Family Homestead in The Alaskan Wilderness | Winter Foraging & Fermenting

This week we did some Chaga harvesting and processing into tinctures, stocked the pantry with some homemade ferments, baked an apple pie, and readied the chicken coop for winter!
Thank you for following along on our journey on the last frontier!
-Amy & Dennis

[@MountainMan07798]

Y’all’s channel has become one of my favorites. Very educational. Thanks for sharing your life with us.

[@holdfastalaska]

Happy to hear it, thank you for following along 😊

[@cockiesondaar7225]

Thank you for sharing your lift with me. I like your channel. Greating from the Netherlands ❤

[@Oklahomawildflowers]

We lived in Willow…absolutely miss it. Just found you channel! Chaga is awesome in coffee and helps with our inflammation.

[@Doug-rp5ik]

Just found your channel, I’ve been enjoying it very much. It’s the lifestyle I always wanted to live.

[@holdfastalaska]

We are happy to share with you and glad to hear you enjoy the videos!

[@Doug-rp5ik]

@ The only thing I don’t like is breasting, the grouse, I would utilize the whole bird, my daddy made us use the whole bird from a dove to a turkey, I have never breasted a bird in my life.

[@jennynowicki]

Your meals always sound and look so delicious! Yum! Really enjoy your videos! So educational and interesting!

[@bluffside1012]

Looks delicious. Best of luck to your family. Enjoy that beautiful land.

[@sborras12]

Your video popped up and I have to say that I Love your channel!! You both are an inspiration💗

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@JosephTMeiroseIV]

I've never heard of Chaga. We have 10 acres just outside Fairbanks with mostly Birch. Guess what we are doing tomorrow morning? Heading out on a chaga harvest! Thanks SO much for the info. Another great video. PS: the coffee recipe u shared with me is delish!

[@holdfastalaska]

That is so awesome! Enjoy the harvest! Thank you 😊

[@marlenejones6266]

Well night videos will not be in my lineup of videos from you,which truly makes me very sad. It was so dark in your place I had no idea what you were doing doggone it. Lol I will continue to watch you All during the daytime hours.. im75 and eyes are getting bad for anything at night or evenings. But i,won't quit watching. You guys are my friends. I learn from you, I laugh with you. I am happy with you. I love you guys so much.. hugs and much love.

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you for the kind words, we appreciate your support!😊 we will work on lighting for our future videos!

[@chrisguthrie8402]

I just came across your channel a couple weeks ago, so far so good! Alaska is such a wonderful and beautiful place, good luck

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you for the well wishes, glad you found us! 😊

[@carolwhisenhunt7504]

Your life is amazing. That pie made me so hungry. Lol. 😊

[@holdfastalaska]

Thanks so much! 😊 the pie was good!

[@missreg333]

God bless you and family❤

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you ❤️

[@Raven1180]

Another amazing vid on the Family Homestead. Thank you for the recipes.

[@BigfootRCrcoverlanddave2646]

Awesome again Den👍🏻Amy polished and informative thanks for sharing 🤘🙏👍🏻🇬🇧🤠💯Overland Dave

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you so much!

[@susanchittum5611]

I have only recently found your channel. I am loving the content. I viewed all the past videos. I ferment my cabbage as well but flavor it with caraway seeds. I with I could find someone to teach me to forage locally. Have a great week. Thanks for sharing.

[@holdfastalaska]

Caraway seeds sound delicious! You may be able to find a local foraging guide if you check out gardening groups near you. We are so happy you enjoy the channel, and hope you have a wonderful week as well!

[@littlegriffoffgridalberta6837]

Another great video ! Made me want breakfast after I just had supper :) I love my Chaga 2 or 3 times a week good stuff 👍, Awesome coop :) I'm finally done with my siding for this years, we had a little snow last week but half melted now so trying to just clean up some little things & be ready for winter :) Take care stay warm"

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you! 😊 we love chaga too! Good luck with the projects and stay warm too!

