Eden’s Edge

10/15/2026

23 TONS OF HAY, 12 HOURS OF CHAOS, AND ONE VERY NAUGHTY GOAT!

WE DID IT!! OUR HAY BARN IS FULL!

After weeks of phone calls, emails, coordinating logistics, rearranging schedules, and wondering if this massive undertaking was ever actually going to come together, our hay has FINALLY made it home to Eden's Edge Farm!

348 beautiful bales of premium Timothy and Alfalfa hay, weighing approximately 45,000–46,000 pounds in total!

That's roughly 23 TONS of hay, and our hay barn is officially stuffed to the brim!

But here's the thing. This wasn't simply a matter of ordering hay and having someone drop it off in the driveway.

Getting that much hay from Washington State to our little nonprofit farm in Nikiski, Alaska, took an incredible amount of coordination and some truly wonderful people and businesses who stepped up to help make it possible.

And those people deserve some serious recognition!

To our anonymous donor: Your generosity helped make this entire undertaking possible. You know who you are, and we cannot possibly thank you enough. Your kindness reaches far beyond a barn full of hay. You're helping us care for the animals that make our mission of feeding people possible.

Hajny Trading: Thank you for supplying such absolutely fantastic hay! The quality is incredible, and judging by the reaction from our four-legged residents, it's safe to say you have some VERY satisfied customers!

Tote Maritime Alaska: Thank you for your generous in-kind contribution covering the ocean transportation portion of this enormous shipment! Shipping anything to Alaska is expensive, and your willingness to support our nonprofit made an incredible difference.

Carlile Transportation Inc.: Thank you for handling the Washington side of the logistics and helping get this mountain of hay moving toward Alaska!

Weaver Brothers Inc: Thank you for coordinating the Anchorage-to-farm portion of the journey and helping get this precious cargo safely to its final destination!

Eric Parnell: You had already put in a long day at work, yet you still showed up to help us finish tackling this monster of a project. That kind of friendship and willingness to lend a hand means more than you know. THANK YOU!

Now, let's talk about what happened when all that hay actually arrived.

TWELVE HOURS. TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. 348 BALES.

And a learning curve about as steep as the mountains surrounding us!

We've never attempted a hay shipment of this magnitude before, and boy, did we learn a few things!

There was equipment to figure out, logistics we hadn't anticipated, some creative problem-solving, and enough colorful language to make a sailor blush.

And because we live in Alaska, Mother Nature apparently decided this would be the perfect opportunity to throw in some rain and brutally cold winds that sliced straight through multiple layers of clothing.

Because why make anything easy?!

We were cold. We were wet. We were exhausted. There was plenty of cussing, more than a few moments of frustration, and thankfully, a whole lot of laughter.

And then there was BB.

Our resident escape artist took one look at that mountain of premium hay sitting in the driveway and apparently decided that waiting for breakfast like everyone else was absolutely unacceptable.

OVER THE FENCE SHE WENT!

Someone had to perform an immediate quality control inspection, and clearly, BB felt she was the most qualified individual for the job.

For the record, the hay passed inspection. Enthusiastically.

But the absolute best part of this entire adventure?

Watching the goats and sheep bury their noses in that beautiful, nutritious hay and delight in every mouthful.

After the weeks of coordination, the financial challenges, the logistical headaches, the freezing wind, the long hours, and the aching muscles, watching those animals enjoy their food made every miserable minute worth it.

THIS is the reality of running a small nonprofit livestock rescue and food-producing farm in Alaska.

It isn't glamorous. It isn't easy. And sometimes something as seemingly simple as filling a hay barn takes weeks of planning, multiple companies, generous donors, heavy equipment, and a small army of determined people.

But every single animal we care for is part of a bigger purpose.

Healthy, well-fed livestock means we can continue raising nutritious food for the seniors, families, and individuals in our community who need a helping hand.

And while that hay might look like nothing more than animal feed to some, to us it represents security, stability, and the ability to keep moving forward with our mission.

To every person and business who helped make this happen, THANK YOU. From the bottom of our hearts.

You didn't just help us fill a barn. You helped us keep a promise to our animals and our community.

And to everyone who continues to support, encourage, share, and follow our adventures here at Eden's Edge Farm, we're grateful you're along for this crazy ride.

We feed people because no one should be hungry.

And apparently, according to BB, no goat should ever be expected to wait patiently for the good hay, either. 🤣🐐

10/11/2026

The last of my escapee bred babies has been caught!

A very meaty lady.

10/11/2026

It's that time of year!

All the critters get to enjoy fresh pumpkin.

