Common Ground Alaska Farmstead

Common Ground Alaska Farmstead Welcome to our page where we will talk about farming, gardening, and all things dirt - learning to thrive right where we are. Come join us!
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This is a site to help Alaskans work together to not just survive in Alaska but to thrive. Posting pertinent information for all Alaskans on farming locally, buying local, living frugal, etc.

I have to redeem myself after yesterday’s “super cute but very pointless” post about the sheep toilet paper holders.  I’...
01/08/2026

I have to redeem myself after yesterday’s “super cute but very pointless” post about the sheep toilet paper holders.

I’ve been wanting to share this laundry soap with you all because this stuff works miracles. I’d just about given up on a “healthy” laundry soap that actually cleans clothes and leaves everything fresh smelling. Most justndoesnt seem to work for stinky, deep farm grime

Until Kelli Foreman posted about this stuff. I thought I’d give it a try because I know she’s in the muck and dirt and grime as deep as we are. Everything comes out super clean, stains removed, and my laundry smells so good (I like the lemon scent).

I was floored! This stuff is all natural and it works better than anything I’ve tried!

And it barely takes any to clean a load!

So head to Amazon and redeem that sheep TP holder and get yourself some really good laundry detergent. 🙂 You’ll be so glad you did!

Link is in the comments. :)

What is your favorite way to use your canned wild Alaskan salmon? *Hint - actual recipes that you use instead of just a ...
01/08/2026

What is your favorite way to use your canned wild Alaskan salmon? *Hint - actual recipes that you use instead of just a recipe name are always helpful in posts like this. :)

Our two favorites are salmon patties and salmon chowder. I'll put the link to the salmon chowder in the comments.

Salmon Patties:

2 pint jars of salmon (smoked or regular)
2 eggs
2 cups pork rinds or 3/4-1 cup flour (enough to make it stick together but not too dry)
A little chopped onion if you feel like it.
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dill
Mix everything together thoroughly. Turn burner to medium, heat up a cast iron pan, and melt some butter in. Scoop patties into the hot frying pan. I use a cookie scoop to measure the patties and flatten with a fork or turner.

Fry for a couple of minutes (until golden) and turn. Add butter or avocado oil as needed to keep the patties from sticking.

When the patties are done, enjoy!

We absolutely love these served with fry sauce (mayo with a little bit of ketchup, mustard, and salt) and homemade french fries using potatoes from our garden. :)

They are also really good warmed up which is why I make so many in each batch.

Warning: potential controversy ahead - however, I think our followers have the maturity, smarts, and kindness to handle ...
01/08/2026

Warning: potential controversy ahead - however, I think our followers have the maturity, smarts, and kindness to handle this conversation so I'm going to go ahead and share my thoughts - and I'm going to ask your thoughts, too. :)

I'd love to hear what folks are thinking - I'm always learning and most of you are much smarter than me!

Here goes!

Regarding this new food pyramid:

🌾 GRAINS: I have people who say that fermented, fresh milled, properly prepared foods with grains in them are incredibly healthy. Heck, I'm one of the people saying this!

However, I agree that the food pyramid should have grains as the most minimal food for consumption. Here's why: MOST Americans are not making fermented, fresh milled everything. Most are buying bread, pasta, cake, cookies, and all the grain things at the store. And if you buy it at the store chances are it has zero nutritional value and it's filled with processed ingredients - it's a dead food. So because of this, I agree. However, as we are working to educate and show folks how to use grains in a healthy manner - that could change!

🧈 BUTTER: I see folks yelling about having butter on the list - I don't understand that. Fat doesn't make you fat. It's been proven over and over and over. Also, butter isn't what's causing heart issues - it's margarine, seed oils, processed foods, and way too much time on our hind end. (on a side note, I had no idea folks actually still purchase margarine or butter substitutes and canola oil etc - I literally thought that stuff was gone in the past - wow)

🥕 VEGETABLES: My carnivore leaning friends (and me, I'm one of these, too) are asking why vegetables are so high on the list. I like to think so folks can learn to ferment them. :) Veggies, prepared correctly, can be highly nutritious! We just have to get through the issue of oxalates and other anti-nutrients - which is very easily figured out!

🍎 FRUIT: Again, my low-carb loving friends believe fruit is from the devil - they would have surely convinced Eve to steer clear of the apple, just for health reasons! However, we are fruit/berry farmers. I watch how Gene grows the food in our orchard and how he cares for it all. I just can't see that it can possibly be bad for us in any shape or form. As a low-carb person, I do limit my apple and cherry intake and lean heavily on berries. :)

🥛 FULL FAT MILK: Okay, folks. Here's the truth of the matter. (I have much to say on this but I'm going to just address the fat for now) - we're kinda back to the butter discussion. First, it's not fat that makes you fat. As a matter of fact, you NEED to be eating fat! Low fat diets have been proven to be downright dangerous so don't do that.

However, when talking about milk specifically, here's something that isn't always shared. Milk fat (cream) is needed to be consumed with milk to break down the milk sugars. MANY people who have long been lactose intolerant are perfectly able to drink full fat milk (good: store whole milk but best: truly, non-skimmed milk) without issues because the fat in the cream helps your body digest the sugars in the milk. (no, you can't eat a tub of ice cream to help digest skim milk - but nice try!)

