Northwest History. Alaska 7. Agriculture, United States

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1937
• Subjects: Kodiak; Alaska; Russian island; trading post; Alaska homesteading center; Knute and Fred Solberg; Fairbanks; frost-free spot; University of Minnesota; Horticultural Society of Sweden; climatic conditions; greenhouses; steamship; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Pacific; Solberg
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/88300

Propose Farms In Bear Heaven. PROPOSE FARMS IN BEAR HEAVEN. KODIAK, Alaska, April 9. OP)— This 18th century Russian island trading post is the newest Alaska homesteading center this spring. Knute and Fred Solberg, formerly of Fairbanks, today announced they have filed on adjoining tracts and believe this the most frost-free spot in Alaska for extensive experiments they plan in raising fruit and vegetables. The Solbergs said they will have the cooperation of the University of Minnesota and the Horticultural Society of Sweden, which will furnish the settlers wtih a variety of plants calculated to fit climatic conditions. Meantime, 100 head of Hereford cattle have been imported from Montana by other island settlers, and five large greenhouses are growing plants for transplanting to Kodiak truck gardens in the late spring. The farming trend will make the district less dependent upon infrequent steamship arrivals for supplies of fresh vegetables, meat, milk and eggs.