Jo’s Table Alaska

Hawks Greenhouse: 65 years of Beauty, Blooms and Community

Hawks Greenhouse is celebrating its 65th year of operation this year, It’s three generations working together to continue the greenhouse that was started by Angie’s in laws, Elaine and Charles Hawks in 1960.
This podcast is the third in the Greenhouse series.  It's the inspirational story of Chuck and Elaine Hawks who traveled the ALCAN highway with three kids to Alaska in search for a better life for their family.  Chuck and Elaine were homesteaders and procured 160 acres of land where they lived, raised seven kids and embarked on establishing the ever growing, evolving the beautiful Hawks Greenhouse. Now in its 65th years, the greenhouse is going through another iteration. A new location, bigger greenhouses, bigger storefront and ability to keep expanding and supporting the community as only they can.

Yellow Wood Farms, nurturing and raising farm animals ethically.

Putting Animals first.  That's the philosophy embraced by the young and energetic couple who along with their five kids have started a farm in Fairbanks, Alaska.
In this episode I sit down with Michael and Jessica Shaffstall, to talk about their journey in starting a farm in this very cold climate.  It was a dream of theirs for many years.  Mike is Active Duty military and was stationed in Fairbanks where he and his family fell in love with Fairbanks and wanted to make it their forever home. They finally realized their dream in fall of 2021.
Their farm is on six and a half acres, where they have utilized creative ways to build, heat and outfit shelters for the chicks and hens.  Adequate space is super important. The nurturing and care for all their animals is of great importance to them.   They raise pigs, chickens, turkeys and have egg laying hens.  They also bring Jessica's bread to the market which has become a best seller for them. 
However, it’s not just what they bring to the market, but their happy, joyful personality that is so endearing. 
The farm name comes from Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken." The phrase "yellow wood" symbolizes a time of change or transition, representing a critical juncture in life where a significant decision needs to be made, often signifying the weight of choices and their consequences on one's life journey.
Isn’t it a happy consequence that the Shaffstall’s choice in deciding their life’s journey and choices brought them to Fairbanks?  It’s is indeed a positive choice for them, and we benefit as well.
You can find them at yellowwoodak.com or follow them on Facebook
You can find this episode wherever you get your podcasts, and also on jostablealaska.com
Please follow the Jo's Table Alaska podcast so you don't miss any episodes. Enjoy!
 

Last Month of the Year. Lessons Learned and Insights Gained"

As the year 2024 ends, I'm reflecting back to when I started this podcast, my reasons, my challenges, my journey.  The insights I gained. If not for this podcast, I would not have met the wonderful people who took time to speak with me and share their stories. If not for them, we would not know their journey and learn about this community of people who work hard to address food security and provide healthy food to the community.
I learned so much!  And I continue to learn.  Join me as I travel back a year and a half to see how far I have come.  And how much is ahead for me to learn. Thanks for supporting Jo's Table Alaska.  Happy Holidays!

Calypso Farm, growing food and educating community

On this episode, meet Tom Zimmer.  He and his and co-founder Susan, started Calypso Farm twenty five years ago with mission to grow food ecologically, keeping mother nature in front and foremost focus and to educate the community of all ages in growing gardens, homesteading, blacksmithing and fiber arts. Their farm has kids camps, teaching indigenous farming and sustainability to rural communities, they grow food to share with those who cannot afford to pay for healthy nutritious food.  The focus of the farm has evolved over the years, but the main mission to grow healthy food and to keep the farm's focus as a teaching farm remains as vital as ever.
You will love Tom and his vision!  You are always welcome to visit Calypso Farm and ask questions, share thoughts and also to take classes.  Having a special event?  The farm is an amazing place to host your special event.
Go to their website to learn more,
calypsofarm.org
 
 

Mighty Melissa Sikes, a consummate educator and food security guru

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! 

Farm to Fresh, Offbeet Farm and a modern root cellar

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.

Birth to Bacon Farm, is it just about the pigs?

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.

Hannah Hill, Feeding People and affirming lives in Fairbanks, Alaska

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.