[@GrampsInTexas]

Enjoying the homestead and all the various things that make up your content. Amy I must say, you are a very good cook. The apple pie looked so delicious.Keep the videos coming and thanks for sharing. God Bless

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you very much! We are so happy you enjoyed watching. ❤️

[@EarthnessLLC]

Was fun watching you guys. I have an offgrid homestead in a warm climate. Different set of challenges but a lot of sameness in foraging, canning, cooking, preserving, etc. I enjoy Chaga year round although I have to source it from a northern area. Since we learn from sharing I wanted to mention you can get twice the goodness out of the chaga by doing a double extract. First, do the alcohol extract as you demo’ed. That renders the triterpenes in the Chaga. Once you strain the mark from the alcohol you’ll then boil and reduce it to render the water soluble beta-glucans and polysaccharides. Add the reduced broth to the alcohol, keeping its alcohol by volume above 25% for it to remain shelf stable. Easier than it sounds, but you can research how it’s done quite readily. Most of us herbalist do it that way to get the most out of the resource. Looking forward to enjoying more of your videos.

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you for the great tips and for sharing your knowledge of chaga! I will try that! 🍄

[@DebbieDee-lx6uk]

Beautiful aerials. Thanks for sharing 🫶

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you for watching! 😊

[@DebbieDee-lx6uk]

Love your recipes and that you share with us😊

[@holdfastalaska]

We love to share them, thank you! ❤️

[@HansenHeritageHomestead]

Love the foraging videos! Chaga is something I would love to learn more about and start harvesting and using here on our farm/homestead!

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you ❤️😊 Chaga is a great place to start, it’s the time of year for harvesting too!

[@wobdeehomestead]

I have a couple trees with chaga I need to harvest. Thanks for the reminder.

[@holdfastalaska]

Happy harvesting! 🍄

[@laurathomas6014]

Love your channel!

[@holdfastalaska]

We are so happy you enjoy them! ❤️

[@joeyhardin1288]

Must have missed this one. Thank you. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

[@holdfastalaska]

We're glad you found it! Happy New Year to you too! 😊

[@yunifamily40]

Hello Holdfast Alaska, so beautiful and very cold, Wright😊

[@almaritagaleone8130]

Gorgeous lunch!!❤😊

[@holdfastalaska]

It was delicious!

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Making me hungry!

[@holdfastalaska]

It was delicious!

[@travisvolf1804]

I really enjoy your channel... happy holidays

[@holdfastalaska]

Thanks, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season too! 😊

[@sandylou5022]

Hey from NC stay warm !

[@holdfastalaska]

Hello! Thank you 😊

[@altoncheatham7383]

Nice video. Pie looked delicious 😊

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you 😊🥧

[@mikemorris2068]

Very enjoyable. Very interesting.

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@cynthiabolick3892]

Hello guys, tks for video...much love to ya......

[@holdfastalaska]

Thanks for watching, we appreciate it 😊

[@andriidubinin955]

Thank you for the video! 👍👍 A bit worried for the chickens. A fox could tear through that clear film. Some steel mesh would protect the hens.

[@holdfastalaska]

Wire mesh was on our supply list when we hit the feed store! Unfortunately they were out. Mail ordered some, and will keep an eye on the coop until then. 🐓 thank you for watching!

[@tammyfritz9531]

This is very interesting thanks

[@holdfastalaska]

We are glad you enjoyed it!

[@dianaarsenault3494]

Just found you, already was interested in Alaska and being independent , subscribe! Enjoying the videos here from east coast Canada.

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you for subscribing! We are so glad you’re enjoying our Alaskan homesteading 😊

[@nanscott3362]

I am new to this channel . Looking forward to the next video to see what Amy is cooking. Your food all looks so delicious who taught you to cook? The drone shots are beautiful. A beautiful family , stay warm and safe.

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Growing up we always had a garden, canned and cooked lots at home 😊

[@sofy38455]

Hello..saya tinggal di Indonesia yg musimnya berbeda sangat menyenangkan lihat vidio ini❤

[@holdfastalaska]

Very different seasons, happy you enjoyed the video! 😊

[@hayleybourgault4114]

Love ya channel. Just subbed!!!❤

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you for subscribing! ❤️

[@cchambers8632]

Ashes can help reduce acidic soils and have nutrients like potassium, magnesium and calcium that plants need. Make sure there are no embers and the ashes are completely out and cold to the touch.

[@holdfastalaska]

That is wonderful to know, thank you!

