THIS TOWN COULD USE A THOUSAND FARMERS
farmer training program 2022
FARMS & Farmers
Check out the local farms and farmers who taught classes and hosted the 2022 farmers-in-training at their farms for some hands on instruction. AFFECT is grateful to everyone involved in making this program a success!
Sam Knapp
OFF BEET FARM
Sam taught a classroom session on farm planning. Sam also hosted two farm visits. On the first visit he taught participants about drip irrigation and everyone helped plant cabbages. On the second visit everyone helped harvest the cabbages they planted earlier in the season. Sam also showed participants his awesome cold storage set up!
Glenna Gannon & Katie DiCristina
georgeson botanical gardens
Glenna and Katie hosted the participants to their lab at UAF twice in the beginning of the season. They taught them about seed starting and transplanting for their vegetable variety trials and botanical garden crops. They even sent the participants home with some variety trial corn seeds to try out themselves!
Raelyn Geron
symbiartic farm
Raelyn brought her gear to the classroom to teach the participants all about growing microgreens. She walked everyone through each step required, provided instruction sheets, and even brought some of her finished product for everyone to sample!
Megan Schulze
frontieress farm
Megan was involved in this program from start to finish. She assisted with planning the farm visit schedule for the summer, participated in the farmer panel, and hosted participants at her farm twice. On their first visit they helped Megan with field prep and when they returned they planted garlic and enjoyed the beautiful view of her flowers in bloom!
John Dart
dart am farm
John Dart also shared his expertise in the farmer panel discussion at the beginning of the program. In June, he hosted the participants to his farm in Manley Hot Springs. Participants spent the weekend picking his brain about farm equipment, his new hydroponic lettuce operation, and farming with only hot water. They even got to enjoy the greenhouse heated by the hot springs owned by Dart's family!
Pete & Lynn Mayo
spinach creek farm
Pete and Lynn Mayo, the king and queen of carrots in Fairbanks, hosted the participants to their farm twice this summer in addition to attending the farmer panel discussion. The Mayos taught the participants about field prep, cold storage, greenhouse, farm equipment, and harvest.
Dave
outpost farm
Dave hosted the participants at Outpost, his hydroponic greenhouse, three times throughout the season. They watched the tomatoes and cucumbers grow throughout the summer as Dave taught them valuable knowledge about growing hydroponically. He even sent them home with some delicious cucumbers!
Pat Holloway
uaf peony fields
Pat Holloway, the peony expert, taught the participants about growing peonies, peony varieties, and the history of the peony industry in Interior Alaska. Pat took the participants on a tour of the peony fields at UAF and they helped her cut the peonies that were ready to go. They even got to take some home to enjoy!
Callen Christensen & Kelly May
the island hydro
Callen and Kelly, who are currently starting their own hydroponic farm in Fairbanks, both taught a class to share their knowledge with the participants. Callen taught a workshop on compost tea and Kelly taught a class on starting a farm using the experience he learned first hand with their hydroponic farm.
Brad & Christine St.Pierre
goosefoot farm
The St. Pierre's hosted the participants at their farm and attended the farmer discussion panel. On the farm they gave everyone a tour and took them through their weed control practices.
Katie DiCristina
georgeson botanical garden
Katie brought the participants to the currant plots at the Georgeson Botanical Garden and talked about the different colors and varieties. The participants got to harvest and taste test the currants.
Matt Meares
boreal woods mushroom farm
Matt hosted the participants at his mushroom growing operation and walked them through all the steps of growing mushrooms. They were able to see each phase up close and everyone took home a mushroom grow block to try growing mushrooms at home!