Newbie Gardening in Alaska

You can watch our video about this here. 

Those who know us, KNOW we were not formerly gardeners. Though we have grown as much as possible in a variety of containers - digging up military housing yards is frowned upon. We want to grow, raise, and catch as much of our food as possible. We live in Alaska - we'll simply have to figure this out. I didn't find a lot of gardeners here to drill for advice. I did watch a lot of YouTube channels, joined Alaska gardening Facebook groups, read approximately 50 books about gardening up here or in other Northern climates, read seed packets, the Farmer's Almanac......and got quite overwhelmed. 

We learned we needed a greenhouse - which we don't have. We would need a LARGE garden - more like a mini-farm. We need to feed our soil - it won't be great this year....but we decided this is a process. We were going to try different things and start figuring out what works up here.

Our first seedlings never sprouted. I used the mini greenhouse Michael got at Walmart. I didn't have a grow light. We added a grow light and planted again.  I KNOW it seems early - but this is what the Alaskan groups and books said to do. Our growing season is SHORT and I have to have starts if I hope to harvest before frost begins again. 

Stacia moistens the Jiffy pod things...

I added a grow light. Unfortunately, it will only fit on the top shelf. 

A friend, Judie, saw my dismal failure with the first set of seedlings and loaned us this! 

I began to plant in "garbage." LOL  I covered with plastic wrap as needed for the greenhouse effect - it's working. 

They sprouted. It said 10-14 days to germinate and I had sprouts on day 2....as they grew, I realized what I'd read about the Jiffy Pods wasn't quite going to work. I was told they are great as they can go directly into the garden. BUT there is NO WAY these things would last for another 8 weeks in the pods....they had to be transplanted....more time, more dirt, more space.....but we're determined. This year is about learning. 

I simply couldn't wait any longer. They had to be transplanted. 

Stacia and I made potting soil....equal parts perlite, peat moss and garden soil. 

We have a beautiful tub of potting soil on the deck. 

We dug this under-the-bed storage container out and planted seedlings. I didn't have enough space as I was going by the distance on the packets. 

Rigged up a greenhouse - but had to move them inside when it got COLD and snowy. 

I move the grow light up and down the "bed" - they're getting about 3 hours a day. Not ideal - but they look much better than in the Jiffy Pods or on the deck. 

There are always things to explore at Gemma and Gramps. 

Check it out!  Note the moving sticker on the right. LOL 

I know it's odd to have a planter on the table - but we have no space for more trays....this works. In fact, we discussed at dinner it may be nice to plant a salad garden in this after these are transplanted....pick you own before you eat. LOL  I did get more of seedlings into the planter....Michael said it doesn't matter if they are close,  as I'll be transplanting them again....probably a few times. 

 Yuuki has been schooled to look, but not touch the sprouts. 

We're collecting all sorts of possible planters in the nook. 

 I took time to go find a book on a topic other than composting, gardening or chicken raising. 

By the way, keeping the garden from becoming a buffet for the wildlife here on the mountain will be a trick! Michael is thinking that through. I found the cute fence I want - he's thinking practical. It's a process. Practical this year - cute another year. We have a ton of projects this year. Can't do it all now.

Mondays are for Dying Eggs

Stacia and I got to dye Easter eggs with The D family today. Welllll, Stacia dyed eggs - I am the official family photographer! LOL  How fun to be here for Bella's first Easter Egg Dying event. It's a blessing!  

Waiting for eggs to Boil - Gideon isn't quite sure what the excitement is about. 

Stacia told me she'd never dyed eggs. Of course, she also said, "WHY?"  I guess she didn't miss it, but we had her do a few eggs anyway. I've offered to rectify this lapse of parenting, but they don't seem to care. By the time the younger four were on the scene we were down to either shrink wrap sleeves, or candy-filled plastic eggs.  They do remember Resurrection Eggs and the Lenten wreath.  I was happy she got to do this today. 

Coloring on eggs - hmmmm.

Oh, cuuuute! 

 Bella discusses technique with Bre and Izaak. 

Poor darling, yep, that's about how I feel when dying eggs. LOL 

I love this photo! 

Bella's first egg. 

Izaak did some cool gel dye. 

Stacia made some with dye and rice...they were cool! 

A beautiful bunch of eggs. 

Gideon knows it's time to make a break for it! 

Ah, the FUN!

I've not done as well at getting photos as is typical. Being in a new area, I wonder if folks will be offended, not used to my odd habit of photo documenting everything, to enhance my memory. 🐽 And when I'm with the big, rollicking, chaotic mass of Gherkins - I'm too busy to remember to snap photos. I must do better.

We continue to open our home each Sunday afternoon/evening to the Gherkins who want to come over. It's important as adult offspring are easy to lose track of without a bit of intentionality. Tonight, we had a potato bar, the butter God eats (from Kathy H's stash of recipes), various toppings, fruit salad, salad and  cookies and ice cream.

