Greetings From Alaska

[babaji]

OK, I am new at this board stuff. I am trying to introduce myself, and hope this is the right forum. I have lived in Alaska for 8 and 1/2 years. I have always wanted to live off the land and be self sufficient. Though I am currently in Anchorage I am considering many places where I would like to homestead in Alaska...There is a huge learning curve for me, but I embrace every aspect of it. I plan to buy property this fall and build a small cabin. I will heat and cook with a wood burning stove, collect rain water, and grow a garden using square foot gardening methods. Hopefully, I will not have to work, but if I do, it will be for a few months out of the year only. The rest of the time I plan to live as I believe God intended, close to His sweet earth and nature. I am a practicing herbalist and vegan. Please don't confuse me with someone who is fanatical or against eating meating for ethical or health reasons. It is just my personal preference and I don't impose my views on anyone. Live and let live, I say I am interested in anything anyone has to say. I am green, yes, but I have read a lot of information and done a lot of research so I am looking forward to mutually beneficial relationships with y'all

[wolfwoman]

Welcome Here's my point of view on people that are vegans (and hopefully everyone will get a kick out of this) that just leaves more meat for those of us that do eat it!! ;D

You have an advantage having lived in Alaska for a few years, you know what the weather and the climate is like, you know it's extremes and can plan for it, that's a big step in the learning curve right there. Sounds like you have the right ideas on what you want to do, how you want to live and (soon) where you want to do it! If you need to work, maybe there are crafts you can do and sell to make some extra money?

Other than that, once you do get a place I hope you enjoy Mother Nature at her best and her worst here, as she can surely dish it out on both ends of the extreme in this wonderful state!! I wouldn't live any other place again.

Wolfie

[babaji]

Hi there!

Thanks for your comments and support.

I can chucke about the vegan thing myself...lol...I'll save you a deer, save me some veggies...LOL...I am not opposed to anyone eating meat, just don't really like it much at all. For me, it also a way to walk a little gentler on this earth. Things may change once I get "out there", I don't live by any hard set rules. In fact, I loved fishing in the past. I could live on fish and spent many summers fishing out of Deep Creek as a halibut charter and I did live on Halibut those summers and enjoyed it very much. Not opposed to doing that again, if the need/ opportunity presents itself.

For all women out there you may want to check into BOW (Becoming an Outdoors Woman). This is a 3 day event where women can go and learn outdoors skills. Last year I took maintaining your rig (about small engines), small game hunting, field dressing (I skinned, cut up, and packed out a caribou), and took a class on map and compass (here, I learned exactly how to get lost with a map and compass in hand! LOL...I think I have directional dyslexia! This year, I signed up for chainsaw operation, ice fishing, snow shoeing, dutch oven...It is a fun, inexpensive way to try out and learn new skills! March class is full, but they also offer a winter event. Here is the link for the Alaska chapter...
www.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=he.bow

[Washkeeton]

Cool, I am glad you posted that cause a couple of my friends are taking that class this time around. I always seem to work when it is offered. plan to take a couple of classes under the Beyond BOW. When I called on it all the classes I wanted were taken. Figured I didnt have the total fee so I could take one or 2 of the classes.

[Jenny]

Welcome babaji,

Now I just can't imagine being a vegetarian, but back when I lived in Georgia ----- well the summers were soooo terribly hot and humid that I remember many evenings wanting only a light salad. Once, I even thought "With this heat, I think I could be a vegetarian". But, as soon as the heat wave broke and cool weather started again, though thought went out the door. I love meat. Just don't function well at all without it.

I've been wanting to go to the BOW thing for years. They never have it when I could be in town, though. Sounds great. I wanted to take the map and compass class, too, but like you, I figured I still couldn't avoid getting lost. "Directional dyslexia". I like that term. ;D

Oh, I just re-read your post. Didn't know they have two dates for classes. I'll check it out. Thanks!

Jenny

[Washkeeton]

I was a lacto ovo vegan for 3 yrs felt great but that is when i lived in NM and worked indoors and didnt do much straining other than running 2 miles per day. Other than that I have tried to go back to it. Had I not been a meat eater when I lived up in fairbanks out I would have never made it. I needed the calories and the protien to survive the cold and the work that was necessary. I had bacon and eggs and milk every morning with a bowl of cereal had at least 2 servings of meat for lunch and fried chicken, steak, or pork and at least 2 meat servings for dinner. I lost 65 lbs but felt really healthy. Since I have been here in this house I have tried going back to being a semi vegitarian but cant, I crave meat. Not processed and packaged garbage but steaks, chicken and cook them up nightly either on the barberque or on the stove. Crave the protien. Cant make up the protiens in other stuff either have tried. I am trying to cut out pork because of some stuff I am reading and trying to improve my health problems by diet.

[dorightranch]

Babaji: Welcome to the group. Have you decided what part of Alaska you will settle in?

Waskeeton: I lived in NM once too. I lived in the Four Corners area.

Sharon

[babaji]

Hi there
No, I haven't decided what part of Alaska I want to settle in...it is really hard choice...Honestly, I love Alaska and it is unparalled in many ways to any place else, but the winters are long and I do have a tendency to get the blues in the winter. I can only imagine that will be intensified in a small, remote cabin, ALONE! I would like to be some place where I can plant a garden and spend most of my time out of doors in the summer months, maybe somewhere where there is not such a harsh winter. I was thinking of Southeast Alaska, but have heard that the rain and winds keep you indoors for most of the summer time. Where are you? What areas have you considerd? Thanks for corresponding.
Warm Regards,
Kimber

[babaji]

Hi Jenny
You will love the BOW. I was really impressed with the quality of the instruction and the instructors, plus that it is just a great time! I can't recall the last time I had so much fun. I actually cried on the last day as I was packing. LOL..I was like a little kid at summer camp and I didn't want to go home!
One thing I will do different this time is that I will either record the instructor or take excellent notes! Sadly, I have forgotten much of what I learned. I could probably field dress a caribou in a pinch, but don't know that I could find my way out of a paper bag with a compass...But that may be organic...LOL...Recording the instructor would probably be best. I did attempt to take notes the last time, but it distracted me too much from the class to be a viable option for me.
Hope you get a chance to experience it some day for yourself...as I best I can recall, it was a memorable experience ;D