Alaska Hard! The Tough Realities of Living in the Last Front and how we Thrive

[@ronfin-123]

Hi Jessica, Ron here in Tok. I agree with you. The neighbors/ people here in Alaska are great. My truck, intake blew up when it was -60 here. I did let the heater work long enough. But my neighbors have helped me so much Including taking me to fairbanks to buy a used intake. And even helping me with parts. And even helping me take my children to the airport to go back to Idaho. I can't even begin to thank them enough. It's amazing here. The people are absolutely the best.. have a great day

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@ronfin-123 its the best part of living here and my most unexpected surprise

[@shirleykunard9763]

Tok is a great little comuitiy.

[@RandyYount]

Good morning thank you so much for this video. My husband and I moved to Alaska in 1995 and lived in and around Homer for almost 10 yrs. One of my pet peeves about some of the videos is the rose colored glasses. We still miss Alaska but our ages 73 and 65 with past injuries make the cold bad for us. You are telling the honest story of Alaska living.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@RandyYount yes and I am blown away by videos that take it the opposite direction and make it like totally unlivable. It’s literally a beautiful amazing place to live, not an easy life but a beautiful life

[@angiewarren6045]

I have recently discovered that I’m not a fan of really cold weather. In the past I’ve always loved when the cold fronts would move in, but the older I get, the more the cold effects me. So, I will just have to enjoy beautiful Alaska through your eyes/camera lens! Thank you for sharing your beautiful life and family! Also, you are looking fabulous today! Love your hair! 🤗

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@angiewarren6045 thank you so kind

[@carolynlineberger1929]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge of Alaskan life. Your enthusiasm and smile show how much you love your life. God bless you and the family.❤

[@leannekenyoung]

Wow Jessica I had no idea that it took so long to upload your videos!!! You have an amazing amount of resiliency! I learned a lot of things about Alaska today, I really enjoyed this video! Thank you for sharing. I’m sooo anxious for Peaches to have her calf!!! Wouldn’t it be amazing if it is a female cow?? You would be able to have to milk cows! 🥰❤️🙏🏻🍁🇨🇦

[@nelly2127]

Thank you for this video with a lot of details. I live in southwest of France so life is easier, I’m near a big town, our difficulties are traffic jam, pollution, insecurity and violence… and a weather too hot during Summer 😂 When I watch your videos it’s a peaceful moment for me. You are very couragous. Take care.🌸😘🇫🇷

[@NancyMatthews-h5g]

It really seems very hard to live there but so worth it if you appreciate homegrown food and animals, great neighbors and a life of beautiful landscapes. Well done video and very informative.

[@lynnnovick889]

You are so emotionally strong. I would be so depressed from the dark, the cold, loss of greenery, being removed from everything at my fingertips. I really hate winter. Your happiness shines.

[@LazyDaisyDay88]

I love that there is a real sense of community where you live - that really is a true blessing. Great video. Have a fantastic week too!

[@WillowsGarden]

Hi Jessica and sweet family! I’m so glad that you and your family are happy in Alaska. I’m just a southern girl and I do love the mountains. I might visit Alaska, but my heart belongs to the south. Thank you for such beautiful videos and sharing your lifestyle with us. Have a very blessed evening!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

So kind of you, we love having y’all along

[@carolranigler6912]

Good morning, Milnes family! Stay blessed!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thank you Good morning to you

[@T2C47]

I do wish I had moved up there when I was younger. Unfortunately, I am far too used to my creature comforts to move now. 😆 Thankfully, I'm getting to live vicariously through you and a few other Alaska channels. ☺️😊🙏💜

[@lorikrafft8197]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I love the fact you give the good in the bad and the reality of living in Alaska. It is beautiful and worth it for some people to put up with the struggles because there’s so much beauty and good about living in. I feel you almost have to be a bit of a pioneer to live there. I love the fact that you spoke about the reality of living in Alaska.

[@lynnjohnston8048]

I love your channel and do learn a lot have a wonderful weekend

[@riddle8062]

Back in the mid 80s, when I was just starting my teaching career, I almost took a teaching position in Alaska. It would have been a remote (fly you in and out) area. I wasn't adventurous enough back then. Thank you for showing us what it is really like living in Alaska. God bless you all!

