In late spring, the color palette of Alaska undergoes a seasonal shift. This spring is a particularly cold one, so we’re still waiting for nature to give us her sign that summer is near. From stone grays and muddy browns, the landscape will surrender to lush greens and buds on the precipice of blooms. A constant companion of cloud cover will make way for open skies, revealing dazzling blues in the sea beneath.
As a family, this is the time of year that we respond with our own seasonal shift, trading some of the warmth and comfort of our cabin for hours-long explorations of Kachemak Bay, by boat and on land. Though we spend time outdoors in the winter, the light of spring beckons us to revel in the season. Our son, now well into his third year as an Alaskan, is more sure-footed than ever as he explores the tidepools of Homer, every step an arrival to a new destination. Our daughter, still in her first months, is a passive observer from the cradle of my arms. Each year brings an evolution of how they will interact with the world around them.
This natural rhythm is something that I see reflected at our family’s kitchen table: Just as our explorations of home evolve with the seasons, moving from indoors to out, our shared meals undergo their own shifts. Taking our cues from nature, we eat diversely and explore new ingredients, new flavors. We indulge in the opportunity to explore our tastes through different species of wild-caught seafood, less familiar preparations. Our palates evolve through this exploration, growing to know a little bit more about the world around us with every bite. Eating diversely sustains our bodies while supporting sustainable ecosystems.
This spring, I have been thinking a lot about these themes of evolution and exploration, especially as Wild Alaskan Company continues to evolve and explore new ways to deepen members’ connection to a sustainable food system. In case you missed it, we recently launched custom boxes for WAC members — an evolution from WAC’s signature curated boxes. Custom boxes further expand upon the options that you have for eating in concert with nature through wild-caught seafood, allowing you to explore new combinations in every WAC box.
With any WAC box, you have the chance to explore a sustainable bounty of nourishment through the ebbs and flows of the year. Whether we’re talking about salmon runs or salmonberries, there are boon times as different harvests hit their peak with more abundance than we can possibly imagine, especially in Alaska. As a balance, there’s a vital tradition of preservation — curing, canning, freezing — that sustains Alaskans through the lean times.
The box you receive on your doorstep, whether custom or curated, no matter where you live, connects you to a natural, seasonal rhythm to give you a diverse taste of Alaska.
Another evolution that I’ve been loving?? Live events, hosted by the WAC recipe team! I invite you to tune in. They’re so gratifying for us to host, because we get to connect to all of you through the kitchen. There’s nothing the WAC team enjoys more than having the chance to explore the world of wild-caught seafood with you all, whether we’re talking about it through the lens of sustainability, history, flavor, or family.
You can register below via Zoom for one of the next three events, which all take place on a Wednesday at 3pm ET / 12pm PT:
I am filled with such gratitude that this company continues to evolve with you as part of it.
Live Wild,
Monica
Pictured above: Dandelions in an Alaskan field, turning from jagged green to frilly yellow to fluffy white — the first glimmers of a late spring.
