UAF CES Anchorage Outreach Center

09/16/2026

As the summer gardening season comes to a close, greenhouses around Alaska are getting ready to step-up and grow. And the greenhouse operated by the Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension (IANRE) on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus is no exception.

The busy season for this greenhouse is winter. Researchers and students use the seven, controlled greenhouse spaces to study how things like length of day, temperature, and light change affect how plants grow. Alaska has such a short growing season that learning to grow food inside is a hot topic in food security research.

Learn more about the IANRE greenhouse here: https://www.uaf.edu/afes/places/greenhouse/

Or build your own with our tips!: https://www.uaf.edu/ces/garden/greenhouses/

The Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension enriches the lives of Alaskans through research, education and outreach grounded in community needs.

Pictured: Greenhouse manager Meriam Karlsson explains current greenhouse research exploring how lettuce grows under different wavelengths of light. Photo courtesy Katrina Paul. September 3, 2026.

09/15/2026

A bouquet is a great way to brighten someone's day. ✨Join us tonight at 6 p.m. to learn to look at your backyard with a florist’s eye. 💐 We will use whatever is blooming in your yard at the time to build bouquets for you to take home. We will guide you through the entire process, from what to look for in your garden to how to build a lush, balanced floral design. 🌷🌾🌿
👉 Register for this free class at loom.ly/NvKxyG4

09/15/2026

Tree-mendous opportunity for anyone interested in lumber drying🪵

Can the addition of a lumber drying kiln improve profitability for Alaska sawmill businesses?

Lumber-drying kilns pair an insulated chamber with precise temperature, humidity, air flow and ventilation controls to speed up the process of drying lumber. The quicker lumber can be dried into a finished marketable product, the better for Alaska lumber businesses.

Are you considering a kiln to expand your business? Are you a hobbyist interested in solar or DIY designs? If you have questions about kilns, operation techniques, or want to inquire about setting up a lumber drying workshop in your community, you can contact Matt Labrenz, Cooperative Extension Wood Products Specialist, at (907) 474 – 7192 or [email protected].

The Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension enriches the lives of Alaskans through research, education and outreach grounded in community needs.

09/14/2026

There's still time for beautiful backyard bouquets!💐Join us tomorrow evening at 6, register at 👉 loom.ly/NvKxyG4

Your backyard might already have the makings of a beautiful bouquet. 💐

Join master florist Paul Marmora for "Urban Harvest: Backyard Florals," a hands-on workshop that turns whatever is blooming in your yard into a lush, balanced floral arrangement to take home.

Bring a vessel, gather flowers and greenery from your yard, and come ready to see familiar plants with a florist’s eye. Paul will guide you from choosing what to cut to bringing it all together in an arrangement. Hosted in partnership with UAF Extension Services.

6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Seed Lab, 111 W. 6th Ave. Free, but space is limited. Sign up and start scouting your backyard for inspiration ➡️ loom.ly/NvKxyG4.

09/14/2026

We had a great day! Thank you to everyone who came out 🍀💚

09/14/2026

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🍂 View of the colorful ridge with the farm and garden buildings from our cover crop plots in the Fairbanks Experiment Farm!

🔎 Did you know that fall foliage changes can make invasive plants in your neighborhood easier to spot? This is called “delayed senescence”. After most of our deciduous trees, shrubs, and other herbaceous plants have turned color and lost their leaves, there are still a few hardy plants and trees that retain their greenery. This is especially true in some nonnative and invasive species where enjoying a longer growing season may allow them to outcompete native plants.

🐛 Pests can also have an impact on fall colors. Have you seen any birches begin to turn earlier than normal and displayed a relatively faded yellow that went quickly to brown? According to the U.S. Forest Service, an ongoing outbreak of the amber-marked birch leafminer and the late birch leaf edgeminers live inside and eat the insides of the leaves during the summer. Leaves damaged by the mining will turn yellow-brown and fall off the tree prematurely. Despite the visual severity of the outbreak, the damage to the trees is usually mostly cosmetic and they should leaf out again just fine next year.

Report any of your fascinating fall findings to your local Cooperative Extension office!

Photo by Melanie Graeff.

09/12/2026

Open House TODAY! 🍀🍀🍀🍀
Learn more about how to get involved with Anchorage 4-H today from 1 to 4 p.m. at 219 International Airport Road.

For more than 100 years, 4‑H has welcomed young people of all beliefs and backgrounds, giving kids a voice to express who they are and how they make their lives and communities better. Through life-changing 4-H programs, nearly six million kids and teens are learning the skills and abilities to be resilient, adaptable and ready for work and life.

09/11/2026

The Free Farm Stand is happening again this Thursday at the Lutheran Social Services Food Pantry Parking Lot (1303 W 33rd Ave.) and we will share recipes.
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The success of the Free Farm Stands depends on community members like you. Whether you share fresh produce, make a financial contribution, or volunteer your time, your support helps ensure that everyone has access to healthy, local food. Here are a few ways you can get involved:

🥦Share Your Harvest: Bring your excess, clean garden vegetables and fruit to a Free Farm Stand on the same day you harvest them.
💪Volunteer Your Time: Join a dedicated team of volunteers and help stock, maintain, and manage a Farm Stand while connecting with others who care about strengthening our community. To volunteer, call or text Theresa 907-947-8217.
💵Make a Donation: Your financial support helps sustain and expand the Free Farm Stands, ensuring fresh food remains available to those who need it most: https://anchorgardens.org/free-farm-stands/

09/10/2026

4-H is more than you think. Come to our Open House on Saturday to learn more about Anchorage 4-H. 🍀🍀🍀🍀

09/10/2026

What do you have in your garden that could make a beautiful bouquet? 💐Join us on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. to learn what to look for when making a bouquet out of your backyard bounty.🌿🌹 Class is free and open to everyone, but registration is required as numbers are limited.
👉Sign up at https://bit.ly/BackyardFlorals (