Hundreds turned out for the Alaska Farm and Garden Show

Hundreds of visitors, from novice gardeners to seasoned pros turned out for the first annual Alaska Farm and Garden Show over the weekend at the Menard Center, making it a farm-tastic experience for all.

Vendors were on hand selling everything from professional-grade farm equipment to locally produced goat milk soap, to a chance to take a time out with baby goats. The show gave visitors the focus on farming, homesteading, and self-sustainability across Alaska.

“It’s different here in Alaska,” says Reeve, a local homesteader who runs Flat Tire Farm in Willow. “The things that might work down in the lower 48 just don’t work here, so this is a great opportunity for people to learn, see what others are doing.”

“We grow as much food as we can, we harvest our own firewood, with our animals, we create our own fertilizer, we are trying to create as many of our own things as possible,” says wife Crystal.

The couple said this will be a great opportunity for attendees to find answers to their farming and homesteading questions direct from people already living the experience.

“It can be a little intimidating [starting a homestead], but nowadays is the best time because there are unlimited resources, good information on how to do things, bad things too, but enough good information that people don’t have to be afraid to try.”

Along with the vendors, visitors had a chance to attend one, two, or more of the dozens of seminars featured at the show, with topics ranging from raising your own flock of chickens, the basics of solar, to learning about the art of growing Bonsai here in Alaska.

While nothing is confirmed yet, it looks to be a safe bet that the show will return next year.