Sustainable Alaska by Common Ground Alaska Farmstead Tandy Hogate

Today we had the opportunity to talk with Bob Van Veldhuizen from the Mat Su Experiment Farm about soil testing. Everyone knows that if you want to have a successful garden, you have to have good soil. But for many of us, we have no clue how to make that happen.

Although this talk is public, it is part of a series of talks that is being made available to Alaska Homestead Expo ticket holders only. Upcoming talks for ticketholders only include: What is HAM Radio, Baking with Whole Grains, Homesteading when disabled or elderly, The cost of having a family milk cow, Gardening in Alaska, how to pick a breed of chickens (meat or egg layers), What is orienteering, and so many more!

Get your Expo tickets here to join these talks: https://commongroundalaska.com/alaska-homestead-expo/

Important info Bob referred to in the talk are as follows:
Brookside Lab in Ohio
Mehlich 3 test - S001AN
Soil Health - S019

Happy Gardening!

We can grow some BIG veggies (and incredible fruits) in Alaska but how can we possibly use them all up and preserve them in a way that will feed our family and save us money at the grocery store?

This is SUCH a fun topic to talk about and over the years, we've learned to embrace our climate and we've learned to preserve all that Alaska provides us in nutrient dense and creative ways that are so tasty!

I'm excited to share what I've learned and to help you brainstorm different ways to preserve and utilize all that Alaska offers.

Also, we have several classes coming up like Canning, Fermenting, and Gardening in Alaska. You can check out the classes here: https://commongroundalaska.com/product-category/classes/

Plus, be sure to check out the upcoming Alaska Homestead Expo: https://commongroundalaska.com/alaska-homestead-expo/

If you are new to egg laying chickens or are thinking about getting some but aren't sure where to start, Don Dyer of Polaris Farm shares his best tips from setting up a brooder, picking chicks, and caring for babies all the way to how to care for them once they are laying.

Lots to learn here. Grab a notebook and listen in!

If you're just getting started or are curious about the homestead lifestyle, I have some words of wisdom to avoid overwhelm and to help you find your passion.

We are so honored to have the opportunity to work with people from all walks of life who are curious how to get started with this more self-sufficient lifestyle but aren't sure where to start. Or sometimes they take on way too much and they get overwhelmed.

Check out our first of this series "GETTING STARTED HOMESTEADING". I hope it's a great encouragement to you!

Today I had the honor of interviewing Jeff Chon from Genesis Coffee Lab and let me tell you, it was one of my favorite conversations EVER!

If you're in a weird place and you're wondering where God is taking you. - you MUST give this show a listen. What an incredible testimony they have of following the Lord, even when it doesn't exactly fit with what you have planned.

This isn't our usual show but it is such an encouraging story and that's also part of what we want to do - encourage every single listener to see where God is working and leading and jump in with both feet!

We have some changes coming as we begin season 2 of the show.

Many of you likely know that I am now also the host of Ag Matters Radio which is a huge honor! It's been so fun to interview folks in Alaska agriculture! However, the messaging is the same as our podcast, and we are interviewing many of the same people.

Because of that, we are changing up the show to be heavier on teaching. Our tagline is that we are A Teaching Farm that Feeds Alaskans so this is right in line with what we do and where our passion lies.

We hope you enjoy this new season!