Farming in the Klondike

This panel explores themes of innovation, perserverance, and cooperation, all of which are key ingredients for success when farming in the Klondike. This discussion is moderated by long time farmer and researcher, John Lenart.


Speakers and Panelists

John Lenart
Klondike Valley Nursery/
Horticulture Consultant

John planted his inaugural apple trees in the Klondike over thirty five years ago, undeterred by the cold, wet, previously unbroken, moss-covered valley soil. Determination and passion prevailed. Decades of success growing fruiting and ornamental plants here have made him a sought-after expert in extreme northern horticulture. His ornamental conifers and deciduous trees are features of private, municipal and institutional  plantings in Yukon, at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden and the prestigious Iseli Nursery in Oregon. Locally the most prominent display exhibits his dwarf spruces, Siberian larches, elm, hybrid  birch and poplars in the Front street park in Dawson City.​ John loves to share his passion for growing and treading lightly on the earth with everyone who comes through the place.

Jacqueline Clancy
Rockpile Remedies

Jacqueline is a wildcrafter, educator, gardener and herbalist based in Dawson City, Yukon. She moved to the Yukon in 1975 and learned about natural healing while raising her children in the bush outside Dawson City. No kool-aid for these kids! From rose hip tea to organic gardening, she discovered herbal remedies out of her own need for chronic pain relief. Rockpile Remedies is the culmination of her herbal experience and education. Jacqueline has taught Wildcrafting in the Klondike since 2014 and owns and operates Rockpile Remedies from her home on the tailings outside Dawson. Jacqueline believes that everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to identify medicinal plants and make easy-to-use herbal remedies from them.

Otto Muehlback
Kokopellie Farm

Otto is 68 years old with over 50 years of farming/horticulture experience. Immigrating to Canada in 2008, he started with his partner Conny in 2013 to build a home and start the kokopellie farm. After 12 years in business in Canada, Otto is learning to harness Mother Nature in the subarctic to provide a wide range of veggies, herbs, meat, grain, potatoes, and flowers - some of which, year-round, for the locals and our table. All produce is organically grown using traditional methods. As he transitions to a sort of retirement, Otto supports the next generation to find the passion to support life on the land and produce local, healthy food and a healthy lifestyle.

Jake Armstrong
Forgé&Fungî

Jake is a blacksmith, mushroom farmer, filmmaker, and board member of CYAN. He came to the Yukon in 2015 as a wild mushroom picker and before that spent many years travelling and working on farms from Nova Scotia to California. Since 2019, he has been cultivating mushrooms for the local Market in Dawson. Getting a start at the TH farm, where he developed the first large-scale practice, he has since set out to launch his own farm Forgé&Fungî. His approach to working with mushrooms as nature's recyclers informs how he has developed the infrastructure necessary for cultivating them, recycling and repurposing all that went into the practice from electrical components, building materials for fruiting chambers, and the vessels the mushrooms grow in. Through experimenting with cold-hardy local strains and adaptive methods, Jake hopes to help bring innovation and more diversity to the Yukon's food systems as well as resilience by organizing with other local farmers and community members.

Derrick Hastings
Manager of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Farm

Farmer, activist and organizer. Youth mentor and musician, father of 4 and husband to Katie English.
Derrick has been Trondek Hwechin farm manager for 8 years and has love for the land , the people and local food. He especially likes raising rabbits and chickens and is affectionately known locally as the chicken man.

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