About 20 years ago I bought 3 potted Alaska Iris Setosa at a local garden plant show and put them in my yard.
Read moreHome Weather Station
I have always been interested in Home Weather stations. A professional home weather station with an Internet connection will allow you to keep track of your low and high temperatures, rain, barometric pressure, and wind. With a Smart Phone App you can monitor your weather conditions online from almost anywhere…
Read moreWinter Tomatoes in Alaska
Gardening all year is possible even in in Alaska. I just garden indoors when it is too cold outside. And I keep eating fresh tomatoes all winter.
Read moreIndian Style - Bell Pepper Chutney
My version for this condiment has more to do with what produce I have available from my garden and need to preserve or pickle to keep and store for use later before they would spoil. Pickling low acid vegetables is a safe way to preserve these using a simple water-bath canning process. I often make pickles or relish, but making exotic chutney is an interesting alternative.
Making Alaska Berry Jams
I have been making jams at home for many years. After moving up here I started making jams with my Alaska berries to share with family and friends.
Read more2024 Berry Season in Wasilla!
August is the start or our rainy season and the return of a wet and cool weather pattern. It is also berry season when most domestic garden berries are ripe and ready for harvest.
Read moreFresh Tomatoes in January
Have you planted winter tomatoes? I started tomato seeds indoors and should have fresh salad tomatoes in about 10 weeks. You can continue to grow fresh vegetables all year, even in Alaska.
Read moreBerries Are Made For Alaska
One of the first things I noticed when I moved to Alaska, in 1991, was the abundance of berries available. Homegrown, commercially grown, and wild berries were everywhere.
Read moreNew Compost Bins
I thought these large plastic shipping totes would make perfect compost bins for recycling my Alaska Grow Buckets soilless grow mix.
Read moreIndoor Grow Rack Covers
I recently found covers that are made to fit over commercial shelf units that I use as plant racks for starting seeds indoors. I couldn’t be more satisfied and they are silver coated inside and made in different sizes to fit specific shelf units…
Read moreSpicy-Sweet Pepper Relish
I picked a peck of Peppers some ripe and many still green. So it was time to make a peck of pickled Peppers…
Read moreUSDA Water-Bath Processing Guidelines
Always follow USDA recommended safe home food processing rules. It is your responsibility to make sure your home processed foods are safe…
Read moreThe Alaska Grow Bucket Idea
Many people complain that "I can't grow food in my apartment or tiny back yard". I tell people to check out this video called: Global Buckets - by two 13 year old young guys Grant and Max. I found this back in 2008 and I was inspired to make my own global buckets…
Read moreMy Improved Alaska Grow Buckets Design
This is a post about my Improved Alaska Grow Buckets self-watering system and the final basic design from 2012. This improved design has not changed. I have continued to make some minor improvements as I find better and more affordable parts…
Read moreAlaska Grow Buckets Insert
The latest improvement to my Alaska Grow Buckets design is a Bucket Insert. The Alaska Grow Buckets self watering system continues to work just as it always has and they are just as easy to use…
Read moreSugar Free Black Currant Jam
Tonight I made Sugar Free Black Currant Jam…
Read moreEasy Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce
Since I had Labor Day off from my night shift job I decided to stay up and make tomato sauce...
Read moreAlaska Grow Buckets - 2014 Radio Interview
You can listen to my radio Interview from April 30, 2014 with Jodi Henke from LIVING THE COUNTRY LIFE magazine…
Read moreMy Alaska Greenhouse Design
A full size Greenhouse is a choice for many gardeners. Designing a greenhouse for the Alaska climate to fit your needs is the key that many commercial Greenhouse kits do not address…
Read moreChoosing What To Grow
I have decided to only grow Bush Early Girl hybrid tomatoes in my greenhouse now. They are a very productive, disease resistant, determinate, short season, modern hybrid from the popular Early Girl tomato with larger tomatoes on shorter bush type plants…
Read more