Oceanside Farms is a medium size market garden farm in Homer, Alaska that grows vegetables, fruits, berries, and Alaska Certified Seed potatoes using organic methods and raises poultry for meat and eggs. Farm infrastructure has been built from the ground up and includes ten high tunnels and other season-extension devices such as low tunnels and solar thermal panels, drip irrigation systems, produce processing areas that support compliance with Alaska food safety regulations, and predator fencing.   

Through a combination of building soils using locally available and organic amendments with the acquisition of labor-saving devices to increase farm efficiency, owners Don McNamara and Donna Rae Faulkner have successfully demonstrated that market garden farms are realistic in Alaska’s harsh climate and nutrient-poor soils. Oceanside Farms has also developed strong competencies in regional and local marketing of farm products that include collaborative efforts working with the Alaska Food Hub, and the Homer Farmers Market and participating in community-supported agriculture programs (CSA). 

Oceanside Farms is a strong supporter of community education for farming in Alaska. They have provided primary technical assistance to our region’s small farms since 2015 and their farming and marketing methods provide a model for our small farms’ development. Both Don and Donna Rae are experienced hands-on educators and have developed workshops on topics such as Farm Layout and Succession Planning, Seed Starting, Soil Building, and Small Market Garden Farm Tools.  In 2020 they produced a series of training videos focused on soil building and on selection and care of fruit trees in south-central Alaska. They regularly participate in state-wide conferences sponsored by organizations such as the Alaska Food Policy Council and USDA Western SARE. 

Learn more about Oceanside Farms.