Brigitte and Willie began creating their Alaskan paradise about 25 years ago. They have built a home and three private cottages on a hillside that overlooks the Kachemak Bay and Kenai Mountains near Homer, Alaska. Alaska is much colder than they were used to, so they had to adapt to create a cold climate kitchen garden.

They built their home and the cottages, carved out a garden, and built a smokehouse to smoke fresh salmon. They built a chicken coop, an outdoor stone fireplace, a fire pit, and stone walkways.

When winter descends, with its long nights and short days, and the garden shuts down, they are not spending their free time watching television. They are designing and making their own furniture. Every table, bench, chest and chair is handmade from local wood. Willie has his workshop and Brigitte has hers.

The kitchen garden is on a hillside with a southern exposure, so it’s in a warm pocket with the most light. Homer is in southern Alaska on the Cook Inlet, so it’s warmer than you might expect, but this garden is at a high elevation which makes it colder, so a south face is welcomed.

What to Plant in a Cold Climate Kitchen Garden

The planting beds are terraced into the hill with grass walkways between them. This then creates raised beds and protects the soil from being stepped on and compacted.

Rhubarb, currants, strawberries, lettuce, kale, onions, broccoli, carrots, fennel, and beets are splashed with bright poppies, daisies, and other flowers growing among them. Flowering shrubs and perennials border the vegetables and herbs.

The compost area is in a separate space, hidden from view but nearby. This separate room is large enough to hold a few stray tools, some buckets and a wheelbarrow. There are three large wood bins to collect and rotate debris from the garden and kitchen as it breaks down into rich compost.

Protecting the Garden from Moose

The narrow doorway into the garden is through a trellis covered in climbing vines and roses. The huge stones used for the pathway and steps were placed by hand. You feel that you might be entering a secret place. Step through the threshold and your view immediately expands to the colorful volume of the garden.

The entire garden is surrounded with birch trees and forest, so it is an enclosed garden with an opening to see the spectacular view. It’s also outlined with a fence to keep the moose out. Willie put up eight foot posts at intervals and attached expansive fishing nets between them. It works very well although periodically the persistent moose can find its way to the beet greens.

A Simple, Effective Greenhouse

The greenhouse is a simple structure—hoops with heavy plastic sheeting thrown over it. Inside the greenhouse they grow tomatoes, squash, and basil.

Just outside the greenhouse are five or six artichoke plants growing in huge containers. They are tucked in a protected area, thoroughly mulched and miraculously survive the Alaskan winter.

This garden is well designed and the principles apply to any garden, whether it’s in Alaska or South Carolina.

Work with your site: is it on a hillside of flat plain? Enclose the garden, create some mystery, create raised beds, make pathways wide enough for a wheelbarrow, create features, mix up flowers, vegetables, herbs, and fruits, then pick something to nibble on and enjoy the view.