Talkeetna Flower Kennel and Homestead

Off-grid living with sled dogs

Self-Sufficient

Projects for a lifetime

The Homestead Workforce

Hauling water from the spring in winter

Subsistence Lifestyle

Preserving food

Cabin Life

The Flower Kennel Dogs

Exploring Alaska

Stories of adventures

Kennel and Homestead Tours

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TALKEETNA FLOWER KENNEL AND HOMESTEAD TOURS

We are closed. We will be open again May 15, 2021.
Our Covid-19 Updates and Policy can be found here.

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Visit the Flower Homestead, a musher’s homestead tucked away just south of Talkeetna in the Boreal forest of Alaska.

Here we live a sustainable life together with the Flower Kennel Sled dogs. The kennel is unique in that the sled dogs are not only part of the family, but an integral part of our real authentic off-grid Alaskan lifestyle. The dogs help with hauling water from our spring in winter and haul our building material and firewood we harvest from our homestead to keep warm and cozy during the cold Alaska winters.

We grow, harvest and gather most of our own food and live a self-reliant lifestyle as much as possible. 

We are committed to our dogs and the Flower Kennel is their forever home. Our tours are an exclusive opportunity to see how and why we live in the far North. We are a small locally owned operation and our tours are casual and personal.

Welcome to our home.

Iris (owner)
Bluma, Rachel, Lilja, Sam, Mouse, Flora, Hayden and Kiglu (companions)

Kennel and Homestead Tour

Summer Tours

THE FLOWER KENNEL – Alaskan Sled Dogs

Bluma is very shy and it took me a long time to gain her trust. But then she gave it all, and became my soul mate and main go-to solid leader. She knows left and right, but sometimes has her own opinion. She is a major trail finder in the backcountry and drags the whole team over bare ice if I ask her to do so.

Bluma

Super shy, driven and stubborn

Position: Backcountry Lead
Hobby: Chasing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 10 years
Siblings: Rachel, Luke

Sam is the big boy with a big heart. Always ready for a cuddle and he can't help himself, but giving a lick is his trade. Sam has a steady run and is always in for the long run. He takes over when the trail becomes long and boring. Sam is the only sled dog in the world who loves summers, when he can snuggle with everybody visiting the homestead.

Sam

Cuddly, graceful and lovable

Position: Team, Wheel
Hobby: Loving
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 7 years
Siblings: Diesel, Lilja

Hayden is full of energy and smart. He is super alert and never stops moving, except for the evenings on the couch. He will share the couch as long as he is petted or when its Flora.

Hayden

Strong, focused and a cuddle.

Position: Team, Wheel
Hobby: Couch time
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 5 years

Rachel is super delicate and smart; why pull when the big boys can handle it. But when the going is hard, its Rachel who leans her full weight into her harness. She leads the team from the front and teaches the boys some determination. She is the only one who dares to stand up to her sister Bluma and can't live without her.

Rachel

Shy, elegant and smart

Position: Trail Lead
Hobby: Observing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 10 years
Siblings: Bluma, Luke

Mouse is the impatience boy of the pack. In harness he transforms in a fearless hardworking dude - most of the time. With his tail high up in the air, his eyes are always scanning for another opportunity to lead the whole team on one of his adventures.

Mouse

Adventurous, dude and snuggler

Position: Swing, Wheel
Hobby: Digging
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 4 years
Sibling: Flora

Kiglu is the power house of the team. He is still learning to wait when loading water or firewood, but then he would single handed pull the load up to the cabin if it was up to him.

Kiglu

Super strong, playful and curious.

Position: Team, Wheel
Hobby: Playing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 4 years

Lilja has energy, energy and then some more energy. Her big long tail will sway in the wind all day, and I suspect all night. Along the trail she always finds fascinating sights and will let us all know with a bark or howl. Food or a snowflake falling out of the sky...why do the other dogs not get more enthusiastic?

Lilja

Energetic, cheerleader and lively

Position: Definitely Team
Hobby: Raising Alarm
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 7 years
Siblings: Diesel, Sam

Flora is all business. Organizing her dog house garden, learning to lead, working in harness, claiming the couch, she does it all with an intense dedication and focus. Oh, and super cute.

Flora

Focused, super smart and cute

Position: Lead, Swing
Hobby: Hoarding
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 4 years
Sibling: Mouse

Bluma is very shy and it took me a long time to gain her trust. But then she gave it all, and became my soul mate and main go-to solid leader. She knows left and right, but sometimes has her own opinion. She is a major trail finder in the backcountry and drags the whole team over bare ice if I ask her to do so.

Bluma

Super shy, driven and stubborn

Position: Backcountry Lead
Hobby: Chasing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 10 years
Siblings: Rachel, Luke

Lilja has energy, energy and then some more energy. Her big long tail will sway in the wind all day, and I suspect all night. Along the trail she always finds fascinating sights and will let us all know with a bark or howl. Food or a snowflake falling out of the sky...why do the other dogs not get more enthusiastic?

