Meet Jodie Anderson, Director of Institute of Agriculture at UAF. Don't let her laughing, bubbly and fun personality fool you, She is the force behind all good things that are happening at the IANRE. She oversees the statewide complex IANRE, which is Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Extension.

Do you care? You should! All great things happening at IANRE we are familiar with. Like, Georgeson Botanical Gardens, experimental farms in Fairbanks and Matanuska Valley, 300 plus classes on everything gardening and preservation, youth development through 4H programs, Nanook Gardens, Music in the Gardens, Currant Festival, THE recognized and honored Peony Research garden.

What we don't see is the myriad of research that is going on behind the scenes in soils, forestry, crop management, root research, lighting research to grow better produce and plants, Its mind boggling. UAF tomatoes and peppers anyone?

All this work supports the ultimate recipient of this work, the producers, or the farmers or people who garden at small or large scale. Her mission is to help families grow more food, farmers produce more crops, and all citizens live a healthier lives.

Take a listen. You'll fall in love with her and learn so much what's happening right here at UAF. Visit, https://www.uaf.edu/ianre/

Georgeson Botanical Garden is the the farthest north accredited Botanical garden in the United States. Thousands of people from around the world have visited Georgeson Botanical Garden to look at the beautiful peonies that bloom 120 miles south of the Arctic Circle.

Display Gardens include Alaska’s famous giant cabbages, A spectacular children’s garden that boasts a hedge maze that spans two acres, a collection of peonies that showcase 118 plus cultivars and a food demonstration garden that showcases variety trial research of food plants that are most easily adaptive to climate of interior Alaska. Thus answering the question, "what grows well here" ?

Take a listen to the wonderful story of the original experimental farm in Fairbanks that started in 1906, and then transitioned in to the botanical gardens that started evolving in 1989.

If you time it right, every Thursday evening there is Music in the garden from mid May to mid August. Its free. Bring your family, friends, a blanket and a picnic and enjoy some of the best music in Interior Alaska.

On this episode I speak with Callen Christensen about his work with the AFFECT program. What started as a grant to teach hydroponics, evolved into a three year curriculum to teach farming to interested and upcoming farmers who want to start their own farm, or work on a farm. Tuition free, this program selects students, age range 18+, to enroll in a 15 week program that blends classroom as well as hands on experience on farms. The focus is on unique challenges and opportunities in Alaska climate and geography.

AFFECT provides an avenue for individuals interested in farming to gain the experience and knowledge needed to successfully start a farm business in interior Alaska. Being tuition-free, the AFFECT program is accessible to any and all individuals who are interested in farming, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, etc. Students visit a multitude of local farms and receive hands on training from our local farmers. Additionally, students receive classroom training on business skills, and grow their own crops at various satellite farms. Students receive a Farm Pre-Apprentice Certification by the Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District upon successful completion of the program

AFFECT program has demonstrated many successes, lets keep the momentum going.

visit https://affectfarm.com