Homesteaders Cache is our little modern “homestead” where we garden, raise chickens, hunt, fish, gather, make soap and so much more. We both have full-time jobs as well, so this is all accomplished in our "free time". Our big goal for 2016 was to harvest 550 pounds of food from our garden - as of November we have 504 pounds. Last years harvest was 534 pounds, and 2014 was 130, so we have increased
substantially the past two seasons! Gardening in Southeast is challenging because of all our rain, so we use a greenhouse, hoop houses, small covers and raised beds. We also have a short growing season which limits the types of crops we can grow, but that doesn't mean we don't try to grow things like corn, tomatoes and melons! In 2016, we gave a season long gardening class which covered everything needed to grow food in your backyard. We will offer this class again in 2017. We sell our handmade soaps through craft shows, farmer's markets and retail shops to the public and wholesale to gift shops and bed and breakfasts. It would be a dream for the soap business to have its own building, but for now it is all made in our kitchen. Our hope in sharing our experience is to inspire others. You don't have to have lots of land to be a modern homesteader - it is more a way of thinking. Just doing more for yourself, making things yourself and gathering the knowledge needed to become more self reliant. Join us on our journey to self reliance in Southeast Alaska!
