On this episode, I sit down with Callen Christensen, Callen has been involved with the AFFECT program as its coordinator since last summer.
AFFECT stands for Alternative Fairbanks Farming Educational Cooperative Training.
AFFECT provides an avenue for individuals interested in farming to gain the experience and knowledge needed to successfully start a farm business in Fairbanks. Being tuition-free, the AFFECT program is accessible to any and all individuals who are interested in farming, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, etc. Students visit a multitude of local farms and receive hands on training from our local farmers. Additionally, students receive classroom training on business skills, and grow their own crops at various satellite farms. Students receive a Farm Pre-Apprentice Certification by the Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District upon successful completion of the program
What started as a grant to teach hydroponics, evolved into a three year curriculum to teach farming to interested and upcoming farmers who want to start their own farm, or work on a farm. Tuition free, this program selects students, age range 18+, to enroll in a 15 week program that blends classroom as well as hands on experience on farms. The focus is on unique challenges and opportunities in Alaska climate and geography.
Students learn planning soil health, crop selection, seeding, transplanting, harvesting, marketing, even hydroponics. Field days will be scheduled with local farmers who will teach hands-on skills in various tools, fieldwork, greenhouse production, harvesting, and storing.
In a state that grows only 5% of the food needed, 95% is shipped in, this program is an effort to increase the number of farmers, and meet the increasing demand for fresh and locally grown food.
It’s a collaboration of experts that contributes to the program successes. Learning from some of the most successful farmers, both in classrooms and outside on the farm, this program collaborates with the University of Alaska, Co-operative extension staff, experimental farms and utilizes the tracts of donated land made available to students to grow their own food.
This is exactly the type of program and engagement that we need to address the food security issues in interior Alaska. More and more people are wanting to farm, grow fresh food, not only for themselves but to bring to markets for sale. It’s not wanting to “garden”, but to have farming as a business. An enterprise that allows them to do what they want to do AND make a living. AFFECT can help a new generation of farmers start their own farms. This is a wonderful conversation, take a listen.
You can listen to this podcast right here, but also on APPLE Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts. Please share with your colleagues and friends who have an interest in fresh, local food and supporting agriculture in Interior Alaska.
To learn more about AFFECT, go to https://www.affectfarm.com