agriculture

Foreground, from left: Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank and Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner watch as Kenai City Attorney Scott Bloom wordsmiths an amendment to an ordinance during a council meeting on Wednesday at Kenai City Hall, March 1, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. Background from left: Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, Deborah Sounart and Alex Douthit discuss the legislation, which allows more city residents to keep chickens on their property. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai OKs chickens for more city residents

Council debate on the issue lasted for roughly four hours

 

Kenai City Council member Alex Douthit testifies in support of legislation allowing chickens on some city lots during a meeting of the Kenai Planning & Zoning Commission on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai planning group gives conditional thumbs-up to chicken ordinance

The legislation would allow Kenai residents to keep up to 12 chicken hens on certain lots

 

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion file Chickens are seen inside of a chicken house at Diamond M Ranch on April 1, 2021, off Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai.

Kenai ordinance would allow chickens in some city zones

The legislation comes as Alaska, like other states, is experiencing an egg shortage

 

Jake Dye / Peninsula Clarion Mike O’Brien shows off his cherries Wednesday at O’Brien Garden & Trees in Nikiski.

Harvesting knowledge

Nikiski farmer values learning over dollars

Jake Dye / Peninsula Clarion Mike O’Brien shows off his cherries Wednesday at O’Brien Garden & Trees in Nikiski.
Mike O’Brien checks on his peaches at O’Brien Garden and Trees in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

A taste of autumn

Orchard in Nikiski shares apple harvest.

Mike O’Brien checks on his peaches at O’Brien Garden and Trees in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Peninsula Clarion file Auctioneers Andy Kriner, left, and Rayne, Reynolds celebrate a successful sale during the 4-H Junior Market Livestock Auction at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 17, 2019 at the fairgrounds in Ninilchik.

4-H expo to kick off in Soldotna on Friday

The expo was previously held in Ninilchik, but the Soldotna City Council voted to relocate it.

Peninsula Clarion file Auctioneers Andy Kriner, left, and Rayne, Reynolds celebrate a successful sale during the 4-H Junior Market Livestock Auction at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 17, 2019 at the fairgrounds in Ninilchik.
Robert Gibson of Cooper Landing picks barley by hand at a small barley field planted by the Kenai Peninsula Borough in a vacant gravel pit on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. Gibson uses three different methods to pick the barley, including using a scythe and a hand sickle. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough seeks to grow local agriculture

Borough forming agricultural land program, seeking letters

Robert Gibson of Cooper Landing picks barley by hand at a small barley field planted by the Kenai Peninsula Borough in a vacant gravel pit on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. Gibson uses three different methods to pick the barley, including using a scythe and a hand sickle. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Soil and Water Conservation District’s newest farm equipment rental is a potato digger that will cut down on labor-intensive potato harvesting for area farmers. The equipment sits ready for use at Ridgeway Farms on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Farm to food bank: Equipment rental leads to community benefit

Kenai Soil and Water Conservation District are expanding their catalog of affordable agricultural rental equipment through a charitable project that benefits both farmers and the… Continue reading

Kenai Soil and Water Conservation District’s newest farm equipment rental is a potato digger that will cut down on labor-intensive potato harvesting for area farmers. The equipment sits ready for use at Ridgeway Farms on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
First Harvest Moon Festival ‘celebrates progress’

First Harvest Moon Festival ‘celebrates progress’

The peninsula’s biggest food celebration commences this Saturday with live music, activities, guest speakers, cooking demonstrations, farm vendors and food trucks that will be featuring… Continue reading

First Harvest Moon Festival ‘celebrates progress’
A sign marks a type of barley growing in a small field in a vacant gravel pit on Aug. 31, 2018 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Experimental planting produces barley in Cooper Landing

Something new is sprouting in Cooper Landing. Perched on a hill in an old gravel pit on Snug Harbor Road, just under an acre of… Continue reading

A sign marks a type of barley growing in a small field in a vacant gravel pit on Aug. 31, 2018 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A young visitor admires a horse in the pens at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 18, 2018 in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

For livestock carers, the Kenai Peninsula Fair is a time to shine

Though a Ferris wheel towers over the Ninilchik Fairground and the smell of kettle corn permeates the air, for many, the Kenai Peninsula Fair is… Continue reading

