Family and Home Economics

FNH-00267     A Helping Hand: Keeping Your Family Safe from Botulism
Produced by the Centers for Disease Control, Arctic Investigations Program, this video is a must-see for anyone who eats or preserves fermented Native foods. Although the botulism toxin can be found in many places, it grows especially well in foods fermented in glass or plastic. This detailed video discusses the symptoms and treatment of botulism poisoning and offers important safety tips on how to prevent botulism. It also compares traditional methods of preserving fermented foods with the current use of plastic containers.

FNH-01280    Canning Basics
This DVD provides a thorough overview of the basic canning and preserving process. The program reviews boiling water canner basics and pressure canner basics. Further described are the preparations, equipment, processes, cooling, storage, canning and safety concerns associated with these methods. This DVD makes a great resource for mastering home food preservation.

FNH-01281     Canning Meat and Fish in Jars
This DVD provides a thorough overview of the basic canning and preserving process for meat and fish in jars. The program reviews canning game meat in jars and canning fish in jars. Further described are the preparations, equipment, packing, canning, cooling and storage concerns associated with these methods. This DVD makes a great resource for mastering home food preservation.

FNH-01282    Canning Meat and Fish in Cans
This DVD provides a thorough overview of the basic canning and preserving process for meat and fish in cans. The program reviews canning game meat in cans, canning fish in cans as well as the process of assembling a can sealer. Further described are the equipment, preparations, packing, canning, cooling and storage associated with the preservation methods as well as the preparation, materials, maintenance and process associated with the assembly of a can sealer. This DVD makes a great resource for mastering home food preservation.

FNH-01283    Collecting and Using Alaska's Wild Berries
This DVD will help you learn to identify the many species of edible Alaska wild berries and show you how to avoid poisonous species. You'll also learn to identify habitats where your favorite berries grow and, once you've picked them, how to clean, freeze and can them for storage.

FNH-01284    Pickling
This DVD provides a thorough overview of basic canning and preserving processes for pickling foods. The program reviews the necessary steps for making sauerkraut, pickling vegetables and infusing vinegars. Further described are the equipment, preparations, storage methods, storing, causes of spoilage, canning and procedures needed, as well as the making of herb, fruit and fruit juice vinegars. This DVD makes a great resource for mastering home food preservation.

FNH-01285    Drying Foods
This DVD provides a step-by-step guide to drying your own foods. Included are comprehensive instructions for drying fruits, vegetables and herbs and making fruit leather.

FNH-01286    Cold Storage
This DVD demonstrates how to preserve fruits and vegetables by freezing or by storing in root cellars. You'll learn about the different types of root cellars as well as techniques for storing various types of produce.

FNH-01287    Sausage and Jerky
This DVD provides the information you need to get started making sausage and jerky. The program provides step-by-step instructions for making and storing your preserved meats.

FNH-01289     Processing Game Meat
This DVD offers information on the slaughter and processing of reindeer, lessons that are applicable to moose, caribou and other large game. Sections cover the slaughter and skinning of reindeer, processing and wrapping reindeer meat and removing the leggings for handicrafts. The DVD is aimed at hunters and home processors.

FNH-01290    Jams and Jellies
This DVD demonstrates how to make your own jams and jellies from fruits and berries. You'll find out what equipment you need as well as necessary and optional ingredients, including sweeteners, liquids and pectin. You'll also learn how to safely process your jams and jellies in a boiling water bath and how to cool and store your finished product.

FNH-01291    Roses and Fireweed
Fireweed is a great source of Vitamins A and C and the shoots or sprouts are edible. This DVD provides instructions on how and when to harvest fireweed sprouts and blossoms and how to use them in recipes. Also included is information on harvesting and using rose blossoms in jellies, lemonades and other recipes; and rosehips in rosehip puree, fruit leather and candies.

Agriculture and Resource Development

HGA-00040      Seed Starting with Mara Bacsujlaky
This instructional DVD covers all aspects of seed starting for the home gardener from planning and equipment purchase to planting, thinning and transplanting.   

HGA-01268     Plastic Mulch and Row Covers for Vegetable Production in Alaska
This DVD is about a cropping system that utilizes plastic mulch and row covers for vegetable production in Alaska. The program covers the benefits of a plastic mulch system, how it works, installation and other important characteristics. By using plastic mulch and row covers yourself, you can control weeds, conserve water, conserve fertilizer and experience four to five times the produce yield of previous systems.

LPM-00339    Winter Chickens   NEW!
If you’re contemplating keeping a laying flock through the winter in rural Alaska, check out this DVD by Community Development Agent Mara Bacsujlaky, who has raised chickens in the Interior for many years. You’ll get “the down and dirty of keeping laying hens through an Alaska winter,” with information on housing, feed, bedding and costs, as well as tips on building a coop and a list of supplies, equipment and helpful publications. Mara will help you weigh the costs and benefits of maintaining a flock through the winter so that you can make an informed decision before you get started.

Community Resource and Economic Development

CRD-01262     The Caribou People
This DVD is a documentary about the Gwich’in people of Arctic Village Alaska, the northernmost Indian village in the world. The program depicts many of the unique aspects of the Gwich’in culture as they pertain to survival, customs and Western development. The documentary is compelling and shows a people who are influenced by western culture while still retaining much of their traditional way of life.

Energy Education and Housing

HCM-00162    Northern Enclosure
This DVD describes what makes the ideal home for Northern climates. With portions covering heat retention, insulation, design considerations, planning, foundations, energy, technology, windows, radon, walls, roofs, solar energy, ventilation, heating, lighting, plumbing and more, the program shows viewers how they can build an energy-efficient northern home.

HCM-01213    The Creamer Farmhouse – Bringing the Past into the Future: Retrofitting
This DVD describes the process of remodeling and retrofitting a home to make it more efficient. The program covers the history of the Creamer’s Dairy farmhouse and the retrofitting challenges it presented, while using it as a model to help you make your own home more energy efficient. Specific sections include the proper uses of insulation, air leakage control, ventilation, high-efficiency heating, solar energy and more. This authoritative DVD is sure to help any Alaska builder or homeowner construct the most energy efficient home possible.

RAD-00783    The Air We Breathe – Indoor Air Pollution
This DVD describes the possible risks associated with indoor air pollution. Discussion points include the most common indoor pollutants, how to test for them, their effects, symptoms and how to protect you and your family. With new research being conducted every year, it becomes more and more important to know the everyday dangers you may face, even in your own home. With an engaging structure and authoritative information, this program is an excellent way to protect yourself and your loved ones from common air pollutants.