Community Agriculture — Tyonek Grown

Community-Rooted Agriculture Since 2012

TTCD works with the Native Village of Tyonek (NVT) and Tyonek Native Corporation (TNC) through the Tyonek Grown program to strengthen food access, agricultural education, and local growing capacity in a community that is not connected to Alaska's road system.

TTCD's 2025 Annual Report describes the Tyonek Garden as a 1-acre property with approximately 10,000 square feet of cultivated land, more than 25+ crop types, 2 high tunnels, solar-powered infrastructure, drip irrigation, and an educational yurt erected in 2025.

Tyonek Garden & Community Growing

The garden is both a production space and a gathering and teaching site. TTCD uses conservation-focused practices such as crop rotation, reduced tillage, cover cropping, pollinator habitat, soil-health management, and season extension while supporting food production for the community.

The 2025 Annual Report also identifies 12 community garden beds used by local households. Youth participate throughout the growing cycle and gain experience in food production, conservation, marketing, and professional development.

Hydroponics at Tebughna School

TTCD has operated hydroponic systems with Tebughna School students and teachers since 2017. Students seed, maintain, observe, and harvest crops while learning plant anatomy, lifecycles, nutrition, scientific observation, and the role of controlled-environment agriculture in remote food systems.

• Three hydroponic towers: TTCD's Youth & Education page documents three Lettuce Grow towers used for food production and classroom science.
• School food connection: Produce from indoor systems can support school meals while the systems function as living science laboratories.
• Youth learning: Agricultural work is tied to place-based STEM lessons, internships, and community food-system education.

Read TTCD's 2025 Annual Report ↗  ·  Read the Tyonek Grown Program Evaluation (PDF)