“But it’s still so early!”Sally said.
Maggie shook her head.“We can’t rely on the sun for time here.Winter is almost total darkness.Summer is almost total light.I bought myself a watch so I know when it’s time to go home.”
“I should probably do that as well,” Sally said.She’d heard about the midnight sun in Alaska but hadn’t truly believed it.
Their baskets were full as they walked back toward town.“I think I’m going to make lingonberry jam,” Sally looked into the basket she carried.
“This is still from the fall harvest of lingonberry,” Maggie said.“It will be a great deal more tart, and you’ll want to add lots of sugar.Make sure to taste it to get the flavor you’d like.”
“Is this something I could sell at the store?”Sally asked.
“You could, but I’d keep it on hand for putting on bread or toast.There will be money going into your account regularly.You don’t need to worry about selling jam.”
“All right.That’s just what I’ll do then.”
As they parted ways, Sally realized she’d learned more from a day of foraging with Maggie than she had from all the books she’d read about what she could grow in Alaska.The next few months would be challenging.But it would all be worth it because she had Tom.
*****
THE OTHERS ARRIVEDearly on Saturday, and Sally was ready for them.She had a large pot of venison stew on the stove, and it would simmer all morning while they worked.
The baby went down for his morning nap easily, and they put him on the porch, covered by a blanket.They would be able to hear him if he cried.
Tom had agreed to the pigs, and the men made a plan to get together the following weekend to build a pigpen.They would worry about the hay before winter, but it would be warm enough until then.
Sally and the other ladies worked on clearing anything on the ground while the men chopped the trees and make a large area for Sally to plant.“Should we all plant together on Monday afternoon?”Maggie asked as she saw just how much land would need planting.
Sally shook her head.“No need.I’m so happy to do it, and you ladies have other tasks.”She tilted her head to one side, thinking as she stood with her hoe in hand.“I will probably need at least three days to plant.”
“We expected that,” Maggie said.“When you’re finished planting, we’ll start our baby rotation.”Maggie pulled a huge clump of weeds and tossed it onto their pile.Sally would let the weeds pile up and use it to fertilize the soil in the fall, so the land would be ready to plant again in the spring.“What are you planning on planting this week?”
“I have to do everything in stages,” Sally said.“My book says that the best plants for mid-May are radishes, turnips, peas, spinach, and kale.So, I’ll put those in.Then I have made lists for early June, early July, and when everything should be ready to harvest.”
“If you need help harvesting, let me know.I may be too big for that then, but if I am, Belle can help, and I can be on baby duty every day.”
“I plan to do it all myself.Or have Tom help me.I don’t want to shirk my part of the work.”
Belle finished feeding the baby and walked over to hear the last sentence Sally had said.“No one would ever accuse you of shirking, Sally.We have all worked together long enough to know each other's work ethic.”
Sally smiled at that.“I appreciate all the help today getting the land ready.I don’t know how I thought Tom and I could do it on our own.”
They decided it was time for lunch then, and the women went inside to set the table and serve.“I made two loaves of bread this morning.I hope it’s enough,” Sally said, pursing her lips.
“It’ll be fine,” Belle said.“That pot of stew and two loaves of bread should leave everyone satisfied.”
Soon, the six of them sat around the table, feasting on the stew.As Sally looked around her, she realized these people would be the core of her friends in Alaska.She was so happy she’d decided to marry Tom and move there.She knew life would always be this perfect.
