How would you plan, what would you do?

[Anataq]

Would love to see this thread take off. I am sure there are many out there considering a move to the wilderness whom would benifiet a lot. We have been working on our version of the answer for quite some time, but we'd love to hear from others. Here is the question...

You are family from the lower 48 looking to move to the Alaskan bush to "homestead" You have a limited budget, a family to consider, and you are starting from scratch. How would you plan your venture in order to have the highest potential for success? Where would you begin? What items would you purchase or make sure you had with you before going off into the wilderness? What supplies would you consider necessary the first year? What list of ten Items would you consider most important to your success?



-Anataq

[cookiecache]

Oh, the stuff I brought from down south that I thought would be MUST HAVE. LOL. When I headed to Alaska, I was driving a Subaru that was loaded down with everything I thought would be expencive or hard to find here. I didn't think about the cost of moving and storage of all the stuff. I even had a wash tub tied on top of the car when I drove though customs. Canada customs was great, but man, US customs was a different story. Anyway the washtub is hanging is beside the cabin door now, so I guess it all works out.
Aside from the washtub a few other things have proven to worthwhile to bring north. Guns and items that cost a lot for their size are good to bring, but I suggest that most of a persons homesteading supplies be bought in Alaska. That way they have chance to see what the local people use. I got rid of a bunch of junk that I brought with me because either it just wasn't needed, (1960s army artic gear) or flat out would not work (almost any thing made of brittle plastic in -30 to -60 broke the first time I used it)

The best way I have found to get homesteading stuff is to go to Anchorage and hit the yard sales. Many people come north with the idea of a piece of land and a log cabin. At yard sales, the finest tools and pieces of others dreams are for sale cheap (usualy they just gotten tired of the garage being full).

So if i had to do it again I would pack what I could into a couple of suitcases, get of a plane, and buy the rest here.

The most importent thing to bring to Alaska for homesteading is.....MONEY!
You don't need to be rich, but homesteading cost money.

[naturerules1]

WOW! It is getting close for Cynthia and I to be going up the HIGHWAY in our 1/2 converted school bus...Today is the YARD SALE before the last one and keeping what is the big question. I have to go to work till noon and Cynthia will be handeling the sale herself till I get back. The TV, VCR, HI FI, All that is going...We really are getting ready to load the bus in the next days after, of course we will be taking a canoe trip on Cynthia's B-day the 5th of july in the middle. Then we will do the floors of the house and it will be up FOR SALE....We have heard everything, bring the world and just bring $, So we are in the middle. Bringing what we specificately need for our plans, that we can aquire and hoping to make some aquaintances that can help us on the rest. We tried having the land all ready to see and buy but it got sold and we dont want that heart break again, we plan to park the bus at a camp site, search and meet people and places for info and just be ALASKANS. Our desire is to be remote and secluded,.... goats, chickens,garden. I want water fishing the edge of the property and good trapping too. Cynthia wants a view and like me....wants the land to be away from the traveled path. I think It really matters what a person is looking for to know what to bring. we am not sure what is there so we are going to bring what we think we will need, and soon it will be packed. minus a few things. HOPEFULLY we can get the rest there. We will see soon!

[Terri]

How wonderfull!


I hope you find a lovely spot soon!

I have heard some folks say that when they saw their land, they knew in an instant that it was "The place"

It wasn't like that for us. We just saw it, saw that it had ALMOST everything that we had hoped for, and that the price was less than we had HOPED for!

OK, there were a FEW drawbacks, but very few.

The terrible Osage Orange trees were the BIGGEST drawback: They are WAY too small to be usefull, to large to mow, and have TERRIBLE thorns! They mostly cover the property.

ANOTHER drawback (and this kept the price low), was that there is no city water available yet. No matter, we didn't WANT city water at this time!

On the GOOD side, there is a tiny, spring-fed creek (bigger would have been better, the neighbors with the beaver pond may have fish but I won't), the land is slightly rolling and has a HEAVY growth of grass (means the soil is good), it is attractive, good access, and it is about 2 miles off of a major road.

In other words, it was a handsome property at a good price that is VERY well suited to my purposes! Water for the bee hives, enough flat land to raise whatever I want, not many neighbors, zoned agricultural so VERY few restrictions, and it is easy to reach so I can work it even though we are not ready to build. What is more, we BOTH liked it! Very rare!

OK, OK, I RAMBLE!

What I was WANTING to say was good hunting, and I hope that you are as pleased with YOUR place to be as I am with MINE!

And, oh yes. In keeping with the origional topic: I got a little folding saw and I LOVE it!Folded, it is only 8 inches long, folds up and fits in the glove compartment, fits in my hip pocket, and really is aggresive and cuts quickly! I prune with it, I take it camping for firewood, etc. It is just a really NEAT tool!

As for the rest, I will not give advice on what to take because you have more experience than I do.

Keep us posted on your adventures?

[Terri]

OH! HERE"S a thought!

I read a comment from a homesteader who lived way back when: She said they would dig a hole in the shade to keep things cool during the summer. Also, I know that setting something on the window ledge will keep it cool during the winter.

Since I don't know how you are set for refridgeration, I thought I would mention it.