Jo’s Table Alaska
Agriculture in Interior Alaska? Yes, Interior Alaska is a place that encourages many people to start an agricultural enterprise. Farming Produce, Foraging Mushrooms, Keeping Bees, Raising Chickens; it’s all here. It’s the passion of these individuals that is changing the landscape of Interior Alaska. It’s their vision, their stories and I bring these visionaries and their stories to you. Join us for fun conversations, surprising disclosures, challenges, the trials, the joys and disappointments and the community support all surrounding this basic ingredient of life, FOOD.
Episodes
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 15, 2024
Mighty Melissa Sikes, a consummate educator and food security guru
Tuesday Oct 15, 2024
Tuesday Oct 15, 2024
On this episode meet Mel Sikes, the imminent authority on food security, consummate educator and a tireless foot soldier helping farmers, educating students, and community of growing their own fresh food. Her passion is beyond comparison and her energy endless. She travels across the Interior Alaska to bring classes to everyone interested in gardening, farming and teaches kids the joy of eating lettuce that they grew!
Sunday Sep 08, 2024
Farm to Fresh, Offbeet Farm and a modern root cellar
Sunday Sep 08, 2024
Sunday Sep 08, 2024
Fresh vegetables all year long? In Alaska? Yes!
Meet Sam Knapp. He is the only farmer in Interior Alaska that has a cold storage farm and produces winter storage vegetables, a niche that he has cultivated for himself and his farm that serves his passion for winter storage farming.
Everything he grows is meant for storage in his specially-designed, modern root cellar. After the veggies are washed and stored in the fall, he provides the Fairbanks area with access to locally grown food throughout the winter.
Take a listen to his story, and his journey to building this very scientific, modern cold storage facility on his farm that is unique, one of a kind and providing his customer an amazing variety of vegetables all winter long that are fresh, crisp and taste wonderful.
Friday Aug 09, 2024
Birth to Bacon Farm, is it just about the pigs?
Friday Aug 09, 2024
Friday Aug 09, 2024
Pig Farming! Its really more complex than that. More diversified, and more challenging in Alaska. In this Episode I have a wonderful conversation with Mitch and Melissa Berggren, local farmers who always had raised pigs, not just for their own use but for others who wanted to buy pigs from them for 4H projects and to raise their own pigs. But their story is not just about raising pigs, it’s a diversification of their efforts and work which has created more opportunities for them, while continuing to provide synergistic activities to their original pig farming. Yes, they still have pigs! But their world has spread out into Meat Processing, Hay Farming and possibly raising Cattle.
Their story defines the character of people who work hard, teach their kids how to live in a sustainable way and they also give so much of themselves to others who come looking for mentoring, guidance and help. Wait, did I say they are actively engaged in 4H and FFA? Now, I know I didn’t say that they both have full time jobs that are NOT ON THE FARM!
Please take a listen and join me as we get to know Mitch and Melissa Berggren.
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
Hannah Hill, Feeding People and affirming lives in Fairbanks, Alaska
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
In this episode Hannah Hill, Executive Director of Breadline, Inc speaks about food security and the need to address and reduce hunger in our community.
Bread Line is an anti-hunger organization that has been serving the Fairbanks community since 1984
For almost 40 years, the Bread Line has helped feed people and affirm lives in the Fairbanks, Alaska.
Our conversation brought home the issue of homelessness, hunger, food reliance and how organizations such as Breadline are helping those in need for food. Often, its through the generosity of people, using surplus food and through private donations that this work can be done. Its a serious and sobering conversation. Its people who work every day to provide healthy nutritious meals to those who have nowhere to go and get food. Its about the kindness that is shown to those in need and preserving their dignity.
Its about bringing awareness about the very basic necessity for all people, FOOD.
