Talkeetna Flower Kennel and Homestead

Off-grid living with sled dogs

Healthy Lifestyle

Growing food

Subsistence Lifestyle

Preserving food

The Flower Kennel Dogs

The homestead workforce

Outdoor Life

Training the Flower Kennel Dogs

Cabin Life

The Flower Kennel Dogs

Self-Sufficient

Projects for a lifetime

Exploring Alaska

Stories of adventures

Kennel and Homestead Tours

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TALKEETNA FLOWER KENNEL AND HOMESTEAD TOURS

Bookings for our 2025 summer season are now open.

Book Now

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), Jason (varsity handler)
Bluma, Rachel, Lilja, 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: Retired
Hobby: Chasing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 15 years
Siblings: Rachel, Luke

Hayden never stops moving, except for the evenings on the couch. He will share the couch as long as he is petted or when its his wrestle ally Flora. He makes up his lack of natural talent with his determination and enjoyment of life.

Hayden

Strong, focused and a cuddle.

Position: Team, Wheel
Hobby: Relaxing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 10 years

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. During runs he always check on his running buddy with a lick or a growl. The others all seem to love it.

Kiglu

Super strong, playful and curious.

Position: Team, Wheel
Hobby: Playing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 9 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: Retired
Hobby: Observing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 15 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 off-trail adventures.

Mouse

Adventurous, dude and snuggler

Position: Lead, Wheel
Hobby: Digging
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 9 years
Sibling: Flora

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: Lead, Team
Hobby: Raising Alarm
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 12 years
Siblings: Diesel, Sam

Flora is all business. Organizing her dog house garden, collecting food bowls, storing bones, working in harness, claiming the couch, going after that moose (if she can) she does it all with an intense dedication and focus. Oh, and super cute.

Flora

Focused, super smart and cute

Position: Swing
Hobby: Hoarding
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 9 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: Retired
Hobby: Chasing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 15 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: Lead, Team
Hobby: Raising Alarm
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 12 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 off-trail adventures.

Mouse

Adventurous, dude and snuggler

Position: Lead, Wheel
Hobby: Digging
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 9 years
Sibling: Flora

Hayden never stops moving, except for the evenings on the couch. He will share the couch as long as he is petted or when its his wrestle ally Flora. He makes up his lack of natural talent with his determination and enjoyment of life.

Hayden

Strong, focused and a cuddle.

Position: Team, Wheel
Hobby: Relaxing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 10 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: Retired
Hobby: Observing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 15 years
Siblings: Bluma, Luke

Flora is all business. Organizing her dog house garden, collecting food bowls, storing bones, working in harness, claiming the couch, going after that moose (if she can) she does it all with an intense dedication and focus. Oh, and super cute.

Flora

Focused, super smart and cute

Position: Swing
Hobby: Hoarding
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Female
Age: 9 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. During runs he always check on his running buddy with a lick or a growl. The others all seem to love it. .

Kiglu

Super strong, playful and curious.

Position: Team, Wheel
Hobby: Playing
Breed: Alaskan Husky
Sex: Male
Age: 9 years

THE FLOWER HOMESTEAD

Simple start of the abundance season. 99% of our own resources. Moose steak, kale, potato, garlic scapes, white current wine.

#stampot #mashedpotato #growyourownfood #sustainable #organic #biologisch #moose #moosesteak #veggiegarden #alaskagrown #alaska

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The garden is starting to take off.

#mushershomestead #alaska #alaskagardening #gardening #iris #growyourownveggies #organic

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Rachel

#sleddogs #alaskahusky #husky #arcticdog #workingdog #olddogs #mushershomestead

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Dogs and mosquitoes like the cooler evening.

#alaskasummer #alaska #alaskabird #mosquitos #sleddogs #mushershomestead

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Forecast finally calls for some sunny days. Time to get all these starts in the ground.

#rain #wetspring #coldspring #starts #soilblocks #vegetables #growyourownfood #mushershomestead

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No more broken engines in these neck of the woods. Excited for my partner Jason Vogel to open his own business here in Talkeetna. https://runningdogservice.com

#smallengines #mechanicalshop #mushershomestead #talkeeta #automotive #smallbusiness #localbusiness

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In summer he is just a pet. Hayden going to the hardware store in shotgun.

#workingdog #sleddog #mushershomestead #pet #mydog #husky #shotgun #shotgunrider #alaskasummer #alaska

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4 days of trimming, grinding, mixing, stuffing and packaging and we are done. Got quite loud with 2 meat grinders running. Experimented with Polish and Italian sausage and they turned out delicious.

#gamemeat #caribou #organicmeat #organic #local #alaska #mushershomestead #sausage #steak #meatgrinder

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Lilja with her caribou bone.

#sleddog #workingdog #husky #alaskahusky #caribou #organicmeat #hunting #alaska

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The chickens are here.

#chickens #backyardchicken #alaskanlife #homestead #mushershomestead #egg #pullets #alaska

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Spring

#alaska #dogrun #dogsplaying #sleddogs #huskies #workingdogs

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Time to head home and add some more Dalton Highway mud to our rig.

#caribou #sleddogs #organicmeat #organic #workingdog #wintercamping #camping #dinner #growninalaska #alaska #arctic #daltonhighway #northslope #mushing

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