[@SourdoughMama64]

Great videos Jessica. ❤pra

[@KokoraLife]

Thank you for sharing your challenges!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

We love it and it is worth it

[@DonnyAB]

I enjoyed your video about Alaska. You are a great speaker and can understand your videos good. You enunciate your words so everything is clear. Keep up the great work.

[@lauragroux4444]

You should be the face and voice to anyone who is planning a move to Alaska. You have been very equal in your representation, in all of your videos, of the pluses and negatives of your state. Until we visit again...stay safe and warm. ❤Momma G

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Thanks, Momma G! That’s the goal.

[@lig8817]

Love this video! Thanks for sharing from Lisa xxxxxxxxx

[@pamelaclayton-vg9me]

I always thought it was complicated to live in Alaska didn’t know just know how much thank you for opening up about it

[@susenmorris9702]

Love your videos get so happy when I see you posted a new one😄❤️

[@michelleblock7752]

Such an informative video. I thought at one time, it would be fun to live in Alaska. You just confirmed that I should live vicariously through you! 😂

[@roxannebertram9935]

Amazing content. Love your channel

[@amyerion9710]

This was a great video. I have heard so many that have moved looking for a great life and not even a year later they had to move. Reality sucks but knowledge is power. Wtg.

[@VanessaPage-ic2bd]

Hi Jessica, this was a wonderful informative video. I think Alaska is an absolutely beautiful state it would not be for me because I truly do not like cold weather. It has been in the lower teens here in NC for almost a week now with daytime highs in the 30's and 40's and that is still way to cold for my liking.

[@reneekendal-ward4638]

We had Wolverines 😲 I lived in Isolation for 7 years in Northern British Columbia Canada A very big adventure ❤️🌹🙏

[@belindaroberts3090]

When I married my husband he wanted to move to Alaska. I didn't cuz all our grown kids lived in arksnsas. He had 4 kids & I had 2. Now we also have 15 grands & 4 great grands. N I w I'm obsessed with watching people that live in Alaska. I'm subscribed to like 11 youtubers. 😆

[@ZXX984]

Thank you for this video. Very informative.

[@brendastewart14]

We just got over 8" of snow down here on the Mobile, Alabama Bay area. 1/21/25...It shut Us down. We don't have the plow trucks and salt Trucks, to keep our roads open. Driving on the snow ok but, it turns into ice. We had a lot of fun and made a lot of great memories. Families got out in it. Built Snowman's. The snow was a soft powder. It was an effort to build tho. 😂

[@jenniferglaze-o4d]

Love to save your videos for my evenings!! Enjoyed this video as much as all your videos!! ☺️

[@kathyhiggins2847]

Thanks Jessica for this very educational video. I’ve always wondered about costs to live in Alaska. We learned a little about the prices on a vacation back in 2017. We had booked a cruise from Whittier to Vancouver. When we travel, we try to see as much of where we’re visiting as we can. We rented an RV for 9 days and drove around. We circled from Anchorage, to Denali, Fairbanks, with a side tour to the Arctic Circle. Continued through Tok, down to Valdez and back to Anchorage. Then day tripped into the Kenai (didn’t spend enough time there) and on to our cruise. It was the most fabulously beautiful trip we’ve ever taken. Our initial trip to Walmart for provisions for the RV was an eye opening experience (my husband was amazed to find a liquor store in Walmart!). We can’t wait to return, to see and experience more! Things are like down to the lower 48, just different. PS. I was able to find a Quilt Shop in every town we visited, amazing🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Yes quilting is huge here

[@kristiphillips7783]

Great video explaining things if people are new to your or the Alaskan lifestyle. I follow you and about 5 or 6 other Alaskan channels (remote life Alaska is one) I have accumulated over the past 6ish years and it is interesting to see how unique each one is. It kind of fascinates me to be honest. You all are unique in your own way and sometimes you have to remind yourself that Alaska is a US state!! That is not at all meant in a bad way! There are just so many "levels" of living in that one state and the fact it is ONE state can be mind blowing at times. Make sense at all? LOL! I mean one couple I follow are WAY out there and the way they get to "town" is flagging down the train, borrowing or renting a vehicle to get all their supplies along with taking something with them like gas cans and things like that. The people on the trains that help are amazing also!! Not to mention putting all this stuff on the train, getting it off and how they get it home being dropped off in the middle of nowhere! I mean WOW!! My mind is blown often! LOL! Bless you all! It is work on all levels no matter how you do it.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

I know right?! It really is a state of extremes!

