Launching a Community Fish Wheel on The Copper River

It's launch day for the community fish wheel—time to get her in the water and fishing! We wrapped up the final details just as a great group of neighbors arrived to help with the launch. With a few extra hands, we eased the wheel into the river, and before long she was turning away in the current, just as we'd hoped. To celebrate, Lena and I made jam-stuffed sourdough doughnuts using rhubarb from the garden for everyone who came to help. It didn't take long before the new wheel caught its very first salmon! More and more families have been signing up to use the wheel, and another run of salmon is making its way up the Copper River. We're incredibly grateful to have the wheel in the water at last, and we hope it helps fill freezers throughout the community for many years to come. On the way home, we stopped to drop off a few salmon for sampling with the Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission, and gathered some of the season's last morel mushrooms to bring home for dinner. Spruce tip–brined smoked sockeye with fresh morel mushrooms, garden greens, and homemade pesto for dinner over the fire! Til next week, -Dennis, Amy & Lena End Music By: @HawkenHorse, who wrote us "Holdfast". Frontier music and history. Become a Channel Member for homestead happenings:    / @holdfastalaska   Get in Touch with Us: Westerlind Family P.O Box 906, Slana, AK 99586 We are also on Instagram & FaceBook @holdfastalaska Support the Homestead if you wish | https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted... If you wish to be notified via email for future book releases, merch, or events shoot us a message at: [email protected]