Agriculture and Horticulture Agent Heidi Rader

I've worked for local farms and greenhouses in the Fairbanks area since I was 14. Although interior Alaska has some unique challenges for agriculture, it also provides some important benefits such as our long summer days. I love trying new varieties and experimenting with crops that aren't traditionally grown in our area. Working on different farms around town has given me the opportunity to grow a lot of different things. We've grown things like corn, roses, watermelons, coffee, strawberries, and apple trees using a variety of techniques including plastic and heat! For my master's thesis in Natural Resources at UAF I did experiments with high tunnels which are basically low cost and low maintenance greenhouses for field crops. They are great for keeping moose out and protecting vegetables from frost as well as increasing overall yields.

Whatever your interests in gardening are, let me know how I can help you. I'll keep you posted on future projects and goals and I look forward to hearing from you. Heidi Rader can be contacted, toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3477 or email: heidi.rader@tananachiefs.org.

Workshops

Call or email Heidi to schedule a workshop. Please also send a written invitation to "Heidi c/o TCC Agriculture" from your Tribal Council. If you have other ideas, let me know. I can put a workshop together on lots of different topics!

• Food Preservation
• Let's Jam!
• Soil Fertility and Composting
• Plan a Community Garden
• Youth Programs
• Seed Starting and Plant Propagation
• Vegetable and Flower Gardening
• Edible Landscaping
• Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP)