FIELD School at Spring Creek Farm

Come to one or all of these FREE programs offered for the community through Alaska Pacific University's FIELD School at Spring Creek Farm! Programs will be offered every second and fourth Sunday of the month through May, from 2-3:30 p.m. These are generally for a family audience, unless otherwise noted (Parents, please attend with your young learners). Light refreshments will be provided.

For the month of February 2008:

Special Program: Full Moon Adventure Walk

February 21^st, 7-9pm.

Strap on those boots and bundle up! Join us for a guided night hike to discover what really lurks in the night!

All ages welcome.

Where do the critters go in the ice & snow?

February 24^th 2-3:30pm

Wonder where your favorite animal friends have gone now that it's cold and snowy? Search for signs of wildlife at the farm, followed by a fun craft project and hot cocoa!

This program is for younger learners and their parents.

Look for March programs, coming out soon!

APU JR. NORDIC SKI Team Visits Kellogg campus

The APU Jr. Nordic Ski team, coaches Holly Brooks and Frode Lillefjell stayed at Spring Creek Farm during the early season training. The team was using the farm as a base camp for training up at Independence Mine State Park in Hatcher Pass. The state grooms classic and skate trails around the mine buildings and down to the parking lot, creating a beautiful and fun Nordic experience.

While staying in the Kellogg House, the ski team brought good luck to the farm in the form of almost 8+ inches of snow. This made for great skiing not only at Hatcher Pass but on the farm as well. Students and neighbors could be seen skiing or
walking the silent and beautiful snow covered trails surrounding Spring Creek Farm.

For more info contact:
nordic@alaskapacific.edu
907.564.8889
Fax: 907.564.8943

More about farm sustainablity from Nathan Burke

November has been a bit warmer this year but the ground at the farm has still been frozen solid enough to prevent any digging. This has given me a chance to spend more time researching future projects and begin an energy audit at the farm. Reading about kilowatts of electricity and ccf's (hundreds of cubic feet for natural gas) has given me both a more keen idea of what an energy bill means and a more appalling sense of the waste inherent in much of our current lifestyles. In fact, according to the Energy Information Administration, the United States uses nearly a million dollars worth of energy every minute, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Though the farmhouse accommodates more students than a typical household, it should give a good representation of many fairly simple residential techniques for reducing energy use. Installation of more efficient lighting, turning off appliances when not in use, and keeping heating costs down should begin to lighten the farm's footprint. As well, the classic three Rs, recycling, reusing and reducing are important energy savers. Recycling aluminum cans saves 95 percent of the energy needed to produce them from bauxite and even recycling paper cuts energy use in half. Ultimately our greatest personal use of energy comes from our cars and determining how to cut down on trips back and forth to Anchorage will be fundamental for farm students.

Researching more renewable energy sources continues at the farm. The anemometer only needs wind readings for this winter season in order to have a clear full-year picture of the wind power generating ability in our CSA field. The Yurt classroom solar photovoltaic system cost estimate has been roughly calculated and we are working on a new hoophouse-style greenhouse to stretch the short Alaskan growing season. As well, research into the design of a four-season or full three-season greenhouse continues.

The composting toilet being built out by the Yurt classroom will be incorporating a variety of sustainable materials in its completed wall design. There is the possibility of straw-bale, plastic-bale and even cardboard-bale wall insulation. We are hoping to show some alternatives to building with materials shipped with fossil-fuels from thousands of miles away. We will continue the aboveground building as long as the valley wind stays below 50 miles per hour. That gets cold.


Nathan Burke
Sustainability Education and Development Project Coordinator
contact me at: bioburke@hotmail.com or 746-2795

Moose Everywhere

Moose are the largest species in the deer family, and our local Alaskan population is considered the largest and most irritable. Moose live all across the northern hemisphere in sub-arctic and temperate climates. They prefer boreal and mixed deciduous forests like the ones we have here in South Central Alaska and throughout the state.

