The Zeiger Family Homestead*
Haines, Alaska
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*One can no longer legally homestead in the traditional sense of claiming land and "proving it up" until ownership is granted by the government. Homestead is not really the proper term for this property, but hey, look at the pictures! What would you call it?
We live on a homestead south of Haines, Alaska. The property is 10.62 acres of forested land with about 700 feet of waterfront. The compound includes a main 2-story cabin, a 1.25 story boathouse/guesthouse, a workshop/storage shed, chicken coop, greenhouse, smokehouse and root cellar. We have a large garden and a dual-source water system. A pair of wind generators that came with the property, and a photovoltaic array we added in late 2007 provide electricity. The land is about 7 miles out Mud Bay Road and 1.25 miles across Mud Bay, over the ridge, and down to the very edge of Lynn Canal, America's deepest and most spectacular fjord. To get to town, the tides have to be low enough to avoid hiking around the top of Mud Bay. There's no road to the property, and most of us in the neighborhood are opposed to putting one in.
The homestead cabin. See what it looks like inside.
We bought the property in early 2005 after first seeing it December 2004. We visited it periodically for up to two weeks at a time throughout 2005, and moved to the property permanently mid-August 2006. We sold our former home in Juneau, Alaska, left our jobs, and came to live in Haines year 'round. Mark develops freelance Web sites via satellite Internet, but our work is mostly that of gathering and putting up our own food. Our daughter, Aly, is home schooled.
Our property has a very rocky waterfront. Behind the cabin the property rises steeply. We have some cliffs, and a rocky knoll at the top of the ridge with a spectacular view.
Two wind generators, four solar panels, and Internet via satellite dish. This is 21st Century pioneering!
A February morning from our veranda.
The view from the knoll high above the cabin
compound.
Southern edge of the property looking back.
Buildings barely appearing left to right: boathouse, greenhouse, tip of cabin
roof.
The "veranda" is just below where the treeline ends at the beach.
Most of our beach is cliff, about 20 feet high on the north edge, somewhat less on the south. These drop down to a shelf that's exposed at about a zero tide or less. The shelf slopes quickly downward, then at a certain point drops off into the 80 fathom depths of Lynn Canal.
Below you can see the shelf exposed looking north and looking south, at about a -4.6 low tide, the second lowest tide of 2008.
We believe we've found the
end of the rainbow!
HOW CAN I SUPPORT THIS SITE? The information on this site is free to you, but not to us. Our satellite Internet is much more expensive than a regular household connection. Those kind souls who have asked to donate directly may use the link below. Proceeds support the Web site and help keep the homestead afloat. And, if you like the Web site, Mark can build one for you or your company. Find out more under the "Web Page Design" tab at Yeldagalga.com. Also, we earn revenue through ad links on each page, and Amazon.com pays us a commission on purchases from their site if you enter through our links on the Book List Page. This applies whether or not you purchase one of our selected titles. |
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Mark Zeiger ©2011
