The Village of Haines Junction is inviting residents to harvest fresh leafy greens and herbs from a community garden across from the Fire Hall on Kluane Street, the municipality announced on Facebook. The patch of cut‑and‑come‑again plants is now ready for picking, with a variety of greens and herbs available. Residents are asked to take only what they need and to leave some vegetables for later in the season.
The free harvest is part of a growing effort to strengthen food security in the southwestern Yukon community of about 700 to 1,100 people. Haines Junction, known as Dakwäkäda in Southern Tutchone, sits at the crossroads of the Alaska and Haines highways and has a strong tradition of volunteer‑led food programs. The Haines Junction Volunteer Fire Department on Kluane Street serves as the landmark for the garden, making the spot easy to find.
The initiative builds on a wider push to expand local food systems across the territory. In March 2025, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency announced over $1.6 million for five Yukon food projects, including a hydroponic system at the Kluane Lake Research Station. Closer to home, the Haines Junction-Dakwäkäda F.O.O.D. Association works to make healthy food more affordable, while Volunteer Haines Junction has run a monthly food hamper program since May 2020. The Government of Yukon also awarded $5,400 from its January 2025 Community Development Fund intake to help run the Dakwäkäda-Haines Junction farmers market.
Local growers know the challenges of northern gardening. Jolene Billwiller, who runs Spruce Cottage Farm in Haines Junction, a 2,400‑square‑foot market garden and nursery, stresses the need for sunny, elevated, and wind‑sheltered spots. Her advice reflects the realities of a short growing season that can still see snow in June. The village’s cut‑and‑come‑again garden offers an immediate reward for neighbours, with more harvests expected as summer progresses.
