Whether it’s the rising cost of groceries, a desire for more nutritious food, or simply a longing to work the land and become more self-sufficient, myriad Alaskans are embracing age-old and often long-forgotten traditions associated with family farms and frontier homesteads.

Many of these folks will be on hand for the second annual Alaska Homestead Expo, April 4-6, at the Menard Center in Wasilla.

The expanded, three-day gathering includes dozens of local and outside presenters who will walk attendees through how to butcher, process and cure farm animals, raise chickens, goats, sheep, rabbits, quail and yaks, start and maintain orchards and beehives, make homemade animal feed, raise livestock for wool, and get the most out of a small track of land.

Other workshops will focus on ways to treat and heal the family naturally, livestock guard dog training, sourdough essentials, soil health, food processing, backwoods safety and survival, homestead finances, herbalism, foraging, worm composting and much more.

In all, there will be more than 30 workshops on both Friday and Saturday – this includes options for kids and teens.

Saturday afternoon features an ice cream social (homemade ice cream from Big Dipper) with a keynote presentation by Kelli Foreman of Kodiak Goat Dairy.

A number of vendors will also be offering products and services that emphasize community building, sustainably living, and living the homestead way. Food trucks and coffee stands will be on hand throughout the expo.

While the first two days are specifically for teaching, day three is focused on faith, family and building community connections. Sunday will begin with a church service (including a bluegrass worship band and Joel Salatin preaching) and then finish with a speaker roundtable and square dance lessons for the whole family.

TAKING ACTION

— Tickets are $99 regular price for adults and the kids/youth program is $25/each with a limit of 200 for kids ages 4-11 and 100 spaces for youth ages 12-18. One ticket gives admittance for the entire weekend. Click here to register.

— Those interested in being vendors can find out more here.

Click here to support the Alaska Watchman.