10/10/2026

A Little Chaos, A Lot of Progress, and Some Pretty Wonderful Things Happening at Eden's Edge Farm!

There's never a dull moment around here, and apparently Morticia decided we needed a little entertainment the other night.

Somehow, that ridiculous ewe managed to get her head stuck in a bucket. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

Now, you'd think she'd panic. Nope! She was trying her absolute hardest to act like wearing a bucket on her head was perfectly normal and entirely intentional.

Meanwhile, the rest of the herd was having a collective identity crisis. Some were curious, some genuinely concerned, and others were absolutely TERRIFIED of whatever bucket-headed creature had invaded their home.

I swear, these animals are better than television! 🤣

On the more productive side of things, our duck and goose run is nearly complete! This structure will eventually become our greenhouse next spring, and I cannot WAIT to start planning the raised beds and deciding what we're going to grow. There's something incredibly exciting about looking at an unfinished building and already imagining it overflowing with fresh vegetables and herbs.

And speaking of progress...

I have to brag on two pretty special young men.

Enoch and Porter have become my weekly farmhands, and I genuinely cannot say enough good things about them.

Apparently, they absolutely love being here, and the feeling is mutual!

They work hard, they're learning, they're enthusiastic, and they bring an energy to this place that I didn't realize how much I'd missed.

They make the work feel less tedious, the days a little brighter, and somehow even make this exhausted old body feel a little lighter.

More than anything, they've reminded me how much I miss having kids around. Watching young people learn practical skills, take pride in their accomplishments, and discover what they're capable of is something truly special.

Not to mention their genuine excitement to learn new skills and willingness to jump on any project, no matter how dirty.

And these two? They're worth their weight in gold.

Now for some REALLY exciting news!

Within the next day or two, approximately 25 TONS of premium Timothy and Alfalfa hay will finally be arriving at Eden's Edge Farm!

TWENTY-FIVE TONS!

For the first time since starting this farm, we'll have an entire year's supply of quality hay secured for our herds and rabbits.

I cannot begin to explain what that means to me.

Learning the ins and outs of freight shipping, carriers, logistics, transportation costs, scheduling, and all the other headaches involved in bringing hay from Washington to Alaska has been one heck of an education.

There were moments I seriously questioned my sanity. 🤣

But was it worth it?

Every. Single. Headache.

Knowing our animals will have consistent, quality nutrition throughout the coming year is an enormous weight off my shoulders.

That whole adventure deserves its own post, because there's a LOT to unpack about the challenges of feeding livestock in Alaska.

Meanwhile, back in the farmhouse...

The second round of apples is cooking away, and the entire house smells like autumn wandered into an orchard and decided to stay awhile.

We're turning those little apples into apple butter, and I couldn't be happier about putting them to good use.

And yes, it's still raining.

The driveway is trying to become a small lake, the entire yard is threatening to become a swamp (where current tractor swamps don't already exist), and Alaska seems determined to remind us that winter is just around the corner.

But you know what?

Somehow, all that feels pretty insignificant compared to everything GOOD happening around here.

The buildings are going up. Winter preparations are coming together. Young hands are making a difference. The pantry projects are underway. And our animals are going to be well fed.

There's still an enormous amount of work ahead of us, and some days I wonder how we're going to get it all done.

But days like these remind me why I keep going.

Because Eden's Edge Farm has never been just about raising animals or growing food. It's about building something that matters, bringing people together, teaching the next generation, and making sure our neighbors have food on their tables.

And this fall, despite the mud, the exhaustion, and the occasional ewe wearing a bucket...

I'm feeling pretty darn grateful.

My team is growing. The foundations of friendships & community are taking root and I couldn't be more grateful. There are some truly wonderful people here in Nikiski.

We feed people because no one should be hungry.

Picture of Liberty with Ranger in the hay hut.

10/07/2026

We missed the first few days of apple picking, so by the time we got there, all the big, beautiful apples had pretty much been picked over.

What was left were the little ones.

The ugly ones.

The ones nobody particularly wanted.

Which, honestly, is FINE with me because those little ugly apples are absolutely perfect for jams, jellies and apple butter.

So now I have roughly 55 pounds of apples sitting here and immediately started thinking about how many little half-pint jars of apple butter I could make for our food boxes.

Except....

DEC. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Because apparently feeding hungry people in Alaska needs to be considerably more complicated than it has any business being.

Under Alaska's cottage food rules, there are foods I can legally make in my own kitchen and SELL directly to someone.

But simply make that same food and hand it to a family in need?

Whoa there, lady.

