About

Board Vice-President. Mary-Ellen found Boyers’ Orchard in her search for gardening space after moving to Anchorage in the winter of 2020. At the orchard you can find her breathing in the intoxicating nectar of spring blossoms, taking shade underneath her favorite tree (the Trailman CrabApple), or working in her garden beds.

She believes that the desire for connection is intrinsic to our human experience and applies her work in gardening projects and regenerative farming as a means of forming and maintaining relationships to others, to the earth, and to our food. Her role at Boyers’ has primarily been one of networking- from encouraging mycelial links beneath the trees, to telling every soul she meets in Anchorage about Boyers’. She wishes to continue this work as Boyers’ enters a new chapter as a non-profit.

In the summer Mary-Ellen works part time for the Yarducopia gardening program, helping Anchorage denizens access toxic-free gardening space. She also operates several small farmlets throughout Anchorage, including space at Boyers’, where she cultivates produce, flowers, and medicines that are transformed into fermented foods, bouquets, and herbal goods. You can catch her vending kimchis, krauts (including one made with Boyers’ apples!), salves, flowers and more at the Spenard Farmers’ Market through her business Common Root.

Board Secretary and Treasurer. Ellen is originally from Maine and has lived in Anchorage for the last decade. A lifelong student of human ecology and local food systems, she earned a Master of Science of Nutrition (MSN) in the Agriculture, Food and Environment program at Tufts University where she focused on ecosystem-level management and co-management. Since moving to Alaska, she has enjoyed getting to know diverse lands and people, and the abundant opportunities to harvest and cultivate local foods in Southcentral Alaska – including fruit-bearing orchard trees! While new to orchard stewardship, Ellen recognized the value of Bob Boyer’s orchard project and volunteered to join the effort to preserve and protect this resource for future generations. She is particularly interested in securing funding to purchase or otherwise ensure the future of Alaska’s largest and most diverse public orchard for the promotion of local sustainable agriculture and for the enjoyment of Anchorage residents and visitors. She notes that the orchard is currently privately owned and welcomes partnership opportunities with mission-aligned individuals and organizations. You can find her at the orchard engaged in tree and nature study/projects with her 3-year-old daughter and baby brother (due in July!)

Emily Becker is currently serving as a board member with Friends of Boyers Orchard where she is helping to coordinate field trips and education events. Emily is a Gardening Specialist with RurAL CAP GROW, where she advises projects and connects them with resources and education. She taught for 20 years in Alaska public schools. A permaculture designer, she enjoys seeing the application of principles from nature in community organizing, especially the need to design for resilience. She is the President of the Alaska Master Gardeners Anchorage, a 300-member non-profit, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Alaska Community Forestry Council.

Ed Franklin joined the Boyer’s board in 2024. Born and raised in Alaska, he started hobby growing fruit to relax from his day job in IT and discovered Boyer’s while looking for new apples to try. His primary goal is continuing Bob’s legacy of experimenting and pushing the limits of what can be grown in Alaska. He also has interests in pest and disease management in our changing climate, as well as keeping track of fruit ripening times for optimal picking. In the orchard you can usually find him pruning and checking on the health of the trees and fruit, as well as offering tours or answering questions to new and returning visitors.

Alyse Maxwell, is a lifelong Alaskan, who grew up in close proximity to Boyer's Orchard, along the Taku Lake/ Campbell Creek Greenbelt. While her family was raising bees, Bob's family was planting trees. The bees however, found their way to the orchard, decades before Alyse discovered it for herself. While looking for a place to overwinter her Dad's 20 year old Minature Peach Tree, she became enamored by the variety of plants and warm hospitality of the caretakers, so she started volunteering.

As a twin mom of boys named Clark and Lewis, she is passionate about creating nature based learning experiences, for people of all ages. She believes that by connecting children with the natural world, we can inspire them to become lifelong learners and caring members of our community. She has a BA in Environment and Society from UAA with a certificate in Civic Engagement and Learning. As a co-teacher of a Local Forest School in Anchorage, she brings whimsy and wonder to the special events she hosts at the orchard. Join her on scheduled Thursdays from 10-3pm

Michael Burke is a longtime Master Gardener and grower of fruit trees. He is involved with the Ann Spohnholz Community Garden project and Art’s Orchard on the campus of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, and has a passion for the design and construction of three-season cold-climate greenhouses. Much of the time he is busy pastoring a progressive church and helping run non-profit organizations, but he is never happier than when he has his hands in the dirt.