Danish Hospitality

Vikings!

So the past couple of weeks have been quite incredible in terms of furthering my thoughts about community. I began at the eco-village at Hjortshoej, which was very interesting as a larger scale community that had formed around eco-living, but without any particular prescribed ideology. Each family has a reasonable amount of autonomy, and people living there more or less contribute to a nice feeling of neighborliness. I was very warmly welcomed and embraced by several of the people there, and made some excellent new friendships that I’m looking forward to nurturing over time. Thanks to the connections made at Hjortshoej, I was able to find out about several near by communities including Friland and Hertha – Got to spend a couple of days at Friland helping build an affordable eco-house, and experiencing a very exciting model in terms of building projects and community formation models.

I stayed with a couple of families in Hjortshoej and felt very welcomed. The houses there were very interesting, well built and environmentally friendly. And their proximity made for an interesting neighborhood feeling, with no cars among the houses, lots of places for kids to play and areas for informal and formal gatherings, meals, etc. it was delightful to take part in the meals and the excellent café og ca – so many good cakes in Denmark. Also a nice coziness about how meals are handled – even simple informal meals become a social setting for relaxing and connecting.

Some of the specific activities I’ve been involved in while in Denmark – I went to Hjortshoej with the idea that I would be helping to build a common house. And spent a week and a half contributing to that effort. They have a very nice common house, but as an oval footprint with angled walls, it’s a somewhat complex building to make. Still they will have a lovely place once it’s complete. I was involved with framing a complex wall, threading pipes for plumbing, and helping with laying down floor tiles. It was lovely working and talking with the different people there. And I’m embarrassed that I missed their wrap up party, because I went to Friland for some days and was unable to line up timing with work and busses. I didn’t realize that they wanted to send me off with the party, and am sad that I missed it. Still I have a great warm feeling about my time there and the people I got to know.

I went to a local African dance festival for a night with Kim, which was great – funny to see African dancing in Northern Denmark. But a nice kind of cross cultural event. Also was taken around by Niels to see the various communities near by and discuss community in general. This was an excellent exposure to ideas and I’m full of gratitude. Lots of interesting things that I may be able to apply to my home land. Also went to a Viking festival and battle re-enactment. With yelling and horses. And an exhibit about ice men. So, the time was very full and interesting.

Viewing Hertha with Niels

Friland

Going to Friland, I caught the last few days of a workshop that was developed to help build a house for some new residents. I participated building and sealing the roof, which was fun. Felt good to really work my body and make things with my hands. Got me excited to build some things of my own in the not so distant future. Hope I can find a good situation to start making things and developing ideas.

So the workshop was interesting – there seemed to be a variety of work experiences and expectations from the participants. Some mixture of working and wanting holiday. Perhaps some disconnect around what the education component would actually be.

Tonny and Ulla's house at Friland - Built for Workshop

So I have many thoughts about my time here, to list some of the things I’ve been thinking about: Ownership models, relationship of community settlements to the broader government and surrounding communities, scale of settlements, distance between houses and functions of common facilities, the need for common projects, and what types of projects lend themselves to communities, ideas about forming experimental communities, and about the relationship of community and entrepreneurship. Lots of eye openers. Well, Denmark is a place that has had a fair amount of eye opening connected to community.

Some things I want to investigate further: Högskolan and the fellow who started them – these after school programs developed to focus on learning without grading. Steiner philosophy.

So, my lingering impression of my time at these communities at Denmark is one of hopefulness. It was quite inspiring to see real world examples of people living together in a way that was environmentally responsible as well as creative in terms of architecture. Both places were quite adventurous with their design work, and with their social program. Hjorshoej was good as a model that is not too far off from what I could imagine would be desirable to the suburban market in the US. And Friland was completely eye opening in terms of connecting social and environmental responsibility in a way that took not only environmental factors into local hands, but economic and political as well. Very promising in terms of thinking of a community I might like to start myself.

