Sustainability and innovation at Whistle Hill

In a town not much different from the one where they both grew up, orthopedic surgeon and husband Henry Krull alongside his wife, entrepreneur and visionary Mary Krull, have embarked on a mission to bring fresh food, renewable energy and a unique experience to Soldotna, and all of Alaska. Including the talents of their adult children, the Krulls have turned Whistle Hill into a thriving hub for locals and visitors alike, with a combination of innovative farming, dining experiences, local art, bed and breakfasts, and an enduring love for old trains.

Rails and roads

The name Whistle Hill comes from Mary's fascination with the preservation of trains, a theme that runs through many of their projects.

"My wife loves trains. She realizes it's an industry past its prime, but there's still a need to make use of them," says Henry.

This passion inspired the creation of Brew@602, a café housed in a refurbished rail car offering homemade buttermilk waffles and fresh coffee. Funny enough, you may have passed this 85-foot double-decker passenger car where it sat at the entrance of Homer Spit for about 15 years.

"I can't tell you how many times I drove by it to go fishing 10 times every summer. Over the years we would make comments like, 'what an eyesore...what are they going to do with it?'" Henry says. After seeing a for sale sign, they decided to take a look. "The interior was perfect. Mary was awestruck."

This kicked off the search for where to place the rail car, eventually securing the property now known as Whistle Hill, with more rail cars added over time, each serving a different purpose.

"It was absolutely meant to be," Henry affirms. Frames and Things local business owner Brian Erwin heard about what they were doing on the Hill, and the Krulls' coordinated with him to lease a space next to Brew@602, which has been a huge success.

Growing opportunities

The idea of a hydroponic farm sprouted when Henry realized he could grow a lot more than just enough food for his family. He envisioned a "farm-to-fork" concept which would also supply fresh produce for their restaurant at Whistle Hill, named Addie Camp, which includes a train car dining room, designed by Mary.

"It took a while, but we finally started selling everything we grew," Henry recalls. Now, the Krulls operate Fresh 365 with three farm containers producing greens, herbs and mushrooms for their restaurant, plus distributing to other eateries and food trucks all the way from Girdwood to Homer. The coffee grounds produced by the espresso bar on site help grow the mushrooms, too. The Krulls' farm stand is also in the process of becoming SNAP certified.

The farm produces 300 to 400 pounds of fresh produce weekly, and the same goes for mushrooms. Henry explains that one of the challenges of indoor farming is the high energy consumption. "You lose the free sunlight and have to use LED lights, which work well but burn for 18 hours a day, creating a huge electric bill."

The Krulls' solution? Solar energy. After a year of planning and securing USDA grant funding, Whistle Hill's solar panels went live in December 2022, providing power to the farm and the family's other businesses. The operation uses 600 panels.

"In the summertime, we overproduce and feed electricity back into the grid, selling power, and in the winter, we rely on the grid."

The Krulls' ventures don't stop at food and energy. The family is also in the process of transforming a historic Alaska Railroad boxcar into a bed-and-breakfast. "We just purchased at auction an Alaska Railroad caboose, which, as promised, completes our train and hopefully our train development!"

Family and community

Henry credits much of the family's success to their children, who have all returned to Soldotna to play roles in the business. "We never thought it would be a family affair, but it's been great," he says, noting how one daughter manages Brew@602 while another oversees the front of house at Addie Camp.

They are also planning to open a vintage clothing and antique store, inside a renovated train car, of course, next spring. Their son, who studied to be a mechanical engineer, designed the solar farm and now runs Peninsula Solar, a business born from the success of Whistle Hill's renewable energy efforts and the initial installation of solar panels at the Krulls' home and two medical offices.

Despite the many challenges of running multiple businesses, including navigating complex permitting processes and managing logistics, the Krulls have turned Whistle Hill into more than just a local landmark. "Both businesses were really built for the community. We thought it would be a draw for visitors, and it has become a destination, especially in summertime and winter continues to grow," Henry explains. With around 50 employees and a business generating a significant amount of sales and property tax, the Krulls' ventures contribute greatly to the local economy.

Henry's love for his community and commitment to its wellbeing shines through his approach to business. "We wanted good service, good food...and selfishly we're coffee snobs!" he jokes.

But behind the light-heartedness is a serious dedication to creating something lasting, reflecting on his and Mary's deep roots in the restaurant industry. Henry grew up working in his father's A&W restaurant beginning at the tender age of six. Mary's background in the industry also spans decades.

"Before we did this, I kind of swore to myself I would never own a restaurant. They're difficult, profit margins are very low, and sometimes you're relying on things out of your control," Henry admits. Nevertheless, they dove in, knowing the risks.

Staying active

I paused to ask Henry for some advice on aging.

"It's all about activity," he states. "There's a direct correlation between being active and preventing fractures, which I see a lot in my professional practice. Many elderly fractures could be prevented by maintaining a more active lifestyle."

As for diet, he is practical. "I'm not a health food addict, but the key is moderation. Eat sweets if you want, but eat your whole grains and fresh foods. Eat locally sourced meat if meat is your thing."

With plans for further expansions and new projects on the horizon, Whistle Hill is poised to continue growing, just like the crops in Krull's hydroponic containers. For Henry and Mary Krull, Soldotna isn't just where they've built a business-it's where they've cultivated a community.

For more information on the grant used to install solar panels to power the Krulls' Fresh 365 farm and all of Whistle Hill, please visit Rural Energy America Program (REAP) online at https://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act/rural-energy-america-program-reap.

Misty Hull (misty.hull@USDA.gov) has been a big help to the Krulls and is eager to help others get help with REAP funds. Dan Smith serves as Alaska's Energy Coordinator at USDA and is available to support businesses and communities in applying for REAP: Call 907-761-7779 or email daniel.smith5@usda.gov. Dan says he couldn't do it without Misty, and that they make a great team.

Yasmin Radbod is the Alaska Commission on Aging Rural Outreach Coordinator.