Meet Peter Miller, he is the Stone Soup Community Garden Manager. He oversees the most unique community garden in interior Alaska, where the garden is meant for growing food to serve those who are food insecure, he also created an eating garden that is open to anyone who wants to stop by and grab some fresh produce. No questions asked.
Peter Miller has been the Stone Soup Community Garden’s manager since 2022. Peter has a BS in Cell Biology & Neuroscience, WWOOFed on organic farms/homesteads & holds a Permaculture Design Certificate. He is a natural champion of food security & has a wealth of practical knowledge. He is the quietest, most humble individual who gives all credit to others in the community who have helped him with the gardens.
Built by volunteers in 2015, and with donations of land, plants, and water, the Stone Soup Garden grows around 2-thousand pounds of food for the city’s most at-risk for food insecurity. In addition to the volunteers, there are numerous entities that support this wonderful work. Yes, its sad that we have food insecurity in Fairbanks, but we are also blessed to have entities that are willing to do something to counter that. The land was donated by Foundation Health Partners, Fairbanks Water company provides water free of charge, local farms and greenhouses like Calypso, Bender, Risse, Plant Kingdom all provide starters and implements that help with the garden. Volunteers come from organization like Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA), and The Folk School, to sign up to do any work required. The Folk School built raised beds for the garden. It does take a community to support the mission of the garden.
The food harvested from Stone Soup Garden goes to the Bread Line, which is a non-profit that runs a café serving free nutritious breakfasts and sack lunches. Some of the food also goes to the elderly and those with disabilities.
The mission of the Stone Soup Community Garden is to provide the best possible fresh & local food to people experiencing food insecurity in downtown Fairbanks.
The garden’s first season, in 2015, harvested over 500 pounds of produce. The following year, harvest more than tripled! Ever since, the Stone Soup Community Garden has been growing & changing to meet needs of the community and fulfilling its anti-hunger mission. The garden grows more than enough food to send to the Stone Soup Cafe, where the chefs use it to prepare healthy nutritious food plus the excess is shared with Senior Center, Meals on Wheels program and with seniors in the community who no longer can grow their own. The garden now dedicates beds to an “eating garden” so hungry people can pick produce right at the source. People can stop by and grab a handful of kale, lettuce, beans and snap peas for a little fresh salad or just stand there and “graze” Again, No questions asked.
Peter is looking forward to better signage informing people on what is edible and what is not. Good educational stuff! He is also placing benches around so people can sit down, rest and enjoy the peaceful garden.
This is a gem, an oasis right in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska. Check it out, you may be inspired to help tend to the garden, donate time or money or just grab a handful of snap peas.
Location 12th& Lacey, Fairbanks, Alaska
To donate or volunteer, please contact 907-452-1974 or garden@breadlineak.org