Calypso Incorporated

THE GROWING SELF-RELIANT FARMERS IN ALASKAN VILLAGES AND BEYOND PROJECT BUILDS ON THE SUCCESS OF IMMERSIVE, FARM-BASED FARMER TRAINING PROGRAMS HELD AT CALYPSO FARM AND ECOLOGY CENTER (CALYPSO) IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA SINCE 2013. THIS CURRENT PROJECT FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING THE EXISTING FARMER TRAINING PROGRAMS AT CALYPSO FARM AND EXPANDING THE FARMER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO INCLUDE A NEW PROGRAM CENTERED ON ALASKA NATIVE FARMERS FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM FOR ALASKA NATIVE FARMERS WILL BE DESIGNED, TAUGHT AND LED BY ALASKA NATIVE FARMERS. THE OVER-ARCHING GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF A DIVERSE POPULATION OF FIRST GENERATION ASPIRING FARMERS INTERESTED IN SMALL-SCALE DIVERSIFIED FARMING OPERATIONS BY OFFERING A VARIETY OF STRUCTURED TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT TEACH A BROAD ARRAY OF HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL TOPICS COVERING: IN DEPTH FARMING PRACTICES, EXTENSIVE FARM BUSINESS PLANNING AND PRACTICAL SKILLS SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION, CHAIN SAW USE, FOOD PRESERVATION, AND MUCH MORE. EXTENSIVE INPUT FROM BEGINNING FARMERS HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM, DESIGN AND TEACHING METHODS. PARTNERS WORKING WITH CALYPSO ON THIS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT INCLUDE: IGIUGIG TRIBAL VILLAGE, TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT, KAWERAK, INC., ON THE LAND MEDIA COLLECTIVE AND THE FOLK SCHOOL FAIRBANKS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE GOAL OF GROWING ALASKAN FARMERS: AN AGRICULTURAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES IS TO TRAIN A GROWING POPULATION OF BEGINNING INDIGENOUS FARMERS IN RURAL ALASKA. THIS GOAL SUPPORTS THE BROADER VISION TO FOSTER FOOD SOVEREIGNTY ACROSS ALASKA BY PROVIDING THE TRAINING AND SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR ALASKAN VILLAGES TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD. THIS PROJECT IS AN INDIGENOUS-LED, HANDS-ON, FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM. CALYPSO FARM AND ECOLOGY CENTER IS THE LEAD ORGANIZATION, COLLABORATING WITH INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING: NATIVE MOVEMENT, TLAA DENELDEL, BICLOPS PRODUCTIONS AND KAWERAK, INC. CALYPSO HAS BEEN A RECIPIENT OF TWO BFRDP GRANTS IN THE PAST: 2016 (70017-25347) AND 2020 (49400-32435). BOTH WERE FOCUSED ON BEGINNING FARMER TRAINING IN SMALL-SCALE DIVERSIFIED FARMING. THIS CURRENT PROJECT WAS DEVELOPED BY BEGINNING INDIGENOUS FARMERS AND PILOTED AS PART OF THE 2020 PROJECT.THIS PROJECT CONTINUES AND EXPANDS INDIGENOUS-LED TRAININGS AND INCLUDES: BEGINNING AND ADVANCED TRAINING SESSIONS, TRAIN THE TRAINER SESSIONS, APPRENTICESHIPS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AS WELL AS REMOTE COURSES THROUGH THE WINTER ON A RANGE OF FARM PLANNING TOPICS. THE PROGRAM SERVES 95% INDIGENOUS FARMERS WHICH ARE CONSIDERED LIMITED RESOURCE FARMERS. THE MAJORITY ARE BEGINNING FARMERS WITH 1-3 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN CATEGORIES 1 AND 2. OUR GOAL IS THAT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WILL BE READY TO START THEIR FARMING OPERATIONS AFTER TWO YEARS OF TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION. 90% OF THE FUNDING IS ALLOCATED TO COMMUNITY-BASED 501(C)3 ORGANIZATIONS AND 10% OF THE FUNDING IS ALLOCATED TO AN INDIGENOUS OWNED FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY.

GROWING SELF-RELIANT FARMERS

BUILDING SOILS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS ALASKA - A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT

GROWING THE SOUTHSIDE MARKET THROUGH CSA, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND LOCAL GROWERS

STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER)

COMMUNITY FACILITIES LOANS AND GRANTS - ARRA

MILK INCOME LOSS CONTRACTS; TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND EXISTING MARKETS FOR DAIRY WHICH ARE VITAL TO THE WELFARE OF MILK PRODUCERS IN THE UNITED STATES

DIRECT COMMUNITY FACILITY LOANS

FARMERS MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM- ALASKA, SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY FARMERS' MARKET

SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKET AND

COMMUNITY FACILITIES - ECONOMIC IMPACT INITIATIVE GRANTS

COMMUNITY FACILITIES - ECONOMIC IMPACT INITIATIVE GRANTS

COMMUNITY FACILITY GRANTS

SCHOOLYARD CSA GARDEN INITIATIVE