[@janetparrish3429]

Enjoying your channel guys! New subscriber ✌️❤️

[@holdfastalaska]

Welcome aboard! 😊

[@janetparrish3429]

@holdfastalaska , thank you

[@janetparrish3429]

@@holdfastalaska , thank you

[@deborahstewart2322]

I live in Alabama and while walking though the woods I saw some I think looked just like that,

[@holdfastalaska]

If it’s on a birch, it very well may have been a Chaga!

[@carolyngregory9354]

Hi from Mississippi.

[@holdfastalaska]

Hello back from Alaska!

[@CherylGibbins]

Yes there is no light where you are working. But the content was great .i love the outdoors.

[@holdfastalaska]

We are going to work on lights!

[@ScotWalt858]

All good!

[@holdfastalaska]

❤️

[@kosta16auto]

We make 250 lbs of sour kraut in a food-grade bidon. We dunk the whole cabbage heads and leave them in the garage. Turn the brine over for the first 5 days, 45 days later delicious saur kraut that lasts for the next 5 months.

[@holdfastalaska]

A big food grade bin is a great idea! Will try that next year when the garden comes in. Happy fermenting!

[@ЕвгенийЧернышов-ш3ш]

In Russia, chaga is known. Tea is made. 👍

[@chrisbfd]

The ash from the fire has lots of potassium which is an important nutrient for promoting flowering and to increase the yield of the plant.

[@holdfastalaska]

Great tip thank you!

[@ClintonSmith-op5gb]

Use a tree saddle for the stuff u cant reach

[@susanvarney3844]

FYI, old man's beard is also known as "usnea". It is highly medicinal and it is called "the sacred herb of the North". You have to tincture it as it is not water soluble. You mentioned that you sometimes use it to start a fire in your wood stove. Just wanted to let you know it has many medicinal properties and uses also. 😊

[@holdfastalaska]

Great to know! I’ve used Usnea, but not been 100% on positive ID when out foraging to gather my own. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@ritahall8653]

Just found y’all Beautiful place

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you so much, happy you found us!

[@kosta16auto]

Any water, any iodized salt, works. The important thing is the proportion between water and salt and keeping it not too warm as it will start to spoil instead of ferment. People don't get the proportion right or want to ferment during the summer in too warm weather. The problem with the fancy salt that some have reduced sodium and the proportion doesn't get right.

[@holdfastalaska]

Thanks for the tips! This is our favorite recipe on our homestead that works best for us. ❤️

[@Bigcat624]

I love watching you guys. I have never pickled anything but I am going to pickle me some cucumbers and peppers. My grandmother use to do peppers. I love a good fire, my son in law showed me how to start the fire when him and my daughter brought a house with a fireplace. Is the fire place your only source of heat? How big is the cabin?

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you so much 😊 Pickling is so fun! We also have an oil stove as a second heat source, but hardly use it. I believe the cabin is somewhere around 500sq ft!

[@yvonnebirch6026]

I guess I was too fast, thanks for explaining how you use it.

[@holdfastalaska]

We are glad you are interested and hope it is helpful!

[@Forest_Actual]

Thank you!

[@williamkechkaylo7915]

chaga huh. well chit. i live in northern ontario near hudson bay in the SUMMER from end of may to oct. depending on the weather. i have seen these all the time never knew what they were til now and i did research on it. however, is it possible to harvest them in early spring b4 the leaves start? sounds like a great product. i had survival training and NEVER heard of it being used. maybe they should rewrite the books. we live off the land mostly cept for my beer and tequila LOL!

[@tomm2812]

Are the candles at 07:21 real or battery operated? Chaga hunt now imminent. Thanks 👍. Best

[@holdfastalaska]

They are real! Good luck on the hunt 🍄

[@hoop8152]

❤

[@shtnrlse]

Ash will raise the ph level of your soil if needed

[@robertroemer4233]

I just came across your video the content is so interesting & informative. My question, do you air dry meat outside on a line or smoke any meat? If so do you have videos showing that?

[@holdfastalaska]

We smoke a lot of meat and fish- and will be showing that! We have not tried air drying, but want to give that a try too!

[@KAStodgell]

Enjoyed your video. What made you decide to this way?

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you! We enjoy living directly with nature, and find the day to day tasks of a homestead, though challenging, very fulfilling. ❤️

[@pmartin6759]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@holdfastalaska]

❤️

[@patriciagale5047]

I really like your channel and just subscribed. How many drops of the Chaga Tincture should you take if you are an adult?

