Hawks Greenhouse is celebrating its 65th year of operation this year, It’s three generations working together to continue the greenhouse that was started by Angie’s in laws, Elaine and Charles Hawks in 1960.
Their story is inspirational, and their journey to Alaska, especially to interior Alaska full of challenges. It’s hard to imagine putting your belongings and children in a pull along trailer and drive thousands of miles to Alaska on the then not so wonderful ALCAN. Charles & Elaine Hawks drove the perilous journey up the ALCAN Highway to begin a new life in what was then, the Territory of Alaska. Charles was with Eielson Air Force base and Elaine was the chief-in-charge of kids and everything else. They had no electricity, a Quonset hut, a trailer and that’s how life in Interior Alaska started for the Hawks. Life was very challenging. Vegetable gardening was out of necessity. They truly lived off the land. The older kids, Mike and Carol started taking their extra veggies to a farmer’s market on South Cushman and with other growers in the area, this was the beginning of the Tanana Valley Farmer’s Market.
Next came a homemade greenhouse, with a conduit frame covered in plastic. Friends and neighbors were their first greenhouse customers. All 7 children had a hand in working the land. They moved the greenhouse operation to its Richardson Highway location where the enterprise continued to grow and evolve. Elaine had a knack for growing veggies, but soon they added, flowers, trees, shrubs and perennials. She had the tenacity, perseverance and passion. All skills that she passed down to her daughter in law, Angie, who now runs the greenhouse with her husband Troy and daughter Cloe. “We’re into generation number three — now our children work with us,” Angie said. “That can be a rarity!”
The business has changed a lot over the decades. According to Angie, Hawks Greenhouse now features conveyors and an automatic seeder.
“We used to have to fill everything by hand. It took forever,” she said.
The business was also the first local greenhouse to begin offering custom basket planting and to host workshops for adults and kids — and the changes keep coming. This year, their 65th year anniversary, they are relocating the greenhouse business to town, mid town, to circumvent the overpass and road construction near their Richardson Highway location which will stymie their operations for three years. This would not be good for their business, hence the move.
Change, while hard and challenging, is not embraced lightly by Angie. She is looking at a newer, better, bigger greenhouse to serve her customers and the community. A wonderful gift to all of us. We can’t wait to see what this new place looks like. It is a LOT of work! For Angie, however, the work appears to be the reward. “It’s fun. It’s been an adventure every single day,” Angie said with enthusiasm. “When you work together, there’s a different mindset I think, than what people are used to. But we work very well together and have fun doing it.
Please visit hawksgreenhouse.com to learn about the new space and its offering. Several grand opening events are planned in May 2025. Keep an eye for postings on their Facebook page for soft openings, tours and other events.