Founded in 1984, the Homer Garden Club (HGC) is a non-profit organization whose goal is to educate by gathering and exchanging reliable information about gardening in our part of Alaska. In addition to the many community projects we support, the HGC has just published the third edition of our book. (The first was published twenty years ago; the second ten years ago.)

This edition, though built on the work of the two earlier editions, is so enlarged and enhanced, we have renamed it Kachemak Cultivating from Seaside to Summit. The title reflects our goal of addressing areas well beyond Homer. It is a guide to successful gardening on Alaska's Southern Kenai Peninsula.

More than twenty people worked directly on this edition -- eighteen chapter writers, five editors and three special contributors. The cover art is by local artist Toby Tyler and is printed in full color.

Kachemak Cultivating from Seaside to Summit is a great resource for experienced local gardeners and an invaluable one for new gardeners and those new to gardening in Alaska. In short, everyone who gardens in coastal Alaska can benefit from some aspect of this book.

Spanning well over 300 pages, the book addresses gardening topics from herbs to trees and shrubs, how to improve your soil to dealing with moose and ways to extend the growing season.

Chapter titles include

Local Climate and Soils
Improving and Caring for Garden Soil
Starting Seeds
Perennials Including Bulbs and Ferns
Annuals Including Container Gardening and Tips for Cut Flowers
Native Plants
Herbs
Vegetables
Trees and Shrubs with Tips on Attracting Birds with Plants
Season Extenders
Pests
Lawns
Roses and Grasses

There is also an extensive Glossary, Resources Section and a detailed Index