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Homer Grown: Gardening in the Arctic

Cold frames overlooking Otz Pond in Kotzebue allow for warmer soil temperatures
Homer Grown
Cold frames overlooking Otz Pond in Kotzebue allow wind protection and warmer soil temperatures for the harsh Arctic climate.

For this episode, host Desiree Hagen travels to Kotzebue to interview the author, Seth Kantner. He is the author of five books focused primarily on the Northwest Arctic. He also runs the Maniilaq Gardening project which serves seven villages along the Kobuk River. He has been gardening in the Arctic for about five decades.

Support for Homer Grown comes from Woda Botanicals and Wagon Wheel Garden and Pet.

Originally from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, Desiree has called Alaska ‘home’ for almost two decades. Her involvement in radio began over 10 years, first as a volunteer DJ at KBBI, later as a host and producer, and now in her current role as a reporter. Her passions include stories relating to agriculture, food systems and rural issues. In her spare time, she can often be found riding her bicycle, creating art from handmade paper, or working in the garden.
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  • This week on the Coffee Table, we welcome Alaskan writer and photographer Seth Kantner, to discuss his new book, A Thousand Trails Home. The book addresses subsistence, caribou, climate change, and growing up in the Arctic.
  • After a successful gardening season, you might wonder how to preserve your excess of vegetables. Our guest is the fabulous fermentista, Willow Jones.…