Visits from wolves and a 6-hour drive to the store: what life is like in remote corners of Alaska - ForumDaily
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Visits from wolves and a 6-hour drive to the store: what life is like in remote parts of Alaska

A couple who moved from suburban New England to a remote corner of Alaska said publication New York Post about his difficult life in this wild land.

Photo: Kari Ahlers | Dreamstime.com

Dennis and Amy, known online as Holdfast Alaska, have been living almost entirely on subsistence farming for ten years now: growing vegetables, hunting, and gathering forest produce. They use renewable energy sources and minimize waste. During their time in the North, the couple had a daughter, Lena.

Over the years, Dennis and Amy began sharing their experiences on social media to help those who dream of living off the grid but don't know where to start.

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"We didn't grow up on farms, we didn't live in Alaska, we didn't live in the woods. We both grew up in suburban New England," Amy said in a recent YouTube video about her move "from the suburbs to the backwoods of Alaska."

She recalls how she met Dennis after school and began living together in an apartment. But city life bored both of them, and the young people focused on their common dream - to build a house in a wild place and raise their heirs there.

"We really wanted to own our own land, build a house on it, raise children, grow and forage for food," Amy explained.

They first looked for a plot of land close to home and, in Amy's words, "went through Craig's catalog" to find land in rural Maine. The couple eventually found a large acreage, which they purchased for just $5000.

This plot became their first homestead. They cleared the plot and built a simple house with their own hands. There were no basic amenities such as internet, electricity or running water.

But it was this austere lifestyle that they were striving for. The couple quickly fell in love with the homesteading lifestyle, using their few years there as an opportunity to learn everything they could from books and locals. (A homesteader is a person who develops wild lands, builds a house, and begins to run an independent farm. The term is most often associated with the history of the development of the Wild West in the United States, when people received land from the government and created farms on them. - Approx. Ed.)

The couple then decided to sell their cabin and move to a nearby farmstead, where they spent some time learning about agriculture. But their long-time dream of living independently in Alaska was still their main focus. They realized that they needed to pursue this dream while they were still young and healthy.

Dennis and Amy arrived in the remote town of Whittier, Alaska, four days later and began searching for their ideal territory.

They initially settled on a site near the Kenai River, on the outskirts of the town of the same name. While this gave them a taste of the remote lifestyle they were looking for, it wasn't quite there.

Dennis jokes that it felt like a "watered-down version" of what they were looking for.

Six years later, the couple moved to a new, “most remote” place.

The young couple admit that life in the North is much more difficult than in Maine, but they are happy. Their property borders a national park and is located next to a large river where they can fish for salmon, and the surrounding forests are ideal for hunting elk.

The homesteaders say they are as self-sufficient as possible, relying almost exclusively on food that they grow themselves, hunt, and fish for. They get their water from a local river. However, they have encountered wolves during their trips to get water.

Although the couple's cabin is small, it has enough amenities for Dennis, Amy, and their daughter Lena. In addition to a cozy kitchen with tall cabinets to maximize space, the cabin features a fireplace and a small living room with a balcony where Amy and Dennis enjoy their daily coffee break.

They often share their impressions on social networks.

"After many years of living in Alaska, we finally feel like this is the wildest place we've ever lived," the couple wrote in one post.

"There are no property taxes here. We border over 10 million acres of national forest and hunting land. Our smokehouse is stocked with elk and salmon."

The couple said they decided to move to Alaska because it has "the best hunting and fishing in the world" and is "great for off-grid living."

In addition, homesteaders shared some tips for those who want to follow their example.

"Road. Find out if there are any year-round neighbors who can help maintain the road, whether you can park your car and use a snowmobile in the winter. Don't forget about bad weather. How wet is the road, do you have a four-wheel drive or truck? Are there walking routes? How will you haul supplies? Make sure the road is legal and not just built by the landowner. Check with your local county or city hall, get a local attorney or notary, and include road accessibility in your land purchase terms."

"Financing: Can you get owner financing? We put $5000 down on our first piece of land, and the seller paid the rest. A piece of land near water can be financed as a vacation spot. Credit unions lend money. If the house isn't quite ready, you can get a loan to pay for renovations."

"Use restrictions: Depending on the location you choose, it may be illegal to live off the grid, raise animals on your land, or live without running water if you have children. In rural areas, local authorities sometimes overlook these things, but they can also be picky."

"In Alaska, there are no codes, covenants, and restrictions (CC&Rs), meaning anything goes. Build whatever you want (without a permit), use an outhouse or build your own septic system (without a permit), raise livestock or start a home business (and don't worry about it) - you're free to do whatever you want."

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"In Maine, to live year-round, you need a septic system. For seasonal occupancy, you need a latrine permit. If you have running water, you need a graywater permit. (A graywater system is a technology that allows you to reuse graywater for a variety of purposes. – Approx. Ed.) Figure it all out and don't rely on others."

Although the couple has a social media channel, Amy and Dennis don't show off the interior of their beloved home. They mostly show off the gorgeous view outside their home and show off their farming skills.

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