In this episode we learn about how Breadline is handling hunger and affirming lives via four different programs. Hunger is a subject that is uncomfortable to learn about. How can there be so much need? This is not a third world environment, this is a community that has a lot of economic engines working to promote a quality of life and a place of culture, education and activities that attract tourism from all over the world. And yet, there is a segment of our society that has no place to live and no food to eat. It can't be ignored, or wished away or even not "seen". Its a sad aspect of our community where people are hungry and need shelter. It is therefore, incredibly fortunate that we have good folks like Hannah Hill who are working everyday to take care of hunger and affirming lives.
Saturday Jun 08, 2024
Mushroom Farming in Ester, Alaska
Saturday Jun 08, 2024
Saturday Jun 08, 2024
Lions Mane, Oyster, Black Pearl, Chestnut, King Oyster, And Pioppino? What these are mushrooms? Yes! And all grown in a small Interior Alaska community of Ester.
Boreal Woods is Interior Alaska's only year-round mushroom farm, growing a wide variety of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms for the Fairbanks community. Meet Matthew Meares who started this venture as a family project with his two young sons. His interest in year around farming and a desire to provide healthy nutritious food year has led him to produce 10-15 varieties of mushrooms.
Matt is a young, energetic and forward thinking farmer, who has taken mushroom growing to new levels in a vertical farm in a large building on his property in Ester Alaska. The mushrooms he grows are beautiful, different than those found in grocery stores and good for you.
Visit borealwoods.com for additional information. Or jostablealaska.com for blogpost.
Saturday Apr 27, 2024
Plant Kingdom, a new focus.
Saturday Apr 27, 2024
Saturday Apr 27, 2024
The ever evolving Plant Kingdom. An established greenhouse under new hands, venturing in expansion and new directions but keeping the essence of the much loved greenhouse intact. Its a place to find flowers, vegetables, perennials, shrubs along with joy, peace and tranquility, and soon coffee!
Stephanie Bluekens is a young dynamic entrepreneur who has jumped in with great enthusiasm and focus to take over the greenhouse. She is a mom, a role model for all young entrepreneurs, and to my delight, a passionate supporter of addressing food security and sustainability in Interior Alaska by teaching rural Alaska small towns to grow their own vegetables, as fresh produce is not always available there. This is a much needed effort.
Plant Kingdom continues to evolve, and diversify so it attracts people to visit and relax, attend events, and participate in Easter Egg Hunts and Scavenger Hunts. A beautiful sprawling setting that has become well known for weddings and special evets.
This summer, if you are in Interior Alaska, please visit Plant Kingdom.
www.theplantkingdom.com
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Hay Farming and Food Security in Interior Alaska
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Monday Mar 18, 2024
On this episode I speak with Mike Priebe, who started hay farming a few years ago and is passionate about addressing the food security issue in Alaska. He is part of the conversation that will help other farmers, and supporting entities to share ideas, resources, knowledge so together everyone can succeed.
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
Community Gardens helping community thrive
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
Community Gardens are a place to garden, grow food, flowers and engage with other fellow gardeners. Community Gardeners grow food for their own needs, or to distribute to food banks, neighbors, families and to friends. Its a place where gardeners come together to connect with the soil, people, find joy and peace.
On this episode we talk with Wendy Anderson who has managed the Fairbanks Community Gardens for nearly two decades! Listen to her journey and what makes community gardens and the people working the plots thrive.
Community gardens have a place in all cities, towns and even in rural villages. They are simple in their approach, and encourage grow your own philosophy. Eating healthy nutritious food starts growing your own food and it can be done in a plot at community gardens.
Growing Food in Alaska
Alaska conjures up the image of cold, dark northern lights, sled dogs and perception that we live in dark six months of the year. Well, not all true, especially the six months in dark part.
Our growing season is shorter than rest of the country, but the enthusiasm in growing our own food, producing all vegetables, foraging mushrooms and raising bees and chickens, is somewhat surprising and pursued with gusto!
Join me to learn how the farmers, ranchers, foragers face challenges to pursue their passions. You'll love their vision, their stories and their successes. Join me in my conversations with these entrepreneurs.