We are at the site of one of the most unusual experiments in American history: the Matanuska Valley Colony. In the summer of 1935 FDR and the New Deal relief agency planned an agricultural colony in Alaska to utilize the great agricultural potential in the Matanuska Valley, and assist American farm families that were suffering through first the dust bowl and then the Great Depression. 203 families from the northern counties of MI, WI and MN were asked to join the colony because they thought hardy farmers of Scandinavian descent would have a natural advantage. The failure rate was high, but many of their descendants still live and farm HUGE produce here! The growing season is 100 to 118 days annually, and the unique micro-climate produces the amazing GIANT vegetables. This head of cabbage is the size of two basketballs and still has three weeks to continue to grow. They said they grow HUGE and are juicy and taste great! Where are we?????