Author: Heidi Rader

Good vs. Bad Bugs in the Alaskan Garden

Heidi Rader

A Lesson Plan for Gardening in the Classroom in Alaska, By Shawna Sastamoinen, an Alaskan Master Gardener Subject Area: Science  Grade Level: 3rd  Ideal Season: Fall or Late Spring  Time to complete lesson: About 3 to 4 hours. Additional time will be needed to complete the Curricular Connections/Extension Activities.  Suggested Materials: Specific materials from the Cooperative Extension website are suggested for use in each section where they apply. See bibliography for more pictures and ideas.  Goal and Outcomes: After completing this lesson, students should be able to identify good and Read More …

How Tall Is your Sunflower?

Heidi Rader

A Lesson Plan for Gardening in the Classroom in Alaska, by Sabrina Silvernale, an Alaska Master Gardener Photo by Heidi Rader. Subject Area: Math Grade Level: K-3 Ideal Season for Lesson: Spring through Early Autumn Time Needed: 20-30 min per activity   Materials Needed: Sunflower seeds, 3 per student. Look for tall varieties, different colors Garden space: Each student’s 1-3 seeds should be planted 12-18 inches from the next students’ 1-3 seeds) Tools to prepare soil, shovel or trowel Strong bamboo canes, one per student, labeled with his or her Read More …

Growing Broccoli and Cauliflower in a Greenhouse in Tok, Alaska to Extend the Season

Heidi Rader

By Mary Hinckley We experimented with broccoli and cauliflower this year, the purpose of the experiment was to find out where they grew best. The seeds were started very early, and ready to be transplanted before the ground was outside, so most of the plants went into the greenhouse first.  We kept some indoors until the ground was warm enough to transplant. Last year both broccoli and cauliflower grew quite well in our greenhouse, but this year we insulated it and thought that could make a difference. Both species seemed Read More …

Seed Starting With Kids in Alaska

Heidi Rader

by Sue Ryan, an Alaska Master Gardener As a mother of four, I am always looking for ways to include my kids in my love for gardening. This spring, I was able to pique their interest by having them help me start seeds for our summer beds. Not only do kids love to learn about how things grow, they are also more likely to eat and try new veggies that they have grown themselves. Devious, I know! In the past, my starts have been miserable attempts with few of the Read More …

Got Gravity? 10 Steps to set-up a low-tech drip-irrigation system using gravity and rain.

Heidi Rader

by Heidi Rader, Tribes Extension Educator  Photos by Donavan Kienenberger If you lack indoor and outdoor plumbing like many of us in Alaska, then a rain collection system is essential for gardeners. A full tank or a slight slope is usually sufficient to provide enough pressure for a basic drip-irrigation system. Drip-irrigation is a great way to conserve water as well as water only the plants that you want to grow., i.e. not weeds. If you have a small garden, soaker hoses are a simple ways to water your garden Read More …

Building a Greenhouse in Tok, Alaska

Heidi Rader

by Mary Hinckley, An Alaska Master Gardener in Tok, Alaska Last summer my husband, Snooks, built  me a greenhouse. He had the green thumb but he said the greenhouse was for me. It was beautiful and I was touched, but I was no gardener. I’d spent a lot of time dodging gardening responsibilities for fear of killing something beautiful. I was willing to learn, however, and at a friend’s suggestion I enrolled in the Alaska Master Gardener Online course.  The class fit perfectly into my schedule and gave me the Read More …

Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth? Or: Invasives- They Give Me the Creeps! By Sue Ryan

Heidi Rader

We have all heard the addage, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.’  but should this apply to accepting gifted plants for our garden? I suggest that we graciously, yet carefully accept gifts of plants. We need to do careful research on all “gifts’ before ever putting them in the ground.             When I first began gardening back in Juneau, my neighbor across the street had the most beautiful delphiniums, columbines, peonies and other flowering beauties. I envied what appeared her apparent ease to grow these specimens. Come spring, Read More …

Taking the Master Gardener Course

Heidi Rader

By Charmaine Smith & Kristi Acuff, Master Gardeners-to-be! We really “just happened” upon the Master Gardener course.  Yet, when we took it, we found it so full of helpful information that we wanted to spread the word. Charmaine:   Kristi was retiring, and I, Mom Charmaine, was looking for a retirement gift for her.   Someone had suggested the Master Gardening class as a good gift.   So, guess what, we bought her a gift certificate to Bell’s Nursery instead! But in the process of deciding on what to get Read More …

Alaska Sustainable Agriculture Conference 2011: March 22-24, 2011

Heidi Rader

Sign up Now for the Alaska Sustainable Agriculture Conference 2011 March 22-24, 2011, Princess Lodge, Fairbanks, AlaskaGo to: https://aksare.wikispaces.com/ to register! Photo by Heidi Rader. Topics covered will be Raising Goats for milk and cheese, Root Cellars, CSA’s, funding opportunities, and composting.For more information about the conference or to make comments, contact Michele Hebert (mahebert@alaska.edu) or Taylor Maida ( temaida@alaska.edu).