[@holdfastalaska]

I do 6-10!

[@richardsears4665]

This might be a dumb question but how many trees to you cut for firewood.

[@ThomasMackay-i8h]

The one problem is there’s no way to know how strong the solution is as it varies greatly I; nature.

[@holdfastalaska]

Yes it does!

[@majogonzalez9446]

what kind of crock did you pickle the cucumbers in? they are so nice and pretty and would like to get some to mass produce pickles like you :)

[@holdfastalaska]

It’s an Ohio Stoneware crock! Happy fermenting 😊

[@Natureareus]

Love your beautiful place. But when you were making the medicine, the video was very dark. Please be mindful that when we're watching from youtube.I have some lights on so we can see what you're doing inside.Thank you

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you for the input, we will make sure there is better lighting next time! 😊

[@DelightfullyDaniLynn]

The lighting was cozy! I could see what you were doing. Just shows the true Alaskan wilderness where it is dark super early and you rely on other means for light!

[@Raven1180]

Watched it and enjoyed the beautiful lighting and ambience. Me and the wife really enjoyed that part of the vid.

[@hobbygardeninthewoods]

How long does the sauerkraut last once refrigerated?

[@holdfastalaska]

A very, very long time! Wonderful to store!

[@sarahschlosser1203]

I know i am catching with your videos but when are you going to get your well running?

[@holdfastalaska]

In the spring! When the ground thaws. We will be hauling water this winter!

[@kaymio6547]

You talked a lot about your cold storage or fridge. It has to be huge with al the stuff you put in there.

[@holdfastalaska]

We use the porch in winter, and have plans on a root cellar this spring!

[@almaritagaleone8130]

Do you ever have bears or cayote visitors?

[@holdfastalaska]

Bears, wolves and moose!

[@michellelindholm2100]

How about a plug in heater for the chicken coop? 🐦💕🍥💛❕

[@holdfastalaska]

That is a great add in! This is a temp coop- their permanent one will have one ❤️

[@PamelaStanley-n6o]

May I ask where you got your holster? Please

[@holdfastalaska]

Diamond D custom leather out of Wasilla, Alaska!

[@Shiryone]

Where does the 2nd black dog come from? Are they related?

[@yvonnebirch6026]

What is Chaga and what do you do with it ??

[@holdfastalaska]

A mushroom that grows on birch trees! It is antioxidant rich, and it’s great for your immune system. We like to use it in tea and tincture!

[@milliebanks7209]

Do you use drinking alcohol or rubbing alcohol?

[@holdfastalaska]

Brandy or vodka! No rubbing alcohol!

[@hopemorrison2367]

You guys dont do a intro this is my first time seeing your channel

[@lyndaharwood2575]

What do you use it for

[@holdfastalaska]

We love it in tea!

[@lyndaharwood2575]

@holdfastalaska I have to hand it to your family first living in thies harsh condition and making it look easy. I couldn't do it. But I love watching. Have a merry Christmas, you sweet family.

[@ChristinasPaperCreations]

Your channel seems interesting but could you please talk through what you’re doing so we would know and so it’s not just dead space? ❤

[@holdfastalaska]

Thank you for the input! We will narrate more ❤️

[@eileen4904]

What does chaga taste like

[@holdfastalaska]

A lot of folks don’t like the taste, but we find it fine! Very woodsy and unique tasting.

[@beckymerriner2493]

Your video is very dark I couldn't see what you were doing when you were cutting or how you cut that stuff

[@holdfastalaska]

We'll try to get better lighting in the future for our foraging videos!

[@deborahstewart2322]

Where did you get your crock?

[@holdfastalaska]

The local hardware store! But, I believe these are from Ohio.

[@tammyfritz9531]

What's chaga

[@holdfastalaska]

Chaga is a mushroom that grows on birch- used for lots of things!

[@AmericaBound]

Here in New Hampshire I’ve seen them put it in a pepper grinder and grind the Chaga down into a powder and then they put a spoonful into the tea every morning….

[@holdfastalaska]

Great idea! 🍄

[@almaritagaleone8130]

Gorgeous lunch!!❤😊

[@holdfastalaska]

Thanks! We were pretty excited about it. 😊

[@almaritagaleone8130]

❤

[@holdfastalaska]

❤️