What would you ask a REAL homesteader?

What is the item they wish they could have but seems to be forever just out of reach, either finacially or practically? Do they want a different life for their children or at least the opportunity for them to choose? What about their lifestyle gives them the greatest reward? Everyone has lifestyle regrets, hopefully they're offset by the good points, but what are their regrets? How important are neighbors, so how far away they are? How would they use a winfall lottery win or large inheritance? What's the greatest challenge living where and how they do? What's their greatest fear? What's one thing they have or use they could do without? Do they have a plan for old age or premature illness that would make living how they do impossible? They're Christian? Do they have a church and do they have the ability to attend? Does their minister come to them if needed? Do they mark the sabbath days differently or celebrate Easter, Christmas etc. differently than we do? Are there events they mark beyond the Christian celebrations that are region specific? How do they approach strangers they meet on the road or in the bush? What is a typical day like? How demanding is the area they live in that things get done in a timely manner? .............................. did you want more questions or should I just drive up myself?

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Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup........

I think the most important question is: Do they have health insurance?
Who is going to pay for ones cancer treatments or heart bypass? or any other high priced surgery? Or are they going to chance it and let society pick up their bills? I think this is the biggest of homesteaders worries. Everything that you have worked for, for years can be taken away in one swift health issue.

What sort of things do they consider luxuries that we take for granted. Not neccessorily big things like running water but the little ones. I'm afraid I'm not putting that right. What's the first thing they like to do when they come into town, (beides go home again) movie, pizza, ice cream, bookstore?

An ongoing issue where I am is the encroachment of *civilization* (such as it is --- I mean, this IS Oklahoma :haha: ). I've worked with family communities here which were very isolated from the outside world until fairly recently --- some as recently as maybe ten-fifteen years ago. These are Indian communities where the majority of people still speak their native language and where English is the second language.

Because of television, telephones, cell phones, new highways, suburbanites fleeing suburbia, etc., however, these communities are in a bit of culture shock. Their kids are leaving, drugs are moving in to fill the void, etc.

True, this is happening in Indian country, but is not necessarily such an uncommon scenario throughout America.

Alaska is still much more isolated than it is here, but I would imagine the time is coming when even they might face at least some degree of encroachment, despite it all. A kind of northern suburban sprawl. And certainly the effects of television, etc. on future generations.

I'd be curious to hear how they feel about that.

I'm aware that such encroachment is likely very far down the line for them --- but the people I know here who are suffering its effects never quite believed it would happen to them either.

So ... long way around to ask: have they ever considered what might happen, should more and more people move their way? What would they do to buffer the effects of television, internet, cell phones, etc. on their grandchildren, g-grandchildren, etc.? Do they believe in the necessity of preserving their way of life, and why?

I would ask them to tell me about listening to the wind. The spirtual side of thier lives.

Im mostly interested in the raising a family aspect of it.


What things do they buy from in town?

Sounds like they have kids- did she have no prenatal care and birth unassisted?

Did she breastfeed her babies? Cloth diaper?

What type of education did their children receive?

If they lived way out there through out the childrens childhoods, how did the kids transition to town life or to living in a less remote area or where ever it is that they are now?

Living so remotely, did the kids go through the average colds/ear infection/etc like kids normally do?Do they get sick very often?

Do they buy an armload of books from in town? LOL

Do they like to keep informed about what is going on in the world?

How did they meet? How did their kids meet their spouses? I would *love* to know their meeting up story and how they started as homesteaders as young people.

Does she make all of her cleaning supplies and soap?

What kind of house do they live in?

If they were born and raised this way, was it in the same area? How many of those 15 people within 10 miles are relatives? Or how close are any of their relatives.

Do they ever get tired or overwhelmed with being so remote and want to give up and enjoy the ease of modern conveniences that the world has to offer?

What do they do for when they argue or are tired of each other?

Whens the last time they had a Twinkie or a Pepsi? :haha:

Do they do everything the old fashioned way or do they have some type of appliances that are more modern?

What mode of transportation do they use to get to neighbors for Tom to work, or Penny to help sick people, if they have to ration their fuel since it only comes in a couple times a year?

Really, Im not usually this nosy, I am just very interested in this. I would LOVE to go spend a few weeks with people like this.

Let's turn the question around, what preconceived notions would/do other new Alaskan homesteaders have to deal with.

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“It is tedious to live, it is tedious to die, it is tedious to c**p in deep snow”
Old Norwegian observation

I would love to know what kind of changes in Alaska they have seen over their lifetime. Are they good changes or bad ones? Do they use a gen set? Are either of them pilots?

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I believe in God's willingness to heal.

Cyngbaeld's Keep Heritage Farm, breeding a variety of historical birds and LaMancha goats. (It is pronounced King Bold.)

Oh, I asked her that one. She said lots of people have come out there from the city, intent on taking on their way of life, only to leave again after the newness of it wears off. It's a much harder life than most people realize, and the lure of convenience goes much deeper than even the most jaded city-person would suspect.

Someone asked if they have any modern conveniences. Well, they have email! I'm trying to get her to come on HT and answer questions herself sometime. Right now she's busy harvesting potatoes, though.

I think I'm going to extend my stay with them. You people are bringing up too many questions for just two days!

I'll try to check in from up there.

Chuck

What do they estimate are your chances of getting snowed in with them for the winter? (No, I'm not kidding :no: )

Would they be interested in writing a book on thier long winter nights? Have they ever kept a diary of daily life and work? What influenced thier childen to choose/not choose life in the bush? Do they keep animals and how is that different from a less harsh environment? How much property do they own? What special precautions from weather/wild animals do they need to work into thier living/outbuilding structures? Have they ever been approached to "teach" people who wanted that kind of lifestyle?

Have they ever experienced cabin fever? What are the winters like? Do the children go out and play or are they cabin bound? Can you raise goats and other livestock. I'd think it would be hard to grow hay.

"Remember you are unique, just like everyone else"

Chuck:

You'd better leave a trail of breadcrumbs!

Who do they think is gonna win the World Series.

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This is the government the Founding Fathers warned us about.....

Okay, I've got one or two.....my sister says that when she would go outside with wet hair in the winter, it would freeze and break off. She could give herself haircuts. Is this true? (could happen in Minnesota too I suppose?)
Also, she kept her food in a tree to keep the bears out (no electricity or running water), Is this the norm? Her ice box was a box in her window, but she had to remove most of the food, bag it up and tie it up high in a tree to keep the bears out. (Another common thing in bear country?)
During the days of the endless sun, can you really come out of a bar a 2 A.M. and not need your headlights to see the road?


Good luck with your trip Chuck, and don't keep snacks in your pockets.

i didn't have time to read every post so this may have been asked already, but what is their toilet system like?

how hard is it to work a compost bin/pile up there?
What is their average water use, per summer and winter?

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Thumper/in Okla.
Growing a Homestead from the dirt up.

save the grass, eat a cow
C.L.F.
{chlorophill liberation front}

Well golly gee whizz chucky, and you make money while doing this! Is'nt that great! WHO PAYS THE BILL? ARE THEY LOOKING FOR HELP? Are there residual profits to be made?

What was the funniest thing that has ever happened to them? Most heart breaking? Most scary?

Do they get tv reception?

Have they ever run short on food towards the end of a long winter?

I would ask them for a list of their 10 ten bits of wisdom for someone just starting out in homesteading.

Marlene

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It is the one with persistence and determination that brings great ideas into being.