Now we've got rules.

And THIS is the kind of bureaucratic nonsense that makes me want to beat my head against a wall.

I am not suggesting we throw food safety out the window. Obviously.

People who need food deserve SAFE food just as much as anyone else.

But explain to me how it makes sense that I can follow Alaska's rules, make a legal cottage food product and sell you a jar...

Yet giving that jar away because you're struggling to feed your family can create a completely different regulatory problem.

Make. It. Make. Sense.

Meanwhile, Alaska is insanely expensive, groceries are ridiculous, families are struggling, seniors are struggling, and perfectly usable food gets wasted every single day.

And here I am with 55 pounds of perfectly good little Alaska apples thinking:

I could feed people with these.

That's literally the entire point of Eden's Edge Farm.

Take what we have.

Use what would otherwise be overlooked or wasted.

Turn it into food.

Feed people.

So yes, I will continue digging through DEC regulations and figuring out exactly what hoops I have to jump through.

And I will probably complain loudly while doing it. 😂

But here's where YOU can help.

🍎 If you're an Alaska farmer, gardener or property owner with fruit or produce that isn't pretty enough to sell—or you simply have more than you can use—PLEASE don't throw it away. Send us a message.

🍎 If you know Alaska's food regulations and can help us find a legitimate path for turning locally grown food into shelf-stable products we can give to families, we want to hear from you too.

🍎 And if you agree that good food should feed people instead of going to waste, SHARE THIS POST. Help us find the growers, volunteers, food-safety folks and decision-makers who can help remove some of these ridiculous barriers.

Somebody knows somebody who knows how to get this done.

Let's find them.

We feed people because no one should be hungry.

Even if apparently we have to fight the rulebook to do it. 🍎❤️

10/05/2026

For anyone that missed the last round!

https://www.facebook.com/share/19SyqSSoFZ/

Announcing this years second Kenai Animal Control Rabies and Microchip Clinic‼ October 17th at Kenai Animal Control, 510 N Willow Kenai AK. Online registration and payment is required prior to the event in order to receive services. We will not be able to accommodate registration the day of the event.
Please ensure all dogs are leashed and all cats are in carriers.
All individuals are welcome regardless of residency or jurisdiction.

https://www.xpressformsbuilder.com/viewer/b754c4e0-8f87-4574-98bd-bdc415933674

10/04/2026

A little farm update from Eden’s Edge Farm:

Yesterday’s wind completely destroyed the goose and duck run.

Not damaged.

Not “needs a few repairs.”

Destroyed.

Thankfully, the birds are all okay, but their entire run now needs to be rebuilt before winter really settles in.

That means framing, panels, anchoring, wind protection, and making sure the whole thing is sturdy enough to survive whatever Alaska decides to throw at us next.

Unfortunately, my MS and Dysautonomia decided to collide at about the same time.

I fainted yesterday, and between that and everything else, I now have half my spine and one hip twisted up. I can barely walk, and bending, twisting, hauling lumber, and crawling around rebuilding an entire poultry run simply isn’t something I can physically do right now.

So the goose and duck run has suddenly jumped straight to the top of the winter-prep list.

If a few handy people happen to find themselves with an afternoon, a drill, and an unusual desire to spend some quality time rebuilding accommodations for a bunch of very opinionated waterfowl… I certainly wouldn’t complain. 😂

We’ll have the materials and a plan.

The geese will supervise loudly.

The ducks will contribute absolutely nothing.

And somehow, one project at a time, we’ll get this farm buttoned back up for winter.

— Eden’s Edge Farm
“We feed people because no one should be hungry.”

10/03/2026

Porter and Enoch have been absolute ROCKSTAR helpers these past two days!

We managed to get way more winter prep done than I honestly thought we would, and while there is still a long way to go… WOW. What a difference a couple of days can make.

The chickens and turkeys are officially moved into their new winter digs, complete with nesting boxes and roosting bars. Next up is getting a few more lights installed so everyone is ready for those long Alaska winter nights.

The rabbits have all been shuffled around, hutches are getting winterized, and we have just a few last-minute repairs to knock out next week.

A brand-new goat house is up, with one more still on the list. That will give the goats even more places to get out of the wind and weather when winter really settles in. Especially with the rapid herd growth and bloodlines that came to us this year!

And somehow, in between all of that, we still managed to keep up with the regular feeding, watering, milking, hauling, cleaning, bedding, and general farm chaos.

There is definitely something to be said for working alongside energetic youth. The day moves faster, the heavy jobs feel a little lighter, and even the never-ending farm chores seem a whole lot less dreary.

