Mosquito Lake Victory Garden volunteers celebrate the harvest and growing food security in the Chilkat Valley

More than 40 volunteers gathered last Sunday at the Mosquito Lake community center victory garden for a work party and harvest celebration, and to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Lynn Canal Conservation, a Haines-based environmental group. KHNS’ Corinne Smith has more.

The sun is shining for the last work day of the season at the Mosquito Lake victory garden. A group of volunteers have already harvested the last carrots and beets from loose, wet soil. The sun is a lucky break after a big storm that passed through Southeast the day before. 

Haines resident Laurie Mastrella moves down a row, planting garlic. 

“If it survives the winter, it’ll be one of the first things we see in the spring,” Mastrella said. “It’s a great optimistic sign to see the garlic coming up in the spring, and its usually ready early summer, so it gives us time to put in a fast greens crop in behind it.”

She’s been involved with the victory garden project since its inception in June 2020, to promote food security in the Chilkat Valley. She and a group of volunteers met each Sunday throughout the summer to maintain and harvest from the 6,000 square foot garden.

“This garden is for everyone, and the food is for everyone. You know, we share the work and we share the food, and we share the food with hopefully the people who need it most in the community. I really like distributing to the Senior Center, in particular,” she said. 

The produce donated to the Haines Senior Center has been incorporated into the daily hot meals delivered to over 50 seniors around town. They also contributed produce to the Chilkoot Indian Association’s food box program, and gave produce to volunteers and neighbors throughout the Haines and Mosquito Lake communities. 

Further down the row, Ellen Larson places a garlic clove in a ready-made hole. She’s a retired teacher, and she and many others made the 30 mile drive from downtown Haines to be here.

“I just wanted to help out with the harvest garden, I just thought it was a great community event and a great way to support food sustainability in Haines,” Larson said. 

Behind Larson, other volunteers place bright purple cabbage leaves over the newly planted garlic, then a big shovel-scoop of fresh seaweed.

“It’s an incredible resource, and you can get as much as you can physically haul.”

Haines resident master gardener, Mardell Gunn, who hosts a volunteer garden show on KHNS, Garden Conversation, says seaweed is a vital resource for gardeners, and provides organic matter to the clay-heavy soil, with positive results. 

“We all, all of us experienced gardeners who’ve worked on it, we all every week come and say this is amazing how well this garden is doing,” Gunn said. “Because we’ve added no amendments, just nurtured it, and it’s done amazingly well.”

As the harvest party gets underway, there’s a potluck, cider press, several kegs of spruce-tips beer and a band on the way. It’s also a 50-year celebration of Lynn Canal Conservation, a grassroots conservation group whose mission is to  protect Chilkat Valley watersheds. Executive director, Jessica Plachta addressed the crowd. 

“It’s exciting to see you guys doing it – making food, making friendship, making community here. Taking care of ourselves when the barge isn’t coming, taking care of ourselves when other things seem uncertain, so thank you so much. Thank you to the gardeners for feeding everybody,” Plachta said to a round of applause.

“And LLC’s job is to make sure the wild foods can also feed us … so in a way we also compliment each other’s work.”

The victory garden is part of the Mosquito Lake community center, which is a gathering space, provides classes, and youth programs. The Haines borough signed a five-year MOU with the board the week before, granting $44,500 this year to maintain the center. So with funding secured, and volunteer enthusiasm high, there’s plans to keep growing.