A young visitor admires a horse in the pens at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 18, 2018 in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A goat nibbles on some vegetation during a goat yoga session hosted by the Yoga Yurt and Liberty Alaska Goat Farms on Saturday, June 23, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Goat yoga comes to the Peninsula

    Amber Harrison had few expectations when she laid down her yoga mat at the Palmer Fairgrounds last year. She came all the way… Continue reading

A goat nibbles on some vegetation during a goat yoga session hosted by the Yoga Yurt and Liberty Alaska Goat Farms on Saturday, June 23, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska Grown options expand with new market, app

Editor's note: This article has been updated to add a listing for the Soldotna farmers market on Saturdays. Here on the peninsula, opportunities to purchase… Continue reading

A sheep waits in the barn at Lancashire Farm on Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. The farm, established in 1948, raises sheep both for wool and for meat. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Interest in farm-raised meat grows

For those who want farm-raised meat, it can be a challenge to get unless they happen to own enough property for a pasture or barn.… Continue reading

A sheep waits in the barn at Lancashire Farm on Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. The farm, established in 1948, raises sheep both for wool and for meat. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A white board displays ideas for attracting tourists to farms brainstormed by a group of farm operators, local food enthusiasts and restauranteurs at a presentation and workshop on agritourism by Alaska Farm Tours owner Margaret Adsit at the Donald E. Gilman Kenai River Center on Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Farmers look to attract tourists

Farmers in Alaska are looking to tourists to help round out their profit margins. Agritourism, or farm-based tourism, is already a staple for many farmers… Continue reading

A white board displays ideas for attracting tourists to farms brainstormed by a group of farm operators, local food enthusiasts and restauranteurs at a presentation and workshop on agritourism by Alaska Farm Tours owner Margaret Adsit at the Donald E. Gilman Kenai River Center on Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
This Friday, July 17, 2015 photo shows peonies for sale by Cool Cache Farms LLC., in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file photo)

Bill seeks to expand cottage food sales, farm tours

Kenai Peninsula farmer and local food advocates are leading the charge for a bill to expand what local farms can offer for consumers and tourists.… Continue reading

This Friday, July 17, 2015 photo shows peonies for sale by Cool Cache Farms LLC., in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file photo)
A young dall sheep scales the rockface along the Seward Highway near Girdwood in March. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Bacteria found in wild sheep, goats

A strain of bacteria known to cause respiratory issues in Lower 48 bighorn sheep has been detected in Alaska, and on the Kenai Peninsula, for… Continue reading

A young dall sheep scales the rockface along the Seward Highway near Girdwood in March. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
A herd of Dall sheep graze on the side of one of the peaks in the Mystery Hills above the Skyline Trail in September 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Game takes no action on permit requirement for domestic sheep, goats

Owners of domestic sheep and goats won’t have to get permits for their animals for now, though members of the state Board of Game urged… Continue reading

A herd of Dall sheep graze on the side of one of the peaks in the Mystery Hills above the Skyline Trail in September 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
(Left to right) Kalista, Shaunzi and Kimbra Clements crouch in a patch of low bush cranberries Aug. 15, 2016 on Tsalteshi Trails’ Wolverine Trail in Soldotna, Alaska during the Harvest Moon Festival. (Clarion File Photo)

Celebrating on this harvest moon

The harvest moon marks the end of the growing season as the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox which marks the start of fall. This… Continue reading

(Left to right) Kalista, Shaunzi and Kimbra Clements crouch in a patch of low bush cranberries Aug. 15, 2016 on Tsalteshi Trails’ Wolverine Trail in Soldotna, Alaska during the Harvest Moon Festival. (Clarion File Photo)
A young goat explores the land at Karluk Acres in Kenai on July 12. The Office of the State Veterinarian is looking for owners of sheep and goats to take part in a study on the prevalence of a pneumonia inducing bacterium in Alaska. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

State vet asking for goats and sheep for study

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the correct name of the bacterium and the correct sponsor of the study. The Office of the… Continue reading

A young goat explores the land at Karluk Acres in Kenai on July 12. The Office of the State Veterinarian is looking for owners of sheep and goats to take part in a study on the prevalence of a pneumonia inducing bacterium in Alaska. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)