This project is entitled the Girdwood Business & Community Produce Consumption Survey. This is a necessary step preceding intelligent design of a renewable energy powered green house facility to grow food adequate to the community’s needs.
John Byrne, owner of Alyeska Resort, has already pledged $1,000, or ¼ of what we seek as a matching grant, and requests you make a 100% match. Sustainable Girdwood will approach other potential donors for the balance of our funding requirements.
University of Alaska Anchorage has pledged to accept tax-deductible donations on our behalf, and help with administration of our project funds, and even match some amount of what we raise.
Sustainable Girdwood needs a total of $4,000 for this project. We seek to pay $1,000 a month for four months to subsidize a volunteer fieldworker, Mauri Parks, a sustainable MBA graduate student. She will work collaboratively with Sustainable Girdwood to organize and facilitate the community survey. Sustainable Girdwood, UAA, and Bainbridge Graduate Institute will provide project supervision, support, and review.
Project Summary: We believe Girdwood can competitively produce 80% or more of the produce it consumes, and also products for sale and export beyond this valley. A four season greenhouse powered from renewable energy will impact the physical and economic health of the people of Girdwood by providing fresh organic produce year round to residents and restaurants in the Girdwood Valley. It will create local jobs while supplying restaurants & consumers with superior product for preparation of their meals. This is a complementary project to the UAA Renewable Energy Research & Discovery Center, and development of the Glacier Valley’s renewable energy infrastructure. Food production and security are valid concerns for residents of the Turnagain Arm due to the isolation from Anchorage and the food supply infrastructure of the contiguous United States. Support by Girdwood 2020 would signal a commitment to sustainable economic development in Girdwood.
Long Term Greenhouse Related Community Economic Development Objectives:
Our year round food production greenhouse will:
· Increase freshness and quality, and decrease the carbon footprint of the food consumed in Girdwood.
· Create sustainable local jobs for maintenance and operation of the facility.
· Decrease the cost of quality produce to consumers and restaurant owners in Girdwood.
· Attract additional tourist dollars, and create products for export.
· Stimulate local hospitality economy by creating a culture of organic locally sourced fresh ingredients at restaurants and homes capitalizing on walk-able community and healthy lifestyle values of Girdwood residents.
· Provide food security to Girdwood residents in the event of regional, national, or international disasters.
Short term – 6 months-1 year: Girdwood Business & Community Produce Consumption Survey:
· Survey Goal: Establish current & projected produce consumption baseline-data to enable needs-based greenhouse design.
· Restaurant/Grocery Survey: Collect data on local restaurant food consumption patterns, expenses, needs and desires through a mix of qualitative and quantitative data.
· Local Consumer Produce Consumption Survey: Collect data on consumer produce consumption. 5-20 questions/100 residents
· Organize a multidisciplinary industry advisory group for project (e.g. Co-op Extension Master Gardner, Cold Climate Building, UAA Agriculture & Engineering Science, Girdwood Chamber of Commerce, and other Successful Cold Climate Greenhouse Operations.)
· Synthesize Report into Final Recommendations.
The hospitality industry and ancillary products and services are a major source of revenue to the Alaskan economy. This greenhouse project supports the hospitality industry and shortens the food supply chain thereby reducing the carbon footprint of Girdwood. This will create clusters of commerce that support local existing business. Girdwood 2020 can make this crucial contribution to enable viable, sustainable, community economic initiatives with positive short and long-term outcomes.
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Our year round food production greenhouse will:
· Increase freshness and quality, and decrease the carbon footprint of the food consumed in Girdwood.
· Create sustainable local jobs for maintenance and operation of the facility.
· Decrease the cost of quality produce to consumers and restaurant owners in Girdwood.
· Attract additional tourist dollars, and create products for export.
· Stimulate local hospitality economy by creating a culture of organic locally sourced fresh ingredients at restaurants and homes capitalizing on walk-able community and healthy lifestyle values of Girdwood residents.
· Provide food security to Girdwood residents in the event of regional, national, or international disasters.
Short term – 6 months-1 year: Girdwood Business & Community Produce Consumption Survey:
· Survey Goal: Establish current & projected produce consumption baseline-data to enable needs-based greenhouse design.
· Restaurant/Grocery Survey: Collect data on local restaurant food consumption patterns, expenses, needs and desires through a mix of qualitative and quantitative data.
· Local Consumer Produce Consumption Survey: Collect data on consumer produce consumption. 5-20 questions/100 residents
· Organize a multidisciplinary industry advisory group for project (e.g. Co-op Extension Master Gardner, Cold Climate Building, UAA Agriculture & Engineering Science, Girdwood Chamber of Commerce, and other Successful Cold Climate Greenhouse Operations.)
· Synthesize Report into Final Recommendations.
The hospitality industry and ancillary products and services are a major source of revenue to the Alaskan economy. This greenhouse project supports the hospitality industry and shortens the food supply chain thereby reducing the carbon footprint of Girdwood. This will create clusters of commerce that support local existing business. Girdwood 2020 can make this crucial contribution to enable viable, sustainable, community economic initiatives with positive short and long-term outcomes.
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Immediate Future of the Greenhouse Projects
Volunteers will be needed to disassemble the seasonal greenhouses, they will also need to be stored until they will become viable again in the spring.
Would be interesting to begin communications with other departments at UAA to make both the greenhouse and renewable energy study projects more rounded, with a greater variety of expertise and effective time to invest.
Explore involving the local elementary school, kids could learn a great deal while participating in assembling the greenhouses in early spring, and nurturing the seedlings which can be distributed community wide once the school year elapses.
