Farragut Farm Adventurers share their thoughts on exploring endangered lands

One of my core hopes for the Last Stands project is to develop a network of adventurous Alaskans who are intentional about developing relationships with threatened lands. As individuals we have an opportunity to use adventure to become informed advocates for places that are remote, challenging to access and many kinds of wild. The stories from this project have to the potential to redefine the way we value forested land in the region, and will be ours to share regardless of shortsighted management decisions.

My travel buddy Peter Bradley paddling up the slough to Bo & Marja's farm

I recently visited Bo and Marja who opperate a vegetable farm north of Petersburg in the remote and expansively beautiful Farragut Bay. As longtime residents of Farragut Bay, a place threatened by the potential 2-million acre land giveaway, Bo and Marja helped pass the Petersburg Borough's resolution against Don Young's HB 232. Click here for that resolution.

Bo and Marja are still engaged on the issue, and have signed on to the Last Stands adventure to visit some unexplored places near their home that are threatened by the 2-million acre land giveaway.

Everything about our visit to Farragut Farm was amazing - the paddle up the slough, the freshly harvested baby turnips (delicious!) - but a highlight was hearing Bo's thoughts about adventuring in endangered places and his ideas about the future of his region. My pal Peter Bradley put together a short audio piece from our conversation. It takes years of growing veggies to speak so well for the land, take a listen!

"When you see someplace for the first time and you know it's threatened, it makes it worry you. Here's this amazing place, but next time I come here it might be completely gone"

Bo Varsano runs Farragut Farm with his partner Marja Smets

Plan your own adventure in a place threatened by the 2-million acre rainforest carve out. Sign up here, or let's chat. Shoot me an email at tongasslaststands@gmail.com