I am incredibly grateful for the help.

Little by little, project by project, Eden’s Edge Farm is getting buttoned up for winter.

And I am exhausted. 5:30 am comes far too quickly these days.

09/30/2026

Farm update! 🐓🐐🐇🌾

Apparently, the ladies have formed a union.

Egg production has come to an almost complete standstill, and I have absolutely no idea what their demands are. More treats? Better working conditions? A retirement package?

Rest assured, negotiations are underway. 🤣

This is AFTER sending a dozen ladies and one gentleman off to freezer camp, so you would think the remaining girls would understand that this is not the ideal time for a labor dispute.

But chickens.

🤦🏻‍♀️

Meanwhile, Whitney processed that batch and harvested another group of rabbits last weekend.

And these rabbits had some GOOD meat on their bones!

YAY!

Every batch teaches us something, and seeing healthier, heavier animals heading into the freezer is exactly what we want as we continue working toward providing more locally raised food for families in our community. 🤍

And now for the really BIG news…

Next week, 45,000 pounds of premium Washington hay is coming to Eden’s Edge Farm!

Yes.

45,000 pounds.

Or, more specifically:

17.5 tons of Timothy
and
5 tons of Alfalfa.

Getting that hay here has been one heck of a learning experience.

There have been phone calls.

Emails.

Shipping companies.

Truckers.

Containers.

Changes to plans.

Changes to the changes.

And probably a few moments where everyone involved wondered why hay cannot simply teleport.

🤣

But through all of it, we have had some absolutely fantastic people helping us — from our hay supplier in Washington to the company bringing it from Anchorage to the farm.

And for the first time since Eden’s Edge began…

We will have a full year’s supply of quality hay stored here on the farm, with extra.

That is HUGE for us.

Alaska winters are long, hay is expensive, and feeding animals through an entire year takes an incredible amount of planning.

Knowing the barn will be stocked is a pretty wonderful feeling.

I suspect the goats, sheep, and rabbits will be equally pleased.

Although the goats will probably inspect it first and file a formal complaint if the buffet is not opened quickly enough.

🐐🤣

The Nikiski Farmers Market has wrapped up for the season, but Rose, Whitney, Mallory, and I are already working on plans for next year.

Because apparently none of us understand the concept of an “off season.”

Enoch and Porter will also be here later this week helping with some of those final GET IT DONE BEFORE WINTER farm chores.

And honestly?

That is a treat for me.

I absolutely love these young men. 🤍

Our pheasants are also slowly maturing, and I’m hoping to begin processing them within the next month or two, along with the final batches of rabbits, poultry, and goats.

Which brings us to the most important part:

Food boxes.

If you haven’t visited our website yet to sign up for the upcoming Eden’s Edge Farm food boxes, please do.

This year we plan to offer farm pickup along with scheduled meet-and-pickup options in:

📍 Nikiski
📍 Kenai
📍 Soldotna

on select days and times.

Our goal is to have the first boxes packed and ready to go by early November.

There is still a LOT happening behind the scenes between now and then…

But little by little, freezer by freezer, bale by bale, and occasionally chicken argument by chicken argument…

We’re getting there. 🤍

We feed people because no one should be hungry.

Picture of Wintress chowing down with a bunch of the teenagers.

Like the beat up fence? 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 Blame Wintress, Boots & BB!

09/25/2026

Tomorrow is Penny Market at the Nikiski Farmers Market!

Come spend your Saturday with us at the Old Fire Station from 10 AM–3 PM — shop local vendors, see what everyone has been making and growing, and stop by Eden's Edge Farm's Open Tea Bar while you're here!

This time, YOU get to be the herbalist.

We'll have a big selection of loose herbs laid out for you to create your own custom tea blend — rose hips, hibiscus, chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, elderberry, nettle, raspberry leaf, mullein, echinacea, yerba mate and plenty more.

Pick any 2 herbs — 50¢
Each additional herb — 25¢

We'll have a cheat sheet showing the effects and common uses of each herb, so you can build something around what you're looking for — or completely ignore it and make whatever combination smells good to you.

Want something calming? Fruity and tart? Herbal and earthy? Or a little caffeinated kick from yerba mate? Mix it your way.

And don't forget — the Tea Bar is just one reason to come out. Penny Market is a Farmers Market day, so wander the tables, meet your local growers and makers, find some treasures, and support the people producing things right here in our community.

Nikiski Farmers Market — Old Fire Station
Saturday, September 26
10 AM–3 PM

Come hang out with us. Bring some quarters and build yourself a tea!