Chook Reflections

Chicken Shack

Looking back at time spent at the Chicken Shack with Mr. Steve Jones. A fair amount of interesting experiences at the Shack. Enjoyed working on a design and thinking carefully about the intersection between community, business, site, nature and history. So, there are thoughts about integrated design process, and also thoughts about Wales and the UK. Also having visited CAT and had many interesting conversations with Steve, I have a collection of thoughts about sustainability, as well as permaculture.

Center For Alternative Technology - Rammed Earth Walls

It was nice to spend time just taking it easy and having some fun. Quite relaxed atmosphere at the Chicken Shack. Joined Steve at the Workhouse Festival, which takes place at the workhouse - an interesting community project and local venue. Lots of potential there. Gets me excited thinking about what could happen at such a resource. I can imagine an interesting combination of art, music, local business, maybe artists in residence, community events, etc. A nice project for community to form around.

Also had some nice dinners with various people and enjoyed everyone I met – many interesting people connected to the Chicken Shack, as well as some new friends that were there as volunteers. Nice meals and good talks.

chapel by the sea

Castell y Bere

The garden there was a powerful educational tool – showing principles of permaculture and making clear the importance of bio-diversity, and responsive settlement that works with the idea of natural systems. Excited to spend more time thinking about permaculture and integrating the ideas involved into my career and design approach.

It was great to spend time working on a design and engaging various people in the project to come to a building that would best suit the use and location. Also very nice to tour around Snowdonia and see the stone walls, hedgerows, and various stone buildings that are native to the area.

CS Permaculture Education Center Design

saying goodbye to Steve

Farm Factor

Hereford Cathedral

Hereford Cathedral

Canon Frome was very interesting – still processing some of what was going on there. It basically created an atmosphere that connected all of the residents to farming. The effect was very exciting. Fresh, un-pasteurized milk, Goat yogurt and cheese, fresh eggs, veggies, berries, fruits, all from the fields and by the hands of the community. Inspiring. The community wasn’t fully off-grid, or completely sustainable, but they were quite far along in being able to manage without infrastructure.

This is sort of a theme that’s been on my mind – with climate and other environmental crises increasing, and the issues involved in peak oil, etc. There may be more and more of a need to revive self-sufficiency. Our modern world being about specialization, and segmentation, very few people know how to manage beyond their particular area of focus. If the energy sources become less available, few people would know how to make use of local resources to keep themselves fed and warm, etc. Not to mention not having access to resources in large cities and so forth.

In any case, I think there’s a lot to be said for community settlement as a way to increase the ability to do many things – to create more rounded and able folks. And I’m not referring to all the fresh cream and butter. 

They were very hospitable at Canon Frome – I had set up my stay there through the WWOOF program, and was there with one other volunteer. They treated us both very well. Each night a different family fed us and provided a varied perspective on what was happening in the community.

Spent a fair amount of time pulling weeds and managing raspberries, but also got to help put together a Wendy House (AKA –play house) for the kids. Had some chances to milk goats, which just increases my conviction that some day, I must tend goats. Also got to take in the hay, which was a nice community event, and got me sweatin.

The surrounding farmlands are very beautiful. Rolling and pastoral. Went to the movies in Hereford one night which was interesting, as I hadn’t gone to a movie in ages. It was kind of fun to be entertained for the night.

Leaving Herefordshire, I have the feeling that the life at Canon Frome has many benefits and that it is a decent community – some good pearls of wisdom to pull from my time there. Excited to move along to the Chicken Shack where I’ll be helping them to design a permaculture center. It will be nice to shift over to some mental/creative work after my time working with plants and animals.

View of Canon Frome pasture

Wendy House

Micro

06/25/08 –  Canon Frome Court 

After a bit of a breather from writing and planning at Monkton Wylde, I’ve made my way up to Canon Frome, in Herefordshire. Monkton was very beautiful – idyllic really, with the old stone building and gardens. The community was a bit shaky from recent transitions, but the people were very decent and largely friendly. Had some interesting conversations and made a couple of new friends.

