Lots of words have been used to describe Homer: quirky, quaint, cosmic. “Too rough and too weird to be a tourist trap,” was how one New York Times writer put it. As the halibut capital of the world, it’s also known for it’s great fishing — both commercial and sport. For a small community, it has a big reputation for delicious food, including the tastiest oysters you’ll ever eat. While Homer’s jaw-
dropping scenery — snow-capped mountains, the glistening waters of Kachemak Bay, the icy blue vista of glaciers — are the first thing to capture visitors attention, there’s a charm to Homer that’s not easily explained. At least part of that charm is the business savvy that allows Homer residents to carve out a living at the end of the road. All those artists, authors, gallery owners, charter operators, commercial fishermen, lodge and bed-and-breakfast owners, restaurateurs, water-taxi operators, merchants of all kinds share a common trait: they’re entrepreneurs. Some say Homer’s spectacular natural beauty ignites and inspires the entrepreneurial spirit of those who live here. If you want to live in Homer, you’ve got to get creative and make your own job. And that’s exactly what lots of residents have done. They make wine. They make mead. They make beer. They make chocolate. They make music and beautiful and whimsical pieces of art. They build yurts. They build furniture. They build fishing boats. They build houses. They create Cosmic Hoops for fitness and fun. They make fishing gear and clothes geared to Homer’s weather. The sell books — old and new. They sell houses and land. They create experiences — the memories of which will last a lifetime — for visitors. And they make a living by sharing the place they call home with those who dream of making it their home. Want to get to know the real heart of Homer? Meet one of its many entrepreneurs.
