Where the Wild Things Grow

We’ve always been drawn to wild places. Finding a wild place like this was a dream come true. 

Dreams do not come true without hard work, and work hard we have, moving our families from Washington and Florida to create a homestead here in Alaska. Property like this doesn’t come around every day. But when we saw it online, it felt like home. Albeit, a home out of our price range. Elise wrote a letter to the owners expressing our feelings, and somehow, they met us where we were at - a much lower price point. It never hurts to ask. We moved in the spring of 2023 and never looked back.

Of course, learning to live off-grid has not come without its challenges. Our first winter was filled with frozen pipes, broken water pumps, failing snow blowers and caved in carports. Honestly, it was a doozy. But it taught us a valuable lesson - come to expect the unexpected. 

That’s the beauty of Alaska. Since the time of the Klondike Gold Rush, folks have been coming to the Last Frontier in search of bounty. And indeed, they found a land overflowing with resources… and also hardships, 100 mph winds and a stone-cold grip that just wouldn’t let go. Once you’ve experienced Alaska, it’s hard to go anywhere else. Trust us, you’ll be back. 

We’re honored to share this land with the Great Land Trust, a local non-profit that works with small landowners like us to ensure the last of our vast wilderness won’t be developed. Our five-miles of trails will remain just that, until Mother Nature decides to take them back. 

Being stewards of a place like this is a privilege, and we’re grateful for the responsibility every day. We look forward to raising our family here and growing our small farm. We’re currently raising and loving geese, chickens, silly dogs and wiley cats.

We’re overjoyed to be sharing the beauty of Alaska with you and are so pleased that you’ve decided to make The Wilds a part of your Alaskan experience. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask. 

Ben, Elise + Rick