I could go on and on about milk but I need to stay on this single point for now.

I think that pretty much covers my thoughts - but now I'd love to hear from you!

Do you feel like this is a step in the right direction or just a bit waste of time (or a little bit of both)? Can't wait to hear from you!

Remember: be kind and answer other comments like you'd answer your mom. :)

Have you ever made a purchase that was entirely frivolous and made no sense except that it makes you smile and laugh? Th...
01/07/2026

Have you ever made a purchase that was entirely frivolous and made no sense except that it makes you smile and laugh?

That would describe me with this adorable trio of sheep toilet paper holders. They are even cuter in person than they were in the picture! I love them so much - they just make me happy! 🤣

If you feel like making an adorable, whimsical, and completely impulsive purchase, the link to the sheep is in the comments. 🐑🧻

Because it’s so warm today, I spent the afternoon getting the barn refreshed. Mabel is marginally okay (stays out of my ...
01/07/2026

Because it’s so warm today, I spent the afternoon getting the barn refreshed.

Mabel is marginally okay (stays out of my way) when I am using the pitchfork to clean the inside but she goes bonkers when I try to shovel snow and just wants to play with the shovel nonstop.

Maybe the idea that cows don’t like red is true? I’ve no idea but she’s relentless with the shovel. Makes things … um … challenging … 😬🙄🙃

It’s good to have that done before the next cold snap.

More captions with each photo. 🙂

I love home. 🥰This was my view walking up to the house after feeding this morning. So much beautiful new snow and still ...
01/06/2026

I love home. 🥰

This was my view walking up to the house after feeding this morning. So much beautiful new snow and still coming down!

I just love seeing the welcoming glow from the house lights (all incandescent, now).

Life is just good. 🥰

From Alexandra, our editor: Show me your cutest animal baby photos! I am gathering the cutest farm baby photos to publis...
01/05/2026

From Alexandra, our editor:

Show me your cutest animal baby photos!

I am gathering the cutest farm baby photos to publish in our spring edition for Sustainable Alaska Magazine. There is no pay, but I'll put your name and/or your farm name/location under your photo and we'll all get to enjoy the cuteness of spring on the farm!

If you have pictures of your children working on the farm, we have a special section just for kids too! Just post the picture, the child's name/age and your farm name, and we can publish a picture of them working hard on the farm!

You can also send the pictures directly to me, the editor, at [email protected]

You can find this wonderful Alaskan publication here:

Want to get every issue of the Sustainable Alaska Magazine?Then subscribe today! Only $30 per year for the digital magazine or $60 per year for the print version!

I’m gonna share a secret with you but don’t tell Gene! He made me the coolest Christmas gift ever in the history of ever...
01/05/2026

I’m gonna share a secret with you but don’t tell Gene!

He made me the coolest Christmas gift ever in the history of ever - he made me a beautiful set of kitchen knives. It includes a paring knife and a bread knife!

That’s not the secret. The secret is that I know I should not use them until we’ve done a photo shoot with them - but I made a loaf of perfect fresh milled einkorn sourdough bread and just couldn’t resist the temptation to cut the loaf with my new bread knife.

Holy moly! It cuts crazy good! I had no idea a bread knife could cut that clean! Almost no crumbs it sliced clean and straight.

I’m sooooo excited to use it more! I hope today is a good day for a photo shoot! 😎

PS - part of what makes this knife set so special is that he crafted the handles from a birch burl he found right on our property. It’s so beautiful and meaningful!

PPS - follow him over at Common Ground Bladesmith to see what else he is creating. 😎

Note to self: Rubber Snubbers just don’t work at 35 below. 🥶🙈
01/04/2026

Note to self: Rubber Snubbers just don’t work at 35 below. 🥶🙈

Folks, if you have a metal feeder, please line it with something before you pour grain into it. I just put hay in the bo...
01/04/2026

Folks, if you have a metal feeder, please line it with something before you pour grain into it. I just put hay in the bottom of ours. When they eat the hay, they arent having to touch the metal with their lips and tongues like they do for grain.

If you have a metal waterer, maybe switch to plastic for a bit. I hate plastic as much as the next person but it’s sure handy when it gets this cold.

Metal hurts - especially mouths, lips, and tongues that are wet.

Gene: “Let’s get this house warmed up!” I’d say he did it! This pic was taken above the woodstove which is cranking. We ...
01/04/2026

Gene: “Let’s get this house warmed up!”

I’d say he did it!

This pic was taken above the woodstove which is cranking. We dont have central heat so to keep the laundry room and bedrooms from freezing, we have to keep the wood stove hot and run fans to push the warm air through the house. 🙂

Think we will hit 40 below tonight?

“Guys, it’s cold.” - Mabel
01/03/2026

“Guys, it’s cold.” - Mabel

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Big Lake, AK

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U-Pick apples, cherries, haskaps (honeyberries), saskatoons, and MORE! From our farm to your table.

Formerly Alaska by Nature.