Rebarchek Regenerative Ag Session

🍂 Rebarchek Regenerative Ag | September Event Brief 🍂
Event Name: Prepping the Food Forest for Winter
Date & Time: Saturday, September 13th | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Rebarchek Agricultural Park – Regenerative Agriculture Zone

Overview:
Winter in Alaska is no joke—and neither is what it can do to young trees, tender perennials, and all the hard work we’ve put into the Food Forest. This hands-on session is all about getting ahead of the freeze. We’ll dive into seasonal strategies to protect soil health, insulate roots, and guard trees against moose and voles—so the Food Forest can not only survive winter, but come back stronger in spring. Whether you’re prepping your own garden or learning for the future, this is practical knowledge that pays off long-term.

Session Structure:
🔧 Prep (30–45 min):
We’ll begin with seasonal maintenance—mulching, weeding, adding organic matter, and prepping insulation layers to protect key plantings through freeze-up.

📚 Learn (30 min):
A focused session on overwintering strategies for perennials in Alaska, including:

• Natural insulation techniques for cold protection
• Guarding young trees from moose browse and vole damage
• How healthy soil biology supports winter resilience
• Building low-cost, effective barriers and covers

🌱 Apply (30–45 min):
We’ll roll up our sleeves and winterize the Food Forest—tucking in trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. You’ll get hands-on experience with:

• Applying deep mulch for root zone protection
• Installing vole guards and fencing for moose
• Using organic materials to build thermal mass and habitat for overwintering pollinators

Who It’s For:

• Curious beginners
• Seasoned gardeners
• Homesteaders
• Anyone wanting to build resilient ecosystems that thrive year-round in Alaska

Why It Matters:
Without intentional winter prep, years of growth can be lost to a single harsh season. But with the right strategies, your trees, soil, and systems can emerge from winter stronger. You’ll leave this session with tools to protect your land, grow smarter, and carry this knowledge into your own backyard.

Looking Ahead:
This is the final event in our 2025 mini-series—but we’re just getting started. A full 2026 regenerative volunteer series is in the works. Join us now to shape what comes next and grow with the community.