The wild apple, Malus fusca, is Alaska’s only native wild apple. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Alaska Seeds of Change, in partnership with Alaska Behavioral Health, hosted “Tree Talk: Berry Addition” on August 10, where community members learned about growing and caring for Alaska’s native berry plants. The class was led by local berry expert Josh Smith, who owns Bear Mountain Forest Nursery.
Smith shared his skills with attendees at the Alaska Seeds of Change hydroponic facility. He taught people how to find the right landscapes to collect berries and talked about his experience growing bear scat, using it to make a “scat soup.” Smith said he saw a one-year increase in the number of seeds planted using this technique. Smith also explained how to use PPE (personal protective equipment) when collecting bear scat.
Participants explore how to identify each species by passing plants around the room. Smith had plants of different ages so he could show the growth process in each experiment he demonstrated.
Admission to the event was free for everyone.
A mural decorates the entrance to Seeds of Change. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Participants will receive free seeds upon check-in. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Plants and berries are on display for Smith’s demonstrations. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Fermented berries ready for blending: the first step in the cold stratification process. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Smith blends fermented berries for 10 seconds before scooping out the seeds from the bottom of the blender. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Berry plants are passed around for participants to identify. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Closer look at a blueberry plant, also known asVaccinium vulgaris, in the early stages of growth. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Seeds processed in a blender, ready to be placed in peat moss to begin the next step in the planting process. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
The pulp of the berries is collected for compost. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Guests watch as small seeds are collected from blueberries. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Rubus chamaemorus, also known as cloudberry, is an excellent source of vitamin C. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Currants can be recognized by their leaves. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Salmonberries are related to the raspberry plant. Due to the similarity of the berries, they are often mistakenly referred to as cloudberry plants. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Northern red currant plant grown from seed Smith collected from bear scat. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Hydroponic systems that allow lettuce to be grown indoors. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Hydroponic salad from Seeds of Change served with toasted glazed almonds and blueberries for guests. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
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