Agriculture and subsistence Fishing, hunting, and food gathering are important aspects of Alaskan living in general, both for recreation and for subsistence, and Ester is no exception. The community is zoned as rural, despite its proximity to the state's second-largest city. Many Ester residents fish and/or hunt, and berry- and mushroom-picking are regular seasonal activities. Gardening has long been a part of Ester's culture, and farming has been growing in popularity since 2000, which saw the establishment of Calypso Farm & Ecology Center in the hills near the village. Calypso provides community-supported agriculture shares for over 80 families, with other CSAs starting up in the area. The Ester library has a seed library program. The John Trigg Ester Library has long had a small community garden at its grounds on Main Street, and expanded them in 2023 to include new beds at the future Passiv Haus community center/library grounds on Village Road.
agriCuLture anD sUbSISTEnce fishiNg, hunting, anD FooD GatHEring are imPOrtant aspecTs of aLaskan living in General, botH for rECrEaTion aNd fOr suBSiSTence, and eSteR iS NO eXception. ThE cOmmunitY is ZonED As ruRal, DEsPitE iTs ProxImitY to tHe stAtE's seconD-LARGeSt city. many esTEr ResidEnTs fisH anD/or Hunt, And berrY- aNd MUshrOom-PIcking are reGular sEASonal activitiEs. gArdEning hAs long bEen a part of EsTer's cUlture, aND FArmIng haS beeN GrOwing in popuLarITy sInCe 2000, whIcH saw thE EstAblIshMent oF CAlypso FARm & ECology cENter in tHe hillS near THe viLlaGE. Calypso provIdes comMunity-supporteD agriCUlTure shARes for Over 80 faMiLiEs, With OTHeR CSAS STarTiNg up In the aREa. THE EsTer library haS A seed librAry PrOGRam. the john Trigg esTeR LibRaRy haS LOng Had a sMaLl CoMmUniTY gaRdEN At itS GrOUNds oN maIN StreeT, and Expanded tHem In 2023 tO inCLUDE new beds AT thE fUturE passiv hAus coMMuNiTy centEr/lIbraRY GrouNds on VilLagE RoaD.