SOIL TESTING - How & why to do them and what to do with the results

In today’s episode of the podcast, I share some thoughts about common mistakes Alaskans make when buying (and planting) their orchard plants. Listen, buying quality plants that will thrive here can be an expensive and time-consuming project but we’re here to help you make sure your investment is “fruitful” and that you can enjoy the “fruits” of your labor for years to come! As a nursery, we’ve seen and heard stories of mistakes that well-meaning Alaskans make, simply because they didn’t know any better. Things like buying the wrong variety for your area, not getting the correct rootstock, or even not buying proper pollinators. If you have any intention of buying any kind of orchard plants this year, I highly encourage you to give this podcast a listen. As always, we do ask that you click follow - every follow helps support our little farm and it doesn’t cost you a thing Also, did you know that our plant presale is currently happening! Prices are in effect until December 31 - lock in the better price and ensure you will have everything for your orchard this summer! https://commongroundalaska.com/product-category/plants-shrubs-trees-bushes/

If you're an Alaskan you may find yourself wondering how to source truly healthy foods and household items that we can't grow or make here. I completely get it. It is a frustration of mine, too! Today I had the opportunity to visit with David Stelzer, owner and founder of Azure Standard, and what an incredible interview! We talked about a bit of everything including how Azure got started, why their canning jars are made in China (listen up - the answer will surely surprise you), how Alaskans can use Azure as their main source of groceries after buying local, and so much more! (If you're interested in learning more about Azure Standard, create an account here: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=1tgPd1lZHA and check it out. Take time to compare everything. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!)A few quotes that really resonated with me: REGARDING SUBSTANDARD CARAB:"We found that it was impossible so we had to do it ourselves." "We built our own carab factory - we were the only organic carob manufacturer in the country!"REGARDING A PRODUCT THAT STARTED INCLUDING A GMO INGREDIENT"I couldn't continue to sell it and pretend it's not happening.""We are not going to sacrifice our soul for growth." There are so many more awesome nuggets but I would encourage you - just give it a listen. Create your free Azure Standard account here: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=1tgPd1lZHALeave a comment: What is your favorite product from Azure Standard? 

Have you ever made a bucket list? I honestly haven’t but when we were traveling this week I found myself with lots of time to ponder and pray about the winter and to start thinking ahead. I also realized that oftentimes I make goals in my head but I never write them down and I seldom accomplish them. At first I thought about just making a list of goals but then the idea of a bucket list came up and I thought that sounded like tons more fun. So here is my list! I would love a reply - what inspired you? What would you add to this list? Oh! And if you’re interested in Azure Standard, check out this link: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=1tgPd1lZHA Let’s make this winter a wonderful one filled with cozy moments and lots of memories!

This week we get to talk with Margaret Loew of Wholy Living - Margaret is a powerhouse when it comes to learning about - and getting set up for - whole grains! What a wonderful resource we have right here in the valley! In this show, she talks about the benefits of whole grains and how you can use them to increase your health. So much good and helpful information! One thing I love about Margaret is her unbounding energy. She also knows so much about grains - it's incredible! Also, she loves to teach and share what she knows. She's an incredibly generous and thoughtful person - you're going to learn a lot! Margaret is having her semi-annual grain sale right now! If you want an incredible price on things like whole grains to sprout and mill, equipment to use to mill grains, make bread, and more - or if you're looking for baking supplies like chocolate chips that only have quality ingredients - check out Margaret's site. Enjoy the show - I bet you learn something new! Check out Margaret's sale here: https://wholyliving.com/shop/

With the passage of the new farm bill, HB251, it seems there are more questions than answers so I figured the best thing to do was to download the bill and the summary, study it, and then talk to the folks who wrote and helped pass the bill. In this interview, I talk back and forth with both Rep. Kevin McCabe who was a key player in making helping get this bill through to pass and Rep. George Rauscher who actually wrote the original bill. I don't necessarily feel all of the questions were answered but there is some clarity in this podcast and I do also want to encourage you to download the bill and the summary itself before you make any changes to your cottage food business or your meat share program. Link for HB251: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/33?Hsid=HB0251A Link for summary: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/584221c6725e25d0d2a19363/t/65ea2be814b5de2e518d0352/1709845480517/ANALYSIS+OF+HB+251.pdf

Today’s podcast is a super fun compilation of a couple of the questions that our Alaska Homestead Academy members asked Joel Salatin for our live Q&A. What a fun time we had - so informative! https://alaskahomesteadacademy.com/

This talk with Dr. Patrick Jones is incredible. As the WHO is declaring a worldwide emergency with a new virus, we are all looking to protect our families. Herbalist Doc Jones gives practical wisdom for prevention and care if your family is exposed to viruses or ends up sick. NOTE: No one is giving medical advice here - we are simply sharing what could work and what has worked for us in the past.

Boy do we have a fun show today! Ken Hoffman from Mat Su Microgreens joined us to talk about growing (and enjoying) these amazing crunchy veggies year round in Alaska! Microgreens are nutrient dense bundles of goodness that elevate any meal - and you can either grow your own or buy them! Enjoy the chat - and start crunching!

Raw milk seems to be in the news a lot lately - with proposed regulations and  questions about spreading bird flu. I see so many people asking if it’s safe. In today’s podcast, I share how our family chose the dairy we get our raw milk from (How I determined it is clean and safe), why we drink raw milk, and how we use it. This winter in the Alaska Homestead Academy, we are going to release a series of classes on processing milk - from butter to yogurt to kefir to cheese - we’re going to learn how to do it all! If you aren’t already part of the academy, you can join here: https://alaskahomesteadacademy.com/ If you’re curious about raw milk and bird flu specifically, here is an article I wrote about this subject in July: https://commongroundalaska.com/bird-flu-from-raw-milk-july-2024/ Also, if you have other questions about consuming raw milk, here are a couple of really good online resources for more information: https://www.realmilk.com/ https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/

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!