This fall, our group of moose consisted of one or possibly two harems, a group of females following a dominant male. Since the middle of November the moose have moved on to greener and less eaten feedings grounds but they certainly left their mark on our trees and plants.

Throughout Alaska, Canada, Northern Europe and Russia moose are hunted for meat by recreational and subsistence hunters. In parts of Northern Europe and Alaska moose is even common in restaurants as well as on the table at home. Besides beings an important source of food to many human beings and wild predators, moose are the also an important part of Alaska’s natural ecological systems.

Male Moose drop their antlers following mating season in order to conserve energy for the winter months. These antlers are an important source of calcium for small mammals and their decomposition directly aids other species in a positive way. In early spring the moose begin to grow their antlers back and the process is repeated again.

Moose at Spring Creek Farm:

APU Student conducts research on Cook Inlet Belugas

The research conducted by Brian is what he calls a traditional ecological and local knowledge study. Combining information from both local fishermen and ecological science will allow Brian to look at the issues from different cultural viewpoints and account for multiple factors that may have contributed to the whales decline in the Cook Inlet Region.

Belugas near Anchorage

The Belugas of Cook Inlet are unique to this area, and are considered a genetically and geographically distinct population of the Beluga species. The whales have been on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 1995. The IUCN or The International Union for the Conservation of Natural Resources is an international organization dedicated to protecting and conserving natural resources. In 2000, following the IUCN listing of the Cook Inlet Belugas, the U.S. National Marine Fishery Service also listed the Cook Inlet population as depleted and began to work towards a recovery and conservation plan.

Hopefully Brian’s research will help lead biologists and those participating in the conservation process to make greater strides towards protecting this special and unique part of Alaska’s wildlife.

Cook Inlet Adult Education Series

Join us at Spring Creek Farm this winter for our three adult workshops to learn about the Cook Inlet.

November 18^th: Geography & Geology

Time: 2 – 2:30 p.m.

December 16^th: Plants & Animals

Time: 2 – 2:30 p.m.

January 13^th: Conservation Issues

Time: 2 – 2:30 p.m.

No registration is necessary and workshops are all free of charge. Just show up at any of the three workshops for some fun!

A small snack and beverages will be provided.

Getting to Spring Creek Farm:

- Travel the Glenn Hwy north from Palmer for about 3 miles

- Turn west on Farm Loop Rd

- Turn north on Lossing Rd

- Drive to the end of the road and park in the upper lot

For more information contact Kristen at kmetzger@alaskapacific.edu

Autumn Bird Programs

These programs are offered for the community and are free of charge. All children are welcome with one adult to three youngsters for supervision. These last two sessions are geared towards adults and older children (ages 8+) and include some activities especially for kids during more technical discussions. Light refreshments are provided.

The Tools and Habits of Birders: Sunday, November 11th, 2:00 - 3:30 pm
Just getting started with birding? Experienced but ready for more? Join Bob Winckler, president of Mat-Su Birders, for an interactive session on birding gear that will help you choose field guides and equipment for any age or level. Discover new spots to observe birds in the area, and find out how and when to attract wild birds to your yard. Special guests Ruthann and Doug Lloyd will be here to present their beautiful photography and present the gear they use.

Wings on the Winter Winds: Sunday, December 9th, 2:00 - 3:30 pm
Discover more about the birds that brave windy winter in the valley. Which birds stay through the season? How does a chickadee that weighs as much as a few paper clips make it through a –20 degree night? We'll explore the world faced by the more than 30 species of birds that reside here all year.

To arrive at Spring Creek Farm:
- Travel the Glenn Hwy north of Palmer ~ 3 miles.
- Turn west on Farm Loop Rd., then north on Lossing Rd.
- Drive to the end of the road and park in the upper lot (there will be signs)

RSVP not required but appreciated! For more information contact Stephanie at Smoore@alaskapacific.edu or 745-2014 (8am - 6pm, M-F)

These programs are co-sponsored by APU, Mat-Su Birders & Fireside Books