CRYSTAL JONES
FOR AK HOUSE DISTRICT 36
Life in District 36
This isn't just my district. It's my home.
Summer out here is short so you make the most of it. I grow vegetables and herbs, forage for berries and wild plants, fish when I get the chance, and get outside as much as possible. Hiking, stand-up paddleboarding on the lake, and camping are my go-tos. I also use the longer days to work on the property — building, adding on, getting things done before winter shows back up.
Winter in Nelchina is no joke. We're talking -40 and dark. I snowshoe, watch the northern lights when they come out, haul water, and keep the home fires going. I read a lot in the winter — there's always something new to learn about Alaska, its history, and the people who live here. Winter also gives you a lot of time to think about what's working and what isn't.
I'm always building something — adding onto my home, putting up outbuildings, upcycling old wood and materials people would have thrown away. I haul my own water and try to live as sustainably as makes sense out here. Most mornings I have my coffee outside under the spruce trees. It's a good way to start the day.
I'll be honest — I haven't been the loudest voice in the community. But running for this seat is my way of showing up. For all of us.