Salmon Roe Recipe

Composting In Rural Alaska

BioCycle July 2011, Vol. 52, No. 7, p. 22

Gardeners, communities and commercial enterprises have proven that composting works in Alaska, especially given large quantities of fish waste and diminishing landfill capacity.

Jodie Anderson

ALASKA is two and a half times larger than the largest state in the lower 48 states. Over half of the entire state’s population lives within the municipality of Anchorage. Many Alaskan villages can only be reached by boat or airplane and are the end receivers of all packaging brought into the communities. Cardboard is a bulky waste product that fills many landfills and dumps in rural Alaska. Waste elimination in many of these communities is by incineration.

These rural communities have power systems run by diesel generators. Homes are heated by fuel oil that costs between $7 to $11/gallon and the boats, cars, four-wheelers and snow machines used to get around the villages, and to and from other communities, are gasoline powered at $5 to $9/gallon. Many people in rural communities live subsistence lifestyles; several communities are defined as “persistent poverty” areas with individual incomes of less than $6,000/year.

Fishing-related enterprises are the third largest employer in Alaska behind oil and tourism. The wild salmon industry is the world’s only “sustainable” fishing sector as certified by the Marine Stewardship Council. Alaska harvests approximately 6 billion pounds of seafood; of that, nearly 3 billion pounds of waste are generated. Much of that is ground and dumped back into the waterways with many processors having to pay environmental compliance fees to the state.

A common misperception is that composting cannot happen in Alaska, as it is too cold. It is cold, but composting does work. The idea of using organic waste products as feedstocks for compost is still a new concept, but those who are successful composters have overcome many obstacles of climate and wildlife disturbances and prevail with great products.

Home composting is found all around Alaska. Most composters are also gardeners and use the compost as a component of their homemade soil recipes for gardens and raised beds. Many native mineral soils are very low in organic matter. Adding compost increases water- and nutrient-holding capacity, pore space and drainage, as well as contributes a small amount of needed macro and micronutrients.

Babyshka's Potato Latkes with Salmon Roe Recipe | In style ...

* Vegetable oil for frying

Directions

In a food processor grate the potatoes. Line a sieve with cheesecloth and transfer potatoes to the sieve. Set sieve over a bowl, twist cheesecloth into a pouch, squeezing out some moisture. Let mixture drain for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pour off liquid from the bowl but leave the white potato starch that settles in the bottom of the bowl.

To that starch add shallots, eggs, flour, 1-1/2 teaspoons of salt and freshly ground pepper. Return drained potatoes to this mixture and toss to combine.

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking pan with paper towels. When you are ready to eat, in a large skillet heat 1/4 inch of oil over medium high heat until hot. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of potato mixture and cook for 3 to 4 minutes a side; latkes should be golden and crisp on both sides. Eat right away or keep warm in oven. Serve with Salmon roe & sour cream , also you can serve with applesauce.

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