Are you a Farmland Superhero?

Contributed by Amy Pettit

Alaska Farmland Trust is 501c3 nonprofit based in Palmer. If you’re not familiar with our mission, our primary goal is the permanent protection of agriculturally viable soils throughout Alaska. Since our inception 15 years ago we have helped landowners place conservation easements on 318 acres in the greater Palmer area. Not only will these acres never become strip malls, subdivisions or gravel pits, but they will stay farmland FOREVER. The soils will always and only(!) be used for agricultural production – to grow vegetables for our communities, hay for our thriving equine industry or other actively managed uses for long term soil health.

There are two ways that a landowner can work with Farmland Trust to permanently protect their farm: by donating an easement on their property or by negotiating purchase of their development rights to Farmland Trust. You can learn more about both options on our website at akfarmland.com or by scheduling an appointment with our Executive Director or a Board Member.

In the past four years we’ve doubled our protected acres, tripled our corporate giving, and sold out nearly every event we’ve hosted. As the interest in our organization grows, more farmers seek our assistance in preserving their farms. This is GREAT news – but – in order to capitalize on the momentum, we need to develop a sustaining members program. And…we need YOUR help! That is exactly why we’ve launched our “2020 by 2020 Farmland Superhero” campaign. With two thousand and twenty Alaskans contributing as little as $10 a month towards Farmland Trust, we can save a farm per year! We can become less reliant on the uncertainty of State and Foundation funding, and protect more Alaskan farmland!

There are multiple ways to join the campaign and become a Farmland Superhero:

  • Use the DONATE button on our website at www.akfarmland.com/2020

  • TEXT your donation amount to (907) 802-5892

  • And be sure to check the “recurring” box to make your contribution monthly and become a Farmland Superhero!

Remember that your donation to Farmland Trust is tax deductible. When you become a Farmland Superhero there are more benefits than just knowing you’re helping protect our food future. You’ll get first access to tickets to our events, special invites to unique gatherings on our properties and more! Sign up today – let’s do this!

If you have any questions or need additional information about Farmland Trust, or becoming a Farmland Superhero, please don’t hesitate to contact our executive director at AmyPettit@akfarmland.com or at (907) 355-2706.

The Problem With Humidity And Guitars

You’ve felt the effects of low humidity - perhaps dry, itchy skin, bloody noses or general uncomfortableness. Now shift your attention to the guitar hanging on your wall (just please don’t tell me it’s part of your mantelpiece aesthetic) or sitting on the stand in the corner: it’s suffering just as much. Alaskan musicians face a constant battle against low humidity, and the effects can add up to high dollar repairs VERY quickly. Don’t get me wrong –fixing guitars is my jam, but many humidity problems are avoidable with some basic understanding of how your guitar reacts to relative humidity.

First and foremost, you need to understand that even if you buy a guitar brand new (from my shop or elsewhere) it’s very likely at least a year old. Unless it was crafted in the good ol’ US of A and you purchased it fresh off the showroom floor, chances are it came from overseas. It shipped in a Conex Box (weeks in transit), sat in a port, trucked to a warehouse for distribution, trucked to whichever retailer and hung on the wall for however long before you purchased it. That’s a lot of shock for a guitar in its infancy. And I would bet in all of its young life adventures, it was never kept humidified (amongst other problems) and is already showing signs of unchecked changes in humidity.

Now let’s get more specific: its final destination is in your home, somewhere in Alaska. There’s a lot of great things about The Last Frontier, but stable, comfortable humidity is not one of them. Nonetheless, you pick up your new lover, hold her in your arms, tune her up to pitch, and strum that first, beautiful chord… And you get bit by sharp, buzzy frets. Ouch. So much anticipation and then she lashes out. You’ve now felt and heard firsthand signs of low humidity.

So let’s talk about some symptoms of low humidity: Sharp fret ends, unplayabley low action, excessive buzzing, a hump in the neck, cracks in the finish or wood and failed glue joints/bracing. Most of these are avoidable with routine maintenance and diligent humidification. As an Alaskan musician, you must understand that dips in temperature or spikes in heat will require immediate attention to your guitar. It’s what we signed up for, living and playing in this state. Now let’s talk about some simple steps to maintain proper humidity (and hopefully prevent future trips to the guitar ER):

1. Store your guitar in its case. A lot of people struggle with this, so if this is you, you’re not alone. But the case will help protect your guitar through many extreme conditions. I realize that guitars are functional art and you want them close at hand, but a stand or wall hanger is not the best place for them to live unless you are diligently humidifying your entire house.

2. If you choose not to store your guitar in its case, at least put it in there for ten or twelve days a month with a guitar humidifier (longer if we dip into negative temperatures). Think of it as a week at the spa or a split custody arrangement - whichever analogy works for you. Believe me, your guitar will thank you.

3. Keep a digital hygrometer in your case or in your home and look for 40–50% readings. They’re inexpensive (same goes for guitar humidifiers) and they certainly beat paying a luthier to fix the resulting problems.

I love an excessively played, well worn guitar - I sincerely do. The more faded the paint and worn the fretboard, the better. Especially on a maple neck. But neglecting your guitars humidity is needlessly damaging and expensive, especially when you compare a luthiers’ bench rate versus a humidifier. Alaska has a unique climate and there are inherent challenges therein, regarding humidity and your guitar. Make no mistake – I repair guitars for a living, so I’ll gladly take on your neglected instruments to pay my bills. But why do that when you’re now armed to battle low humidity?

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Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show 2020

Contributed by Carmen Summerfield

The Valley Arts Alliance is proud to host their 14th annual VAA Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show at the Palmer Depot on Saturday, February 15, 2020. Again this year we will present two identical performances—a matinee at 3pm and an evening performance at 7pm.

Wearable Art refers to hand crafted and one of a kind pieces of artwork designed to be worn by the human body as an artistic expression. Using their knowledge of color, fabric and non-traditional materials, artists create unique, wearable garments which they (or their models) wear while parading down an authentic “fashion runway”, accompanied by narration and music.

For our 14th year we’re using the theme “All Shook Up!” for staging the show, and we’re encouraging artists to use the same theme for their creative inspiration. To view exciting scenes from years past, visit our Wearable Art archives pages at www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com/archives.

To become a part of the 14th annual VAA Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show, download our application package, which contains the 2020 Entry Form, along with criteria, guidelines, and tips to make your entry a smashing success! Then return the completed application to us by Friday, February 7, 2020. Due to the overwhelming success of this show, we must limit entries to the first 25, so we urge you to submit your completed application early.

The ticket price is $15 per person for each performance. For the 3pm Matinee ONLY, children 12 years old and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are on sale now—in Palmer at Fireside Books and Non-Essentials; and in Wasilla at My House / Gathering Grounds Café. We expect both shows to sell out, so please purchase your tickets early.

The 14th annual Valley Arts Alliance Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show will be an exquisite evening of art and entertainment, in what has become a well-loved winter tradition in our Valley. Don’t miss this opportunity to support the arts in the Valley!

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