Farmers of the Last Frontier

— Calypso Farm (@CalypsoFarm) June 13, 2018

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Poppies, a Calypso Farm staple. We plant these guys in patches between crop varieties to encourage pollinators, and by July they are sprinkled throughout the field. #calypsofloral #poppies #biodiversity (at Calypso Farm and Ecology Center)

Calypso's 2010 School Garden Manager, Kate Spring is now a farmer and blogger at Good Heart Farmstead in Vermont. In her latest blog post, Kate and Susan discuss Calypso's background, lessons-learned and advice for aspiring farmers. Check out the Good Heart Life blog and give it a listen!

Our 6 wonderful 2017 Farmers in Training arrived earlier this month, and have quickly settled in to life and learning on the farm. Hailing from the East Coast, West Coast, Mid-West, Hawaii and right here in Fairbanks, this is a diverse group with unique experiences. Carrie, Sarah, Andy, Ian, Holly and Josh will spend the next 5 months soaking in the dynamic Alaskan farming season, learning practical field and farm management skills, trying their hand at creative skills like fiber art and blacksmithing, and developing their own Whole Farm Plans. Stay tuned! 

Swiss chard stained glass.  Full sunshine and crisp fall weather; farm life feels glorious!

Walk through the fields and you’ll find poppies growing between broccoli plants, borage and fireweed at the ends of carrot beds, and columbines dangling above the herb patch.  We utilize ecological and biointensive gardening practices, allowing many native plants to coexist with our cultivated vegetable crops.  Not only do these flowering plants provide us a beautiful place to work; they provide the bees with honey and our farmers with foraging opportunities for food, tea, and remedies.  We also grow over 150 different flower cultivars  for our weekly flower CSA shares, markets, event arrangements and special orders - even a variety of edible flowers like Nasturtiums and Johnny Jump-Ups for a local restaurant! 

Kohlrabi Harvest!  This season was Jace’s first time trying kohlrabi.  He’ll never go back. 

The farm Buns. 

Spring Review: Here are some shots from our Farmer in Training, Jace.  Beautiful views from the top of the field, growing greenhouse veggies, shared goodies in the communal kitchen, and a cozy cabin. 

Thank you to Sarah Lewis Photography for sharing your lovely photos! 

We’ve been busy bees with field trips on the farm - particularly pizza field trips! Now that school’s in session, we’ll have lots of classes coming up to harvest fresh veggies from the field, creating colorful combinations of beets, carrots, broccoli, and herbs! 

Farmer in Training, Ryker, whipping up some savoy cabbage sauerkraut on the porch yesterday.  He has had a large interest in working on ferments this season, as well as teas and other goods from foraged boreal plants.   We taste-tested the Salad Turnip, Ginger & Garlic ferments that he tried out a few weeks ago - delish! 

Hot off the Smithy!  Beautiful hooks and BBQ fork made by our Farmers in Training. 

What exactly is Calypso’s Farmer Training Program and who is it for?  Learn more about this unique program on our Website. 

To learn more about our Farmer Training Program participants and their experiences, visit our website.