Alaska Life

Welcome to Alaska Life! I’m Marion Owen, and I’ve called Kodiak, Alaska, home since 1984. After eight years at sea as a seaman and merchant marine officer, I traded my seafaring days for life on land—and I’ve never looked back.

I dove headfirst into gardening, photography, and all things organic, transforming our home into a living mosaic of raised beds, flowers, and quirky artwork (including a dragon named Daisy!).

The City of Kodiak may be small, but Kodiak Island is the second largest island in the U.S. and boasts the largest US Coast Guard base in the country. It’s a place where the tide (and weather!) set the rhythm of life. The community feels like family, as in, we’re all in this together—whether you’re at the post office, sharing a potluck meal, or watching orca whales swim down the channel.

And while life here can be on the wild side, the quiet moments spent in the garden or hiking in a spruce forest make it all worth it.

In this website, I share my journey of growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers in Alaska’s unique environment, along with some of the photos and stories that have shaped my life here. From composting tips to the joys (?!?!) of gardening in a temperate rainforest, I’m excited to bring you along on this adventure. So grab a cup ….

So grab a cup of tea (or a gardening tool) and join me as I share what it’s like to live, grow, and create on Alaska’s Emerald Isle.

I’m happy you stopped by! Stay in touch and follow along with my gardening stories on these platforms:

Instagram: @theupbeetgardener

YouTube channel

Facebook