Arctic Organics is a family run small scale vegetable farm near Palmer, Alaska run by Sarah and
River Bean since 1988. Our goal is to ensure clean, pesticide-, GMO-, and chemical-free produce
and to practice sustainable farming techniques that are harmonious with nature. To that end,
we grow 100% of the produce we sell, use as many local resources as possible, and have fostered
a direct sustainable connection between farmers and consumers in our community.
We have a
Community Supported Agriculture program for which we provide 150 families with
weekly deliveries from mid-June through September, sold by seasonal subscription. We also
sell produce, plants, and cut flowers at our farm and at the
Anchorage Farmers Market from
early May to mid-October, and we grow custom specialty vegetables for local restaurants.
Storage vegetables are available by special order while supplies last through the winter.
Alongside farming, we spearheaded
the development of an Alaskan organic growers’
certification program, the Alaska Organic Association. And we were active in starting the
Eagle River Farmers Market and the Anchorage Farmers Market.
The farm comprises 20 acres
of land on the floor of a glacial valley.
4 acres are cleared for cultivation, and are protected by a 6' electric moose fence, where we grow 50±
vegetable varieties plus cut flowers in 4'x100' raised beds. We have 2 additional acres in larger crops
(carrots, potatoes, beets). There are two greenhouses (24'x48' and 24'x96') and 1/2 acre combination raspberry
field/poultry run. We have a small herb garden and an apple orchard; we maintain beehives and raise chickens, ducks,
and goats for family use of eggs and meat. The remaining acreage is wooded with birch and spruce trees. Wild rose,
highbush cranberries, currants and grasses make up the under story. The soils are glacial silt based, fairly low
in natural fertility, but high in organic matter. We develop and maintain sustainability with organic farming
practices such as composting, green manure, organic amendments, low-tilth cultivation and intensive planting.
We completely avoid any use of agricultural chemicals, and were certified organic by the Alaska Organic Association
until the federal regulation of the term "organic" in 2002. (The short story: the Federal takeover
of organic standards lowered the standards to meet agribusiness demands, and left ethical growers to seek
higher ground. For the longer story, see our section on Organic Certification.)
