Thank you for supporting our Grow North Farm-raiser. Your support makes it possible for refugee participants to grow the Fresh International Gardens project into a stepping off point for them to create their own small farm businesses.
Grow North Farm
All proceeds will go towards soil to create Grow North Farm this summer. The Farm will be located at 3543 Mountain View Drive, the site of the Mountain View Farmers’ Market. It will be 27,000 square feet, becoming Anchorage’s largest farm, and is being developed by the Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services (RAIS) Program of Catholic Social Services and the Anchorage Community Land Trust (ACLT).
From Conflict to Cultivation
Former refugees contribute to Anchorage’s local food supply
Many refugees arrive in Alaska with limited English and few belongings, but they bring with them resilient spirits, ready for a new chance at life. Grow North Farm will serve as a new economic opportunity for local farmers and will be an expansion of the refugee garden program, Fresh International Gardens, currently Anchorage’s largest operating farm.
Fresh International Gardens has been providing refugees with income, job training, English practice, and positive community interactions since 2007. 110 gardeners from 11 countries have graduated from the program and many have transitioned into sustainable employment.
Anchorage Food Security
Grow North Farm will improve food security in Anchorage, providing farmers with income, job training, English practice, and positive community interactions. Additionally, the farm will provide an opportunity for small scale farmers to start their own businesses with continued support from RAIS.
Community members will have the opportunity to participate in a Community Supported Agriculture program through Grow North Farm, in which members will receive a box of fresh produce weekly by supporting the farm with an upfront payment in the spring.
Thank you to our partners Anchorage Community Land Trust and the venue Resolution Brewing Company for kicking off the start of Grow North Farms!