At play where the midnight sun holds court
This summer we kept pigs with our friends, Andrew and Eva. Neither Alana nor I had any experience with keeping farm animals. The arrangement was that we would get three piglets and keep them at Andrew and Eva’s since they already had a pen. In the beginning of May, we arranged with a local farmer … Read more
Last winter, Alana and I set the goal of be able to produce or independently source (ie not purchasing) 80% of our food within 5 years. Given this objective, we set out to create a large garden space in which we can grow vegetables for both seasonal and year-round use. With Alaska’s cold climate, we … Read more
When it comes to trapping, there are a few animals that quickly come to mind. One is wolves, which are iconic among wild animals, are sought after by trappers for their prized pelts and draw the support of those against the practice of trapping. Another is the beaver, the animal that brought men to the … Read more
Bears, wolves, wolverines and lynx. All rank high on the lists of animals that people wish to see when coming to Alaska. However in a state located so far north, population densities remain small. The coupling of minimal vegetative diversity and a harsh climate make for an environment that is unfriendly to large populations. Despite … Read more
The coastline stretched out across the horizon, beyond lay the jumbled heap of ice, offering the only relief in this flat landscape. Among the pressure ridges and fissures, there likely lurked a polar bear. Perhaps, an arctic fox followed close by in its tracks, hoping to scavenge any leftover scraps. Beneath the surface, there was … Read more
Wood lays haphazardly stacked next to the woodstove, ready to provide service in the battle against winter’s cold. Inside the stove, the fire burns. A bed of hot coals sit beneath the logs radiating their warmth to the exterior surfaces. I have run a fire continuously since the beginning of October, when the cold settled … Read more
The frigid temperatures of winter prevent many from living in the area on a permanent basis, even with all the modern conveniences found in today’s world. But the Arctic environment is not without its multitude of benefits, one of those being the ease of storing food in the winter season. Once the mercury drops below … Read more
The sun struggles to rise over the horizon during the day. Minutes after noon, it finally yields its light over the mountains, shining across the valley below. The cold that had settled in the valley throughout the long night begins to dissipate, the mercury slowly rising towards zero. Snow adorns the spruce boughs and ice … Read more
The term sourdough is one flung around in Alaskan literature when talking about the history of the state or people of its past. For the unfamiliar, the name brings to mind that of the bread, that trusty companion out on the trail or away from town. Upon hearing it is a term applied to people, … Read more
