Springtime In Alaska

Finally, home. Remote Alaska: mail once a week via floatplane, water straight from the creek to the faucet and shower, heat from last year's beach logs. It feels so good to be a part of the waking of the land and sea, having caught the weather shift from winter to warmer temperatures right as we landed after a four-hour skiff ride. Our arrival was timed perfectly - just before high tide - making unloading the totes and boxes of groceries and supplies so much easier. When the tide book, rather than the clock, became a daily consultation, we knew a full breath of fresh air could be pulled in and exhaled with relish. 

Deep breathing aside, there was a list of chores waiting for us, so we got to work getting a handle on the chaos we left behind from last fall. Mucking out the dam and getting that water flowing down the one-inch polyethylene pipe was just a start to our drinking in the land. One of our totes of goodies lugged out from town included taps for maple trees, which we’d bought out of curiosity about the possibility of producing magic by tapping our black birch trees for their legendary health tonic, tree sap.

Old Russian settlers claimed that the water-like sap had medicinal qualities and was beneficial to drink. So we tapped in on the old lore and gave it a drink. Luscious and sweet, the "tree water" was a 10 out of 10, with the only similarity being to coconut water but without the coconut flavor. The trees have been generous; we've only used fewer than half a dozen on the property, and we are hydrated body and soul!  

To be drinking straight from the land while looking out on the sea fills us with appreciation for this little piece of northern paradise we call home. 

Now back to the laundry list of projects, the greenhouse, fruit tree planting, hanging a new net, and welding! 

Tollef and Adelia