[@kristiphillips7783]

@@modernhomesteadalaska Yes it is and glad you get what I was trying to say. Such a beautiful state and lived many years without a clue. Had become a bucket place for me right here in the USA and know I will never see it the way I would like. Thinking a cruise would be a good start.

[@berniem.6173]

Jessica, I received the Christmas card from your family today. Thank you! Best wishes for the Homestead. A lot of exciting things to look forward to in 2025. 🐮 💐

[@anniehinshaw9433]

Thank you for another amazing video. I know that I could never live where you are. I can't do the darkness of winter, and I don't do well in cold weather either.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

It is definitely hard, but I think the things we enjoy in life are often worth the work

[@kikomartin-pr]

We absolutely love your channel. Have a wonderful rest of your week.

[@judyshoemaker9681]

I absolutely love living in Alaska. It's true. the best neighbors in the world are a big part of it. I know it's been an easy winter, but I know I would love it anyway.

[@tonjadavis8839]

Love your family and videos

[@debbiemiller7342]

Loved the video, thank you!

[@bettinapignataro2256]

Wow!! I so loved this video!! What an authentic look into real life in Alaska! I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy learning about life there! Please keep doing videos like these! Also, glad to see you feeling so much better😊

[@carolynparker7007]

Great video. It gave a real look at living there.

[@debbieorazi2518]

Fantastic video Jessica! I loved learning some of the ins and outs of living in Alaska.

[@m.l.e.8956]

What a great informative video Jessica 👍🏻💯 You have a good voice, vocabulary & you are very talented at story telling. I really enjoyed this video from my Hospital bed and it has inspired me to become more active. It’s too bad we all didn’t share communities like they have in Alaska. I think we all yearn for that.🤗❤️

[@billholden5271]

Wow what a great video. Thank you so much for your honesty and information. Very much appreciate you not sugar coating things. I love honesty. Wish you all the best for the coming year.

[@lorimcmichael5846]

Great Video Jessica! Thanks!

[@hannahives9209]

Really enjoy your videos.

[@cathykillion6544]

Enjoyed the video ❤

[@sheri5753]

Awesome information ❤

[@lyndaplank4750]

Thank you for sharing information on the beautiful state of Alaska. Love all your videos.

[@gloriadavidson8599]

Jessica what great insight into living in Alaska ❤❤❤ 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Loved the video xx Love from the UK x

[@DarleneSimmons-sc1xx]

Just love your channel right now in Buffalo ny where I live is as cold as Alaska but we live it. Your channel is helpful and great I really I’ve G mom she looks great and she is lucky to have you. Cannt wait for baby calf. Stay warm ❤❤❤❤

[@DarleneSimmons-sc1xx]

Love gma

[@susenmorris9702]

Great info ❤️❤️

[@robertdeatherage2354]

Extra awesome, interesting video today!!!

[@cejce03]

Love that you share your Alaskan life… is there Anything that you miss living in the lower US that you don’t have in Alaska? Thanks and sending blessings from Nebraska

[@DebraKnippa]

Have a wonderful day. Blessings

[@LauraElliston-o6j]

Alaska is so beautiful! And your location is absolutely phenomenal! Community is one of the amazing benefits of your area. It seems like everybody "knows" everybody else, whether they have ever met before. I was amazed at how friendly people were at different events I've been privileged to attend. I agree, Alaska is not for everyone. I think I am suited for Alaska life. Maybe someday!

[@renamaemcdonald2075]

Peaches will be a great blessing when she starts producing milk! I definitely agree that cow's milk is the best although goats are easier to find. We grew up with cows & cattle farmed in northern Alberta. We milked a Gelbveih cow which was awesome!❤

[@brendalehman1950]

Hey Jessica, nice video. So much great information. I just love following your family's journey/adventure!

