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A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

bbc.com

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Re: A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

#21

Post by cgh »

John23832 wrote: post #2

They discuss eating bear, just a reminder for everyone that bear meat is a prime harbor for worms and parasites. On top of the fact that, like expressed in the article, it's frankly not good.

Your first point is much less of a big deal than you think. Cook it thoroughly (easiest way is to simply grind up the meat first) and you’re fine.

I don’t agree with your second point. It’s pretty good, especially spring bear. That said, I avoid bears that eat a lot of spawning salmon in the fall.

People have eaten bears for literally millennia, especially indigenous North Americans. It’s not some recent thing that we are wrong to do. They are a natural prey animal in eg BC, where they live in high densities.

Re: A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

#22

Post by solardev »

IncreasePosts wrote: post #12

Sounds like they didn't survive the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead, and instead survived in a city or in a provided structure while occasionally heading out into the wilderness and wasting their time producing nothing much of a value.

Are there any successful tales of Alaskan homesteading? It seems like we fetishize those foolhardy lone wolves like this couple or Alex McCandless from Into the Wild, but where are all those people who moved out there and actually managed to live happy, simple lives?

One of my favorite book series is Woodswoman, about a lady who set out into Vermont to build herself a lakeside cabin from scratch and made a living off maple farming. The several books detail her trials and tribulations, but also her joyful swims and happy encounters with the neighbors.

I would love to hear about more encounters like that in Alaska, not just the people who trek out there but never make it.

Re: A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

#23

Post by maxerickson »

John23832 wrote: post #2

They discuss eating bear, just a reminder for everyone that bear meat is a prime harbor for worms and parasites. On top of the fact that, like expressed in the article, it's frankly not good.

A reminder for all the people that are going to accidentally eat some bear?

Re: A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

#24

Post by GlibMonkeyDeath »

solardev wrote: post #22
IncreasePosts wrote: post #12

Sounds like they didn't survive the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead, and instead survived in a city or in a provided structure while occasionally heading out into the wilderness and wasting their time producing nothing much of a value.

Are there any successful tales of Alaskan homesteading? It seems like we fetishize those foolhardy lone wolves like this couple or Alex McCandless from Into the Wild, but where are all those people who moved out there and actually managed to live happy, simple lives? One of my favorite book series is Woodswoman, about a lady who set out into Vermont to build herself a lakeside cabin from scratch and made a living off…

Two examples I can think of off-hand:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Proenneke

and

https://www.jeanaspen.com/about-us

Re: A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

#25

Post by s1artibartfast »

IncreasePosts wrote: post #12

Sounds like they didn't survive the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead, and instead survived in a city or in a provided structure while occasionally heading out into the wilderness and wasting their time producing nothing much of a value.

Im honestly curious where this hostility is coming from?

Ideas of value are obviously subjective.

Re: A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

#26

Post by slackfan »

solardev wrote: post #22
IncreasePosts wrote: post #12

Sounds like they didn't survive the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead, and instead survived in a city or in a provided structure while occasionally heading out into the wilderness and wasting their time producing nothing much of a value.

Are there any successful tales of Alaskan homesteading? It seems like we fetishize those foolhardy lone wolves like this couple or Alex McCandless from Into the Wild, but where are all those people who moved out there and actually managed to live happy, simple lives? One of my favorite book series is Woodswoman, about a lady who set out into Vermont to build herself a lakeside cabin from scratch and made a living off…

Plenty. But here's the rub, most that do do not want to be seen, heard, and care very little for the internet. The life also is not simple.

Re: A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

#27

Post by John23832 »

cgh wrote: post #21
John23832 wrote: post #2

They discuss eating bear, just a reminder for everyone that bear meat is a prime harbor for worms and parasites. On top of the fact that, like expressed in the article, it's frankly not good.

Your first point is much less of a big deal than you think. Cook it thoroughly (easiest way is to simply grind up the meat first) and you’re fine. I don’t agree with your second point. It’s pretty good, especially spring bear. That said, I avoid bears that eat a lot of spawning salmon in the fall. People have eaten bears for literally millennia, especially indigenous North Americans. It’s not some recent thing that w…

> It’s not some recent thing that we are wrong to do.

Who said it was wrong? I said bears harbor parasites (they do), and that the meat is bad (which is my opinion, I guess).

Re: A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

#28

Post by a2tech »

RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #19
hentrep wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your last sentence is subjective. I grew up eating bear sausage and it was delicious. Perhaps owing to differences in black bear diet/meat vs Alaskan bear. This article seems to corroborate my suspicions: https://www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/bear-meat/

> I grew up eating bear sausage and it was delicious. Isn’t sausage the goto thing when you want to take meat that would otherwise be nasty and turn it into something palatable? I don’t think you statement contradicts the parent post about bear meat being not good

Correct. That and chili. I grew up without a lot of money and have eaten every game animal in North America and I can tell you that there isn’t any wild game that can beat the cheapest of ground beef for flavor or usefulness.

Re: A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

#29

Post by ramesh31 »

s1artibartfast wrote: post #25
IncreasePosts wrote: post #12

Sounds like they didn't survive the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead, and instead survived in a city or in a provided structure while occasionally heading out into the wilderness and wasting their time producing nothing much of a value.

Im honestly curious where this hostility is coming from? Ideas of value are obviously subjective.

There's an obsession with the old ways. As if they were better. As if sitting in a cabin in the woods and breaking your back every day to not die of starvation is some kind of accomplishment. It's not.

Re: A New Jersey couple survived the Alaskan wilderness on a homestead

#30

Post by John23832 »

hentrep wrote: post #8
John23832 wrote: post #2

They discuss eating bear, just a reminder for everyone that bear meat is a prime harbor for worms and parasites. On top of the fact that, like expressed in the article, it's frankly not good.

Your last sentence is subjective. I grew up eating bear sausage and it was delicious. Perhaps owing to differences in black bear diet/meat vs Alaskan bear. This article seems to corroborate my suspicions: https://www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/bear-meat/

> Your last sentence is subjective.

Sure. I think that's stating the obvious though.

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