Raising Funds to Complete the Hot Springs Greenhouse -- Tenakee Springs, Alaska
The Chichagof Conservation Council, Inc. (CCC) is helping Tenakee residents, Kevin and Carlene Allred, raise the final funds to finish their hot-springs-heated community greenhouse, and bring it into production this summer.  We want to help them achieve their long-term, altruistic goal of maximizing the community benefit of Tenakee's remarkable geothermal energy asset.   

You can help by making a donation!  The CCC wants to help the Allred family get the greenhouse operating—producing starts and growing food this coming spring and summer!  To achieve this goal, we’re raising $7500 by April 1, 2020. 

The new greenhouse--and the future home of the New Moon Cafe and Laundry--is next door to the Tenakee Springs Bathhouse, where the Blue Moon Cafe once stood.  The new construction also includes a specially designed room to safely store Tenakee Springs artifacts for the local historical group.  

Funds Needed to Complete Geothermal Greenhouse
1—Purchasing in-floor geothermal heating system and finished tile flooring materials—$3,400

2— Purchasing electrical, plumbing and fixtures for initial greenhouse food production set-up—$4100

All labor on the project is being donated.

About the Hot-Springs and Why a Hot-Springs Greenhouse is Important
An artesian hot spring bubbles up at 106-degree Fahrenheit in the center of Tenakee Springs, AK (pop. 144).  The hot spring-fed Tenakee Bathhouse provides residents and visitors with free, relaxing, hot bathing—and has operated continuously for well over 100 years.  Generations ago the steamy water, originating from fissures deep in the earth’s crust, also helped folks on laundry day.  

Located on Chichagof Island in Alaska’s southeast region, Tenakee Springs receives groceries and supplies by boat or floatplane.  Freight and delivery are expensive and frequently delayed by weather.   The new heated greenhouse will significantly extend our growing season, increase the availability of fresh vegetables, and serve as an educational resource for the community.   

Thank You Allred Family and Thank You Donors! 
Over the years Kevin’s curiosity and study of the town core’s geothermal phenomena—combined with his skill in engineering, metal fabrication, and construction—have allowed community members to extract more and more hot spring heat energy.  His elegant geothermal heat-recovery systems now provide year-round, no-cost heat for the Tenakee Market (ca. 1899) and warehouse, the bathhouse changing-room, and four residential dwellings.   When the Allred’s current project is done, we’ll add to this list a 400sq.ft greenhouse and a small café and laundry.

Kevin’s good-natured tenacity and craftsmanship have brought Tenakee Springs something quite unique.  Since winter 2018, when he began design-work and purchased the very dilapidated Blue Moon Café, this project has been his near-continuous focus (but never on Sunday).  The project rides the tailwind of Kevin’s energy, but the Allreds have received a lot of help.  Seventeen others have volunteered—over 10% of the population of Tenakee Springs!  Thank you to all who have already made a gift or helped in other ways.  Your generosity is being put to great use for Tenakee Springs.  

Total Expense and Contributors to Date:  $93,000 including:

          A 2019 Rasmuson Foundation Grant—$22,000;

          Personal gifts of funds—$8,000

          Gifts of construction material (est. value)—$13,000

          Allred family funds—$50,000

Make a Donation—with  GoFundMe or Send a Check
The photos and movies tell how far—and fast—the project has progressed since summer 2018.  Now let’s grow some food!  GoFundMe donations are like any online credit card purchase. 

GoFundMe has a 0% platform fee for organizers but asks donors for a tip to support the service.  You are free to select "other" and enter 0 in the amount as you get to that window.

Make a Donation by Check or Cash
Alternatively, write a check directly to the Chichagof Conservation Council, Inc: 

       Chichagof Conservation Council, Inc
       Box 621
       Tenakee Springs, AK 99841

Write “GREENHOUSE LAUNCH” in the check memo.  If you want the gift to be ANONYMOUS please says so in your post to CCC.   We will send you a personal card of thanks to acknowledge your gift. 

Talk to a Real Person
Need more info or want to talk?  Contact CCC through the Go Fund Me website and volunteer Burl Sheldon will reply to you.  If you'd like to speak to Kevin or Carlene Allred directly we'll pass your contact info to them and they'll contact you.  For tax-deductible gift purposes, CCC is a 501c3 non-profit organization.  THANK YOU!