[@SB-vg8uv]

You guys are amazing❤️

[@gillgallon9631]

super video, very informative ,thank you for sharing

[@koreenbrown6401]

Lots of great info for people wanted to move there

[@katt7290]

❤❤

[@jacketssprockets9842]

Lots of information thanks. Here in Northern California prices aren’t much lower. Fuel is crazy high. Hope it comes back down 😊. We’re rural, town is over an hour away Costco is two hours. It is hard to do more than a couple of errands before dark. So we’re getting ready to be Alaskan

[@shirlydejarnette]

Love the landscape veiws but not a place for me to live. I would never leave the house in the winter with the temps

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@shirlydejarnette so true

[@deborahstewart2322]

Love your channel did you see the huge snow on the gulf beaches ? we have cold temps here the teens but no snow in northern Alabama go figure!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@deborahstewart2322 yeah oh my if you could send our snow back we would greatly appreciate it

[@KathyGrant-x5b]

So interesting. Thank you👏👏❤️

[@StaciPrivette]

I just want to say I love watching your channel and I also love Peaches!! 😂🤪💓💓💓💓

[@beverlyhendricks9456]

How do u think of such interesting topics? I love your vids. You are so talented. Thank you for brightening this old lady’s day with every one of your vids. Virtual vids. P. S. How is your Mom and Gran doing?

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@beverlyhendricks9456 thank you! Everyone is doing fantastic

[@charlesroy3721]

Put a straw covered box or more about 5 foot off the floor.Make the connection to the box with broom shaft or branch.The chickens will share the box(s) and seem to love the idea.All the eggs in one easy to pick area.

[@loraypruitt5922]

😊😊

[@kimmartin2522]

This is what happens when people realize all you have is who's around you. ❤

[@carolranigler6912]

I did not know that about some plants poisoning or killing cows and their babies, very informative, Jessica, Thank you for sharing some of these concerns, facts and wildlife and scenery.

[@carolranigler6912]

Ok, just saw price of fuel at the shell gas station, over your shoulder. Gas here is almost $6 per gallon for regular fuel, diesel is higher!

[@yvettegerry9862]

Great video ! Thank you for sharing! 🐾🦴🐾

[@renamaemcdonald2075]

We actually just got cell service in our community before Christmas. Starlink & wifi calling saved the day. We are supposed to get cable internet this spring 😂

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

It is a game changer, for sure.

[@ajorgensen2334]

I really enjoyed this video…although I enjoy most of your videos. A couple questions for you. You mentioned your livestock but you rarely mention the rabbits. Are they for ‘freezer camp’? Plus I know solar is expensive but in Alaska would it make sense when you look at it over the entire year with the super short winter days?

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

Great questions! 1st I get so much hate for the freezer camp rabbits’ lol yes they are for that and solar is a no for us, soooo expensive and still requires a generator and fuel 9 months of the year. It would take 30 years to pay off solar and the other stuff. And our electric is low and dependable as much as can be and no stress. I also like having a dryer and washer and freezers and several other things not very feasible to run on solar

[@jeannevera6893]

Hi Jessica, Jeanne from NC. I cannot wait until 🌼🌱🪻🐄🫎🐣🦅🦃🐟🦞🦀🍅

[@dennisbynum8781]

Are you near Wasilla? Surprised to not see more snow even though its a light year. Where do you go to Church?

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

By Knik more than Wasilla, but it’s gone in anchorage and Wasilla! No snow tear

[@KirstieHolman]

How long did this video take to upload?Love your informative content

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@KirstieHolman it was a good day about 4 hours and an hour for KZbin to check it. So 5 hours total

[@KirstieHolman]

Well we really appreciate the time you put into showing us Alaska from Kent in the UK

[@kelliepineda9822]

Costco closes to me here in mv is 2.0 hrs to las vegas or 5-6hrs to phx

[@annaking9213]

It is beautiful there. Hard, but nice if you fish and hunt. Choices!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@annaking9213 I say it’s hard everywhere just choose the hard that is best for you!