These boys were moving so fast, I didn't get one in-focus shot. 

Bre and Izaak have been working on breaking Bella of the pacey habit.  She gets it at bed. She's pretty good about leaving it alone, but she's found a rather enterprising way of satisfying her pacifier habit. She was snuggling with Bre and Bubby (brother Gideon).....and then we noticed, she'd snagged Gideon's pacifier. Those leashes are awesome. 🐽😀🐽

Lovely Random Shots from Weeks 2 and 3 of March

It worked so well with the previous post, I thought I'd do it again. I long to be caught up, so I can share more musings, devotionals, thoughts and not, "Just the Facts," of daily life. At least that is how I'm justifying the recent shotgun approach to blogging. 😏😉😊

Without further ado - some lovely random shots from week 3 and 4 of March.  Of course, there was Pi day, and we celebrated with Veggie Pot Pie for dinner.

Another sign of Spring - new antlers on Bullwinkle - it's been fascinating to watch this process. 

Then again, maybe it wasn't Spring. No, it was - an Alaska Spring. I get it now. 😋😛😀

Hmmm....the race is on. Personally, I think Stacia has passed up her tallest sister. Arielle, maintains she is still the same height. She has a formula worked out - seems to think she lost an inch in childbirth and it will re-appear shortly! 🐽😏🐽 Didn't work that way for me. I used to be a willowy 5' 11". Nah, not really. 

Arielle (l), Stacia (r) 

I love our Moosey Visitors - though I'm getting more and more concerned about fruit trees, gardens and landscaping. 

Be still my heart!  Such expressive eyes. This is my favorite part of this season. 

Gideon - 10 months

Benny - 4 months

In this time period there have also been hints of new ministry and friendships, shared meals and coffee with strangers fast becoming friends, swallow tests, swallow and physical therapy, grieving and healing, lovely phone calls with Dad, Marco Polos and texts with Krista and Cousin Lorri, spiritual growth and a couple of spiritual tantrums, fishing research and planning,  and through it all -  oodles of research on how to become as self-sustaining as possible on 2 1/2 acres, gardening and composting in Alaska and raising chickens....

Michael's Latest Swallow Test

We found these darling Japanese eggs this morning. Michael was up last night and decided to try a couple. What a fun surprise.

Michael had a barium swallow test today. This is the third one since November. This one showed "marked improvement" since November.  He didn't aspirate or attempt to aspirate at all!  We will see his therapist on Monday, but the recommendation from the gal doing the test is he is ready to STOP the VITAL STIM (the shocking sessions) and maintain his progress with the exercises.  That means we shouldn't expect more improvement, but he's at a level now with his compensating strategies where he can do well. He has to be careful, but he's doing well. A concern seems to be an episode he had in therapy with liquid - but he was talking at the same time.

 As we've been repeatedly told, "The swallow exercises are a lifetime activity."   In his previous therapy in 2015, the VA therapist had given him exercises....but these take 2 hours a day and are MUCH more intense.   We have been warned  he will most likely see more loss of ability in 12 - 18 months.  This is what we have experienced - it was about a year from the end of his previous therapy to him having more trouble again.  The plan is to revisit the therapist as needed in the future. Often as coordination and strength change one has to adjust how the exercises are done, and they often do more Vital Stim when a Parkinsons patient takes a downturn.  Our fingers are crossed  this is the course Rhonda, his therapist,  suggests as well. We've all been praying this was the result of the test, and it looks hopeful. The VA has approved him for another 24 session of the electrical treatment as necessary.

Michael capped off the day - or welcomed a new day - by grabbing some shots of the light display outside.

Is It Friday Yet?

You know it's going to be a rough day when you lose the sponge in the fridge. I am not doing well with a  deficit of sleep. The kids find it humorous. 

Sponge for breakfast? Why, of course! 

Yay for Alex! His text book lists dissections as "optional," but he was intelligent enough to know if Mom has a closet full of animals in chemicals, it probably is mandatory! Score for initiative. While Stacia freaked out, he commented, "It's not much different than cleaning fish!" 

The difference being having to find various parts and label them. I'm not sure he ever determined the gender.

Stacia is becoming a pro at keyboarding. Here she works on Mavis Beacon. 

Alex spends an hour a day on the elliptical. Nolan loads his pack with 35# of books this week, and tries to walk 6 miles a day. They are preparing for a four day mountain hike in May. Stacia has been walking with Nolan.  They asked me if I wanted to come and I declined. They stopped by after walking 4 miles, and asked  if I wanted to do the last 2 miles. I did. 

We observed a few more signs of spring....there are more birds than Ravens out singing. Yuuki needs a bath after every walk (due to mud and muddy slush).  Our driveway is a skating rink - despite the hours of ice removal the guys are executing.