Synergy Gardens was just a dream that grew into an idea that became a beautiful Farm. This dream was born of many years of farming experience and a desire to grow our experience and knowledge within a progressive and supportive community. Homer Alaska beckoned us from the mountains of North Georgia and we made the leap. We found a thriving farmers market, restaurants hungry for fresh produce and a supportive local foods culture. All we needed was suitable land. So we began.....clearing, fertilizing, bedding, growing and harvesting. We built high-tunnels, stretching our short growing season, expanding our crop variety. And we found willing buyers who raved about the flavor, color and selections.
"When you grow more than you can eat, don't build a higher fence, build a longer table." anonymous
The Synergy Philosophy:
The idea behind Synergy was to grow, learn, share and be the change we wanted to see in the world. Our dream was big, our ambitions bigger, and our appetites insatiable. Addicted to good food, natural beauty, flavor, community, and a chance to learn something new along the lines of things we already loved. We just want to grow amazing food for our amazing community. Our community is Alaska, specifically the beautiful town of Homer on the Kenai penninsual. We can taste the difference and we invite you to do the same.
““There has never been a better time to get into farming”
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The jenkins Family
Lori is the founder of the Alaska Garlic Project and co-owner of Synergy Gardens. Mother of Jana who teaches montessori school in Colorado, and Obadiah, an alaskan fisherman and carpenter among other trades, Lori has spent most of her career as a non-profit executive director and art teacher. She is currently an artistic, multi-tasking farmer, contributing writer for Edible Alaska magazine, vendor at the Homer Farmers Market, grower of gourmet vegetables and edible blossoms for many local Homer restaurants. She works to merge Synergy Gardens aesthetic beauty with practical sustenance for inspiration and health.
Wayne’s passion for growing food reaches back to age twelve when he dug up a strip of soil in his parents postage stamp front yard for tomatoes. Over the next five decades he increased his knowledge and honed his skills, before the days of “official” sustainable ag courses and degrees; farming, consulting and supporting the expansion of the “organic movement” in Georgia and the greater southeastern US. Wayne is a self-certified “soils” aficionado and compost guru believing our first challenge in producing the best food is the “husbanding” of the land. The soil remains a mysterious realm we are still learning about, but, we know enough to treat it with the respect and care it deserves for feeding ourselves, nutritionally and spiritually.
Obadiah is Lori and Wayne's son and has been the Catalyst and wayward dreamer of what has become Synergy Gardens. After a stint in Atlanta GA studying architecture and engineering, Obadiah made some life changes and quickly found himself road tripping to Alaska in search of adventure, meaning, purpose, and vast wilderness. after earning degrees in outdoor recreation and environmental science at Alaska Pacific University he once again re-evaluated path and purpose and found himself drawn back to and inspired by his parents ethics and way of life. Both parents being exceptional organic farmers, as a family we began creating an idea of building a future together to achieve all of our hopes and goals for a brighter future. Obadiah had fallen in love with Alaska and through several visits both parents had begun loving it too. The dream of being connected to a place, utilizing and expanding passions and skills while learning how to farm in a new place became a reality in 2012 when Synergy Gardens was born. the idea of farming together as a family became a reality and what an adventure it has been!
Lori and Wayne Jenkins, between them they have over 60 years of Organic Gardening experience.