[@OurSliceofAlaskaHomestead]

Where do you get your bibs from? Love them!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

They are carhartt I just get that at any store that sales the brand

[@stringkmcc7817]

We're rural North Al, any city is 35/40mins. So if you calculate the price and amount of gas you'd use to go to Costco ect, is the 3🐻 stores cost efficient if gas is figured in? I know I have to do that a lot here. Do y'all have the great dollar general store there? That's 10mins for us but it's only the basics nothing fancy (Walmart)😂

[@kelliepineda9822]

when they start slowing down will you haven't n eat them ?also how old do you think they be when they start to slow? n will you add 2 for everyone you remove ? or will you add chickens before you start removing non layers? example new chicken in spring n harvest in fall

[@carmancloud]

I do wonder if some of the discrepancy in salary vs cost of living isn’t based on job type? I made three times the salary in the Bay Area as I did in Alaska. Housing was definitely more expensive in California but not at a 3 to 1 ratio and base goods were cheaper. 🤷‍♀️

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

That's a great point. It really does depend on the job. But it seems to me even friends that moved to be like in the medical field, Alaska was not a jump up or a step back, very similar life style.

[@kelliepineda9822]

good thing aaron n Wyatt go in to town everyday n can check mail

[@BPCalaskaCARYN]

4 or 5 feet in one day?!!!!, Jessica :) lol No we didn't but I am sure you misspoke unless you are talking about Thompson Pass.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

I’m sorry yes yes yes it was in a week that we got hammered over a foot a day then it broke and hammered us again, yes that what I was talking about, having to come home and clear every day for a week as it just kept snowing. Sorry friends.

[@robertsteele-is4ug]

it`s a shame i don`t live in ALASKA i would love to have you guys as neighbors

[@marS1215-O]

Hola, que lástima que no estén activados la traducción en español. Saludos! Desde México 🇲🇽

[@kelliepineda9822]

for us it's cold 56° not I don't have heater on I did for my hubby but I took him to work ran to sams pick up he's rx clean up kitchen n in couple hours I'll be cooking turkey breast mash pot stuffing n gravy. kids coming n spending the weekend or couple nights.

[@renamaemcdonald2075]

I would love to have access to organic compost & soil!

[@DaCoolGma1]

those prices are just about Colorado prices now everything has gone way up and eggs heck we can't even get them here

[@josephconner4756]

Jessica Question I'm on SSI Disability and Food Stamps and how can I do same type of pantry like your and make things stretch out. Can you please give me some advice how to stretch out my food in my pantry.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@josephconner4756 I’m not sure, slow and steady wins the race I would say, add a few bags of dry things slowly

[@judyshoemaker9681]

Years ago I lived on food stamps with 4 children. I watched the sales and cut coupons and back then food stamps were paper after my food stamps ended I was still able to shop six more months on the food stamps I had left. Years later on a fixed income I still ONLY shop sales on most items. When can vegetables are only sale I buy several extra cans. Then the next few weeks I don't need to buy them until they go on sale again. As a woman who only lives on social security, by shopping the sales I am able to grow my pantry to have enough extra food to last months if an emergency ever happens. It won't happen over night, but pay attention and every week buy what you will eat that is on sale and buy a little extra of that item to eat when it's not on sale.

[@cynthiabudrow1766]

My children live on JBER base in Alaska. They are soon retiring from the AF. They are a strong rugged family who would like to live there. They are a good Christian family. Currently they cannot find a place to homestead. Do you have any suggestions for them.

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@cynthiabudrow1766 keep looking! Things pop up constantly.

[@SHEILAWASHINGTON-k5t]

HI ,JESSICA THERE A WHOLE LOT OF FACTORS TO LIVE IN ALASKA.

[@LucyValean]

Hello Jessica , why can you not grow tomatoes and peppers?

[@yvettegerry9862]

Hello friend!

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@yvettegerry9862 hello

[@joymarie2793]

You make Alaska sound so hard to live in I was born and raised in Alaska and Alaska really sucks to live in and very depressing 😂

[@modernhomesteadalaska]

@@joymarie2793 oh I think it’s so wonderful, we don’t mind the hard parts because the good far out weighed the hard

[@ws775]

When it gets tough just go to Costco

[@janetfaircloth208]

I am a 74 yr old from Eastern NC & i will not be moving to Alaska because I don’t like snow, ice, & cold weather. We have had temperatures as low as 13* & snow… no thanks.

[@mikemckinley1031]

Hello Jessica I had a landscaping company for 35 years and I am really interested in having a house and land in Alaska up in willow Miss Chrystal and Mr Reeve are very caring people I have seen several properties around willow for around $ 300,000 to $600,000 and higher I would only use it for 6 months of the year I am getting dual citizenship I am hoping to take a fight there next year love your channel.