Lilja

Energetic, cheerleader and lively

Position: Definitely Team
Hobby: Raising Alarm
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 7 years
Siblings: Diesel, Sam

Mouse is the impatience boy of the pack. In harness he transforms in a fearless hardworking dude - most of the time. With his tail high up in the air, his eyes are always scanning for another opportunity to lead the whole team on one of his adventures.

Mouse

Adventurous, dude and snuggler

Position: Swing, Wheel
Hobby: Digging
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 4 years
Sibling: Flora

Hayden is full of energy and smart. He is super alert and never stops moving, except for the evenings on the couch. He will share the couch as long as he is petted or when its Flora.

Hayden

Strong, focused and a cuddle.

Position: Team, Wheel
Hobby: Couch time
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 5 years

Rachel is super delicate and smart; why pull when the big boys can handle it. But when the going is hard, its Rachel who leans her full weight into her harness. She leads the team from the front and teaches the boys some determination. She is the only one who dares to stand up to her sister Bluma and can't live without her.

Rachel

Shy, elegant and smart

Position: Trail Lead
Hobby: Observing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 10 years
Siblings: Bluma, Luke

Sam is the big boy with a big heart. Always ready for a cuddle and he can't help himself, but giving a lick is his trade. Sam has a steady run and is always in for the long run. He takes over when the trail becomes long and boring. Sam is the only sled dog in the world who loves summers, when he can snuggle with everybody visiting the homestead.

Sam

Cuddly, graceful and lovable

Position: Team, Wheel
Hobby: Loving
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 7 years
Siblings: Diesel, Lilja

Flora is all business. Organizing her dog house garden, learning to lead, working in harness, claiming the couch, she does it all with an intense dedication and focus. Oh, and super cute.

Flora

Focused, super smart and cute

Position: Lead, Swing
Hobby: Hoarding
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 4 years
Sibling: Mouse

Kiglu is the power house of the team. He is still learning to wait when loading water or firewood, but then he would single handed pull the load up to the cabin if it was up to him.

Kiglu

Super strong, playful and curious.

Position:  Team, Wheel
Hobby: Playing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 4 years

THE FLOWER HOMESTEAD

Cabin time

#cabinlife #musherslife #sleddoglife #mushershomestead #alaskawinter

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Cabin time #cabinlife #musherslife #sleddoglife #mushershomestead #alaskawinter

The battle of the water bowl after a 6 mile sub 0C run. Lilja for the win.

One minute ...

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The battle of the water bowl after a 6 mile sub 0C run. Lilja for the win. One minute later they all had their own water. #sleddogs #dogsofinstagram #dogsintraining #workingdogs #mushershomestead #dogsofinsta #packofdogs

Summer projects are wrapping up. Garden is enclosed including gates.
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..
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Summer projects are wrapping up. Garden is enclosed including gates. . .. #readyforwinter #garden #organicgarden #gardengate #fence #permaculture #offgrid #alaskahomestead #healthyliving #moosefence #alaska

Summer projects are wrapping up. Shed is dried in.
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#woodshed #polebarn #shed ...

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Summer projects are wrapping up. Shed is dried in. . .. #woodshed #polebarn #shed #woodsiding #door #mushershomestead #diyprojects

So many smells in fall. Kiglu.
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#fallsmells #fall #mushing #sleddogs #sledehonden ...

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So many smells in fall. Kiglu. . .. #fallsmells #fall #mushing #sleddogs #sledehonden #mushershomestead #falltraining #dogsofinstgram #mydogs

In Alaska everything is big. A caribou bone for each dog. Fall hunting has started and friends have...

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In Alaska everything is big. A caribou bone for each dog. Fall hunting has started and friends have my number. Lilja. . .. #sleddogs #dogbone #cariboubone #mydogs #mushershomestead

True to my roots, I definitely grew enough potatoes to last me through the winter.
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In ...

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True to my roots, I definitely grew enough potatoes to last me through the winter. . In winter when traveling with the dogs my cabin freezes over. This means that all these potatoes move to my potato sitter and back several times during the dark and cold winter months. Time to do some serious research on root cellars in Alaska. . .. #potatoes #aardappeleters #aardappeletersvangogh #aardappels #homegrown #alaskagrown #kitchengarden #growfood #mushershomestead #selfsufficient #offgrid #curingpotatoes

It was 1 degree above freezing last night. Time to harvest the pumpkins and spaghetti squash.
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It was 1 degree above freezing last night. Time to harvest the pumpkins and spaghetti squash. They won’t carry me through the winter but it’s a good start for my first year of serious gardening. Learned so much this year and looking forward to do better next year. . .. #pumpkins #spagettisquash #learning #firstyeargardener #permaculture #offgridliving #selfsufficient #mushershomestead . ..