What did it cost to build your cabin?
One sling of economy grade lumber bought at the saw mill was $100.
We needed one sling for the floor and another for the roof.
The slabs for the triangle under the roof were free.
Then there were nails and spikes, hinges for the door and shutter, and re-purposed windows.
Tar paper and rolled roofing and a bucket of black sealant finished the project.
It totaled up to about $300.
How long did you live there?
We lived there for three years and one baby.
The series of '10 Days...' memoirs will continue, one book for each month through the first year. Each book will include information, events and Eleanor's observations during 1979 as well as how the story unfolded up to the present.
Where is the cabin located? Is the cabin still standing?
The cabin now only exists in the imagination.
Rain and snow, time and gravity have returned it to the soil from where it came.
Where was the Church community you were raised in? When was it started?
In the mid-late 1800's many small religious groups formed separate societies, each thinking they could live an ideal life if they removed themselves from the secular world. In Pennsylvania there are many examples of this. The trend spread to other New England states and parts of Canada.
What religion was it?
I have deliberately omitted this information.
I thank my parents for raising our family the best way they knew how.
Many have chosen to stay and raise their children.
Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and privacy.
It matters less exactly what religion it was.
It matters more that a young woman found the courage to leave what she experienced as confining and opposed to her conscience.
Why did you change the names of people in the book?
Privacy. And the fact that these are my impressions as a 20 year old new-comer. This is not a book written for historic accuracy, rather for the explorations and observations of a city girl who arrives in a tiny village on the edge of he Canadian wild.
What motivated you to go Back-to-the-Land?
Here is a short answer:
For Kevin, it was better than working in a factory for the foreseeable future.
For me, it was a combination of all things good: mountains and home grown food, small community and family life.
The long answer is the reason why I wrote the book.
Who do you hope will read your book?
70-90 year old Wise Ones who lived during a more simple time when food came from the farm and people had more practical skills.
50-70 year old Experienced Ones who lived in the 1970s and remember and perhaps participated in the Back-to-the-Land movement.
40-50 year old Hopeful Ones who wish to rededicate themselves to the ideals and goals they began the Journey into adult life with.
20-40 year old Active Ones who are seeking the Green Lifestyle, whole foods, alternative energy sources, eco-parenting and Earth conscious choices.
12-20 year old Idealistic Ones who are beginning to build their own plans and wish to focus on making healthy, sustainablechoices.
What do you hope people will “take away” from your story?
Watch closely to find out who the “hero-heroine” is... you might be surprised... and also be reminded that “one person can make a difference.”