Ways To Make Money In Alaska's Bush

Many people think that there aren't ways to make money in the bush. We have some of the worst economical development in the world (literally no 'normal' jobs). But that's no excuse to go on without some change in your bank account. With a bit of creativity and hard work anyone can make a living in remote parts of Alaska. Here are my ideas. Feel free to share yours as well in the comments below.

Conventional Ways:
Get a Job: There are a few places that are always hiring. AC Stores, Anica Stores, Tribal Offices, Corporation Offices, City Offices, and Schools. All of them usually have one or two jobs available and most have a high amount of patience. Show up, do the best you can, and they'll reward you with local friendships and a decent wage.
Commercial Fishing: In almost (not all) every part of the bush there is a commercial fishing industry. Whether it's freshwater or saltwater- there are a variety of things that one can catch and sell. And not all permits are expensive. In fact there are many 'lesser quality' permits (like whitefish) that are less than $100.00.
Trapping: Granted, it's a lot of hard work. But if you enjoy being outdoors it can truly be a dream job. And if you work hard enough almost any animal (even muskrat!) can pay your bills through all 12 months of the year.


Unique Ways:
Sell Nature Products: There are a lot of products in the bush that can be turned around and made money on. Fish, fur, berries, even tundra lichen (beauty stores buy it for lotions) all have monetary value. Some things require licenses, others do not. Almost anything is valuable if you look at it in the right way. Willow twigs? Make whicker for crafters! Spruce trees? The branches can be used for wreaths and many lower-forty-eight flower shops will buy them. Everything has a use. And it all can be sold.
Sell Native Crafts: If you're a native and know a traditional craft (beading, ivory carving, mask making, basket weaving, etc) then you have a huge opportunity to make money. Get your things authenticated as 'Native Made' and you can sell them almost anywhere. Many tourist shops, museums, art galleries, and even Alaskan resorts will buy them. You can also create your own markets and sell them online.
Write Articles: Write articles about your lifestyle for magazines that would find them interesting. There are a variety of outdoors magazines that would spend big money on an article on true rural living. Recreational sports magazines that you participate in. ATV, snow machine, fishing, hunting, trapping- there's magazines for everything. Also look into local publications. Alaska magazines, local newspapers (especially rural ones that don't receive many articles), and websites about Alaska might pick up your writings as well.
Be A Pen Pal: There are a few sites online that offer 'Pen Pals for Sale'. Some pay you by letter, some pay you by month, some pay you a one time fee for as long as the writing lasts. But the point is- that a pen pal from Alaska, and rural Alaska is in demand.
Open a Bed & Breakfast: No need to guide or even have much knowledge on rural Alaska. Many people will pay big money just to stay in a remote area or native village. Take them on a boat ride, let them camp on the tundra, or simply let them wander the town. It does take more planning and investment than the other things listed here, but I've always thought it would make a wonderful job- I love meeting new people.

Rural Romantic Date Ideas

I am, in the deepest sense, a lover of love. I think it's typical of any twenty year old girl. But most twenty year old girls don't reside in a remote cabin in the foothills of Alaska's never-ending tundra. So how exactly does one go about dating in such a place? Well, the feat is not an easy one. And to be completely honest, I think fate plays a huge role in all relationships. You're going to end up with who you need to be with at that certain time in your life. And maybe it will last forever and maybe it will only last a little while and maybe it won't happen for twenty years or maybe it will happen in the next twenty seconds. No matter how fate plays it out, though -- it's going to happen (trust me, darling, I'm a gypsy- I know these sorts of worldly secrets). For some, it happens to happen in some little village that leaves no room for nice dinners, movies, midnight drives, and fresh cut flowers. So what exactly can one do for a date in the bush? Here's a list, of the sweet things, that a special darling did for me once upon a time:

Go Camping: There's no such thing as a warm Alaskan night, which makes camping often miserable. But, when you're with someone worth cuddling, it can become really, really magical.

Watch The Northern Lights: We didn't have a car, so we hopped on the back of a four-wheeler one autumn evening and took a ride way out into the tundra. There are no city lights for at least 500-miles any direction. And when the sky is just right, sitting next to someone and watching the lights dance might stir up emotions most tough guys didn't even know they have.

Take A Boat Ride: Somewhere abnormal. Like a lost little slough, or stream, or creek that's never been ventured before. And just follow it for a while to see where it leads. See something different together. Your little discovery/exploration can become a memory that lasts a lifetime.

Take A Midnight Ride: Take the ride in the winter by snow machine, if you can. There is something peaceful about a village in the winter. Everyone is quiet when children are tucked away in their blankets and the air smells of sweet woodsmoke.

Read A Book: One winter, a darling and I spent the every evening for one month reading a chapter of Where The Red Fern Grows. We didn't have a television and so we found ourselves completely submerged in the story. It gave us something to talk about and to think about and enjoy together.

Spend A Night By The Woodstove: Where I live, we're doomed to have frozen water for at least four months. Our electricity is bound to go out. And our stove oil delivery is bound to completely break down for at least month. But it forces us to take a little trip back in time and it's the perfect opportunity to spend a week or two in a one-room cabin warming up with good company near a woodstove. Specifically pulling a bed into the living room for a night to 'stay warm' is utterly romantic.