Tell me about Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks: how much, vacation home, job market)

[Chris1975]

Hi everyone,

I have always been infatuated with Alaska. I am considering trying to relocate myself along with my family to the last great frontier. We love the outdoors, snow, wildlife, the remoteness, and are interested in natural living. With that said, I have some questions. If anyone can either answer them or point me in the right direction to get answers I would greatly appreciate it!

Questions:

1. What would be the best area for us? We want to be somewhat secluded. I would like to have at least 5 acres of land. I don't want to live in a development and would prefer to be on a back road away from daily traffic. However, I would like to be somewhat close to a town that has basic necessities.

2. Is land expensive in Alaska? I have not been able to find much information on price anywhere other than vacation homes.

3. I read somewhere a long time ago that the government will pay people to move to Alaska. Do they still do this? If so, how much and what are the requirements?

4. Farming - How is the agriculture there? We would like to live off the land as much as possible but I know the winter would be rough on most crops. I assume most people use a green house?

5. Schools - If we lived in a smaller area, how does the school system work? Right now my kids go to a Sudbury School, so anything like a small school house would be great. Just curious as too how the public school system works there.

6. Jobs - Right now I work for a Water Pollution Control Plant but I am up for anything. My wife is a Librarian but would be up for a career change also. How is the job market?

I think that is all the questions I have right now. I will continue to do my own research but any advice, tips, or answers are welcome!

Thank you much,

chris

[Rainy]

3. I read somewhere a long time ago that the government will pay people to move to Alaska. Do they still do this? If so, how much and what are the requirements?

Why yes, they will pay each family member about 25 grand a year to live here---and they start as soon as you show up! Got a few kids do ya? Then you won't have to work at all.

[alaska1959]

Why yes, they will pay each family member about 25 grand a year to live here---and they start as soon as you show up! Got a few kids do ya? Then you won't have to work at all.

Rainy-
Kinda of a jerky reply. When I start asking questions, kindly don't reply.

Chris-
I don't live in AK, but as far as I know after you are a resident for 1 or 2 years (not sure which) each member of the family will receive a check from a Permanent Fund Devident (PFD). As far as I know it usually does not exceed
$2,000.
Rance, I'm sure can give you for info on the subject.

[Rainy]

Rainy-
Kinda of a jerky reply. When I start asking questions, kindly don't reply.

Some of us get kind of sick of the inevitable questions about the PDF. It's always about how much money they can get for living here.

Oh, and I'll reply here as I see fit.

[Alaskan_Adventurer]

Yeah, i gotta admit Rainy...that was kind of uncalled for.(though kind of funny). Dividends usually range from about $1,000 to about $1,700 and now you have to live here for 2 years as a resident. Pleaseee don't let that be the main reason or even an incentive to move up here. Just consider it a very small bonus.

As far as the best area for you, I would recommend either Wasilla/Palmer area or Soldotna/Kenai/Sterling area of the Seward Peninsula. Wasilla is a booming small city about 35 miles outside of Anchorage. Soldotna/Kenai is about 150 miles from Anchorage, but the towns are big enough for most peoples needs. Sterling is 10 miles from Soldotna, and Rance lives in Sterling and would be able to give you all kinds of info. He is in Sweden though, so you may have to wait for a response. I hope this helps.

[Rainy]

Ah AA, I was making a funny, more or less. The OP comes across as literate enough to see that...and thanks for the rep points to those of you who gave them

why is Rance in Sweden? I have missed a lot I see...

[Chris1975]

hehe, that would be a sweet deal!

No, that isn't the reason I am thinking of moving there. I am not looking to be lazy, pretty much the opposite. I am a nature lover, not a people lover. We are looking to get away from the things we don't like about this Country and dive into the things we do. I only asked about the government grant because I had heard something about it. It was probably another native poking fun then too!

I understand why you would make the comment. If I was a native and kept getting asked about a free ride in my home town I would get a bit bent out of shape too. However, luckily for me, that isn't the case.

For those that replied, thank you, I will look into those areas more.

I am still interested in the farming questions though. Anyone farm? I am looking to be self sufficient as much as possible. Grow my own veggies, hunt my own meat, work my own land. Are there native vegetables that grow well?

Thanks in advance!

Chris

[mal_flisk]

When I was a kid, the geograghy books for the US we got always showed the massive cabbages grown up here. Squash and zucchini, eggplants etc. do well, and if you make a small greenhouse to start them, beans and peas do well also. Make a study fence and make it tall. Moose are nothing more than an appetite with legs and will eat anything. I have no fence and grow my tomatoes on my upstairs veranda here in Anchorage.

[Alaskan_Adventurer]

Originally Posted by Rainy

Ah AA, I was making a funny, more or less. The OP comes across as literate enough to see that...and thanks for the rep points to those of you who gave them

why is Rance in Sweden? I have missed a lot I see...

Rance is in Sweden meeting a woman who he has been talking to here on CD. Just check out the relationship forums for his verrrry popular threads.

[Rainy]

LOL thank Heaven I finally have an internet connection in my place now. I was going to make a funny and ask whether Rance had met some Nordic lady but thought better of it; it would have been right on though Good for Rance

Farming---Alaska has some of the best soils in the world and some of the worst. The rain leaches the nutrients out of most of SE so give that a pass...look into the Matanuska Valley for some of the best farming available anywhere. One thing that isn't a myth is the 40 pound cabbages that are standard there. The combination of a lot of daylight and good soils work wonders. The Kenai is good for gardening also and Fairbanks isn't bad.

The best native edible vegetation are the berries that grow wild--freeze them for the winter along with all the salmon you can get. If you're into moose meat, if you don't get one, your neighbor probably will--I never went without that when I lived in the Susitna.

You can grow anything but obvious warm weather crops, and they grow so fast--a greenhouse is important for serious gardeners though so you can start things out and use them during summer for things that aren't going to do well outdoors.