After serving a tour at what is now known as Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), U.S. Air Force veterans Ryan and Isobelle Mahoney eventually returned to Alaska. Ryan earned his Advanced Master Gardener certification and discovered that Alaska imports 95% of its food. As such, we felt called to expand from our urban hobby farm of vegetables, honeybees, and chickens to a formal “Alaska Grown” business.
Thankfully, Beth and Kurt of Scenic Place Peonies entrusted us to take over their secondary “Red Cabin Farm” site and continue its reputation for exceptional flowers. As lifelong learners, we are so grateful to the collaborative Alaska agricultural community, especially the Alaska Botanical Garden, USDA FSA, Anchorage/Homer Soil and Water Conservation Districts, UAF Cooperative Extension, and the Alaska Food Policy Council.
We must also thank the Alaska Veterans Business Outreach Center and the Farmer Veteran Coalition with whom we are certified “Homegrown by Heroes.”
