Calypso Farm
School gardens. Community farm stands. Composting workshops. Farmer training. Community supported agriculture subscriptions. Breathtaking flower bouquets. Fun and educational children’s camps. Calypso Farm & Ecology Center brings all this and more to the Fairbanks community.
And, Calypso, a wonderful supporter of public broadcasting, is KUAC’s featured corporate sponsor for July.
Calypso Farm is a non-profit, educational farm in Ester, offering hands-on education programs and growing fresh food for the community. Established in 2000 by Tom Zimmer and Susan Willsrud, the farm has experienced change and growth. What began as a small CSA has become a thriving hub for on-farm field trips, workshops, a farmer training program, animals, fiber production and vegetable production.
Calypso founded and supports the School Garden Initiative, teaching young people the value of growing their own food. The goal of the initiative is to support a network of school gardens functioning as experiential learning environments for teachers and students during the school year. During the summer months, the gardens offer summer LEAF Camps (Learning Ecology & Alaskan Farming), the EATinG Program (Engaging Alaskan Teens in Gardening) at Hunter Elementary, and weekly Neighborhood Farm Stands at each garden.
Calypso’s workshops are comprehensive explorations of blacksmithing, wool and ecology. A great time to visit Calypso is during the open house Sunday, July 16 from noon to 4 p.m. at 4780 Old Nenana Highway. Celebrate summer with farm animals, hands-on activities, farm tours, live music and aerial silks performances. Wood-fired pizza and salad will be available for purchase.
“When the radio is on, it’s KUAC,” said Calypso’s Willsrud. “Fairbanks is fortunate to have access to KUAC’s wide variety of quality programming from, NPR and local news to programs like Alaska Live. Equally important, KUAC supports its community through thoughtful, inquisitive stories, helping smaller organizations and groups to get their word out and raising awareness about local causes. Thank you, KUAC!”
Learn more at calypsofarm.org or call 451-0691
