Jamie Woodside
Jamie shares her thoughts and ideas as she explores organic gardening and permaculture in Big Lake, Alaska. She writes about chemical-free gardening in a cooler climate, saving energy or using alternatives, cooking from scratch, and living a more frugal lifestyle.
Protect Early Starts with Recycled Milk Jugs
I started Broccoli, Cabbage and Cauliflower seedlings the second week of April.
To get them started outside early, I decided to use all those milk jugs I’ve been saving and make some hot caps.
It’s that Time of the Year
One of the benefits of living in a very rural area like I do is that there is very limited light pollution. The moon and the stars can really light up the night, and the Northern Lights are much more visible when they decide to make an appearance.
Winter in Alaska may be cold, but in so many ways, it’s the most beautiful time of year.
Homemade Bird Suet Cakes
The cold and frost came upon us hard and fast this year. I felt lucky that the clouds lifted for long enough to get the fall yard chores wrapped up before it hit.
This time of year, I am careful to keep my bird identification book handy, because sometimes an unusual bird will make a stop at the feeder while passing through, even if it doesn’t live nearby.
Fall is Upon Us
It is fall time in Alaska, and the gardens are officially done producing for the season. Like any other year, there was plenty of success and plenty of failure. The winds and the cold came earlier than normal, along with some serious, seemingly never ending rain, and I didn’t get to harvest one single green bean or squash.
The air is starting to get cold again, but it has the crispness of the fall rather than the almost sterile feel of a cold January morning.
A Season for Preparation and Closure
This time of the year is usually bitter sweet for me. If you have been outside lately, you are sure to have noticed the leaves starting to turn.
The kids are back in school, and the Alaska State Fair is in full swing. Sweaters and hats will soon be pulled from summer storage and an inventory of winter gear is in order.
All About My Compost Pile
It is officially that time of year again, when I start a new compost pile and start preparing the old one to be spread on the raised garden beds.
This summer has been considerably colder and wetter than most, and my compost is not as far along as it normally is.
