Our second day of this trip began with breakfast in the hotel before the students prepared for a day of learning what farming and food sovereignty can mean in the territory.
After a short drive on the scenic Klondike Highway, the group arrived at Yukon Grain Farm. One of the largest in the Yukon, the farm fosters and promotes sustainable agriculture for both private and commercial customers with a variety of products produced for Yukoners.
The group was met by Laird from the Yukon Grain Farm, who facilitated the presentation giving context on what is grown and why, along with the processes used. Through conversation, students had the stage for dialogue around the challenges of a short growing season, hazards to crops (such as deer, bears, etc.), and climate change which all have profound impacts on the work that happens day-to-day.
A tour around the farm brought to light concepts discussed during the presentation. Beginning with the storage process of the products, the group visited the cold storage facilities, where they learned about the delicate system of storing the volume of produce to maintain its quality throughout the long winter season. Visiting the hoop and greenhouses to view how Yukon Grain Farm also does smaller volume growing of leafy greens and a variety of starter plants before they are transplanted into the field to reach maturity for harvest.
Following a trail to a view of the Yukon River and surrounding mountains framed the ruggedness and raw beauty of the land that is utilized to grow. Stops were made for interactions with the farm dogs, horses and to view hoof and grizzly bear marks in the mud for more moments of awe before a demonstration of the washing of potatoes being prepared for packaging. A final service of boxing seedling potatoes for a local foodbank had students play a role in the continued commitment to food security and sharing with the public.
After a picnic lunch shared at the farm, the group loaded into the van to visit Sarah’s Harvest. As the largest certified organic market garden in the Yukon, it offered a deep and different view on commitments to delivering high-quality produce.
Walking through the greenhouses, main growing garden, pig and chicken housing, students asked questions about the differences in techniques from one scale to the other. Taking time for more pets of the resident farm dogs as the group walked to Lake Laberge for more breathtaking views of the wilderness around them, before seeing the process of keeping harvested produce fresh in the “Ice House” of the farm without electricity, utilizing water from the lake and the long cold winter temperatures. Students then assisted in planting of seeds in soil cubes to begin the growing journey.
Upon returning from the day of visiting the farms, the group enjoyed dinner before visiting a local bookstore to gather more information on their research topics. The day concluded with the group taking turns reading paragraphs from “The Cremation of Sam McGee” as we dove into the topic of folklore, utilizing areas that the group were standing on during the day.
