About

How it All Started

Bob Boyer, a retired Alaska photographer, started planting fruit trees on his vacant lot at 645 east 81st Avenue in the 1990’s. Bob and his wife Marianne had purchased the 1-acre property in the 1970’s as a possible home location in the future. But Bob had found a new passion in fruit-growing, and his hobby grew to fill the property. Bob considered himself a ‘displaced farmer’-having come from the historic farming district of Adam’s County, Pennsylvania. In 2001 Bob installed a 2,500 square foot greenhouse on the property. The partially heated greenhouse opened possibilities of growing stone fruits such as peaches and nectarines. Bob was a founding member of the Alaska Pioneer Fruit Grower’s Association (APFGA). His orchard flourished and by 2014 he had over 300 trees and shrubs growing and producing fruit. Sadly, in 2014 Bob passed away from cancer. His wife Marianne continued to manage the property as best she could and remained connected to the APGA club. In January of 2021 Marianne also passed away.

In the Spring of 2015 Yael Hickok, as a new member of the APFGA visited the orchard and began to volunteer on the property. Other volunteers have contributed their time and skills to maintain the trees, improve the soil, and plant organic, sustainable garden beds in the unplanted areas.

Out of concern for the future of this unique property, and with the current owner’s approval, Yael Hickok, Mary-Ellen Garner, and Ellen Jaimes formed ‘Friends of Boyer’s Orchard’ (FOBO), a non-profit corporation in January of 2022. The corporation is a charity and has tax-exempt status with the IRS.