Growing Off The Grid

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A visit to Soldotna wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Whistle Hill. Along the Sterling highway in a part of Alaska that’s never actually seen train tracks, a fabulous collection of vintage rail cars houses a host of businesses—an espresso shop, restaurant, gift shop, art gallery, as well as a solar-powered hydroponic farm. A bed and breakfast destination in another train car is in the works, too.

At Whistle Hill, locals and visitors gather while history and the contemporary mingle. One guest might plug in their Tesla to charge while another hitches up the horse they rode in on near a massive solar array that powers Fresh365, Whistle Hill’s vertical farm. “The mission of Fresh365 is to provide fresh greens and herbs to our restaurant and to the public. Year round,” says co-owner Henry Krull.

The farm began inside one insulated shipping container. Now, owners Henry and Mary Krull are expanding the farm with two more upcycled containers. They’ll grow tomatoes and other fruiting vegetables as well as gourmet mushrooms.

“Electricity is probably the single greatest drawback to container farming,” Henry says. “When you take away the sun, you have to replace it, and it’s expensive. We decided to build in enough solar to provide renewable electricity for the farm. We’re putting in a second phase of solar that will double our current capacity. It will supply not only the larger farm, but all the other businesses on the premises. Electricity-wise, we’ll be energy independent.”

The Krulls feel access to regionally grown food is essential to any community. “It is possible to source things locally. We hope other restaurants can do it too. It goes beyond just greens and herbs, and tomatoes and mushrooms.” They urge others to get back to farming and creating regional sources of food, because it’s delicious, it benefits the environment, and it supports the local economy. “If you keep it local, you create local jobs, which creates spending as money circulates through the community several times.”

Stop by Whistle Hill this fall for a taste of Soldotna grown veggies and gourmet mushrooms. The fresh veggies are featured in dishes at the restaurant, Addie Camp, and are available for sale to take home directly from the farm.

43540 Whistle Hill Loop, Soldotna
whistlehillsoldotna.com