Delving into the issues of communal living, much has been coming up around whether or not it really works, and if it does, the degree to which it is permanent or temporary. Monkton seemed to be a place where people would stay for short periods (1-5 years) then move on. Although it is also a place where people stay without any sort of ownership, and I imagine this lends itself to a feeling of impermanence – with the inability to be in control of your position / stability.

Some conversations site the inherent conflicts that occur in such close quarters. I’m trying to learn more about what that’s like - how intense the frictions can become, and how they build up. Also, how they’re managed. Seems like a community is a micro model of society in general. All the social issues are compounded and amplified. Same issues of government apply. So it’s a tricky bit figuring out how much to structure the social rules – finding that balance of restricting undesirable behavior and allowing personal freedom seems to be at the core of human beings.

Am very excited about Canon Frome – fully functioning complete farm including livestock. Members have private ownership of their housing units, structured in coordination with a share in the housing committee, as well as the farm lands and produce. Will write more about my impressions shortly. Off today to Hereford to see a cathedral and get a better sense of the surrounding context.

view from Monkton Wylde

Lyme Regis

sea wall at Lyme Regis

Aquarium buildng at Lyme Regis

Old guild hall at Lyme Regis - had fish and chips around the corner

Hit the road

06/14/08 – London, England

Made it in to London with no problems – interesting to think about how traveling this time around feels different from my previous European tour. I feel more confident in my ability to handle a wide range of scenarios. Exploring cities and places to stay feels much simpler regarding my own internal barriers. Feeling open to experience and ready to try new things.

Although I’m also feeling slightly internal, just reflecting on my life in Boston and what It’s been like for me during the past 8 years. Lots has happened – and this trip feels in some way like closing a chapter, and starting a new one, or a bridge in a song maybe. Anyway, feels mighty cusp-y.

view from hostel

Stayed at a hostel near St. Pauls cathedral – apparently it used to be housing for the boys choir. Chatted with a fellow from Vancouver (named Frank, like my grandfather) and a fellow from South of England who was here showing his photography as an end of school show. Walked around, had fish and chips, drank a beer in a literally crooked pub called Cheshire Cheese. Looked at some buildings. Enjoyed the intricacy of the streets. A beautiful city for all it’s complexity and compounded clustering of building on top of building – Lots of variety in building style, packed closely together. Also lots of people in suits and ties.

Staying tonight and possibly tomorrow with my new friend Sue. Gonna head out to Monkton Wylde in Dorset (South England) either tomorrow night or Monday morning. After all the various transportation investigation, seems busses are the cheapest around England. Although I’m gonna keep my eyes peeled for a nicely priced motorcycle.

inside tate

new housing

spike collective

Preparations for Leaving Boston

In the whirlwind of preparations, there's little time to reflect on the nuances of my upcoming travel. Its a bit like that 50 feet or so before the cliff ends and you gotta just jump off the edge into the water. Nonetheless, I'm formulating ideas to refine my exploration and set up enough structure to gain the most out of these upcoming months. Aspects of the research I'm working on at the moment:

1. Considering a dual approach to each community. One focused on meeting the needs of the community with little to no personal / aesthetic dictation. Another focused on consideration of what the community could need, based on my own knowledge. Perhaps a dual presentation of the two - two separate designs or recommendations, followed by a conglomerate scheme depending on reception

2. Thinking about funding sources and potentials for presenting the research later. Have a few resources in mind but will continue to fish.

3. Working on identifying people and types of people that I would like to foster connections with during my journey. Hoping to make some good connections and friendships along the way.

4. Finalizing my itenerary, trying to make good decisions about a broad range of community types, as well as lengths of stay that are useful to the community and to my research, but also give enough time for "chasing butterflies."

So, checking things off of my list and pulling together last bits and pieces, and of course trying to see my friends and associates before leaving. Had a great Gumbo going away party. Even wore Grandpa George's coat and shoes.