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Our Nonagon for the Yurt’s door about to be finished…

Hello again, everyone! Your loyal Kroka scribe here reporting for duty! Another week has passed since we spoke, and you’ll be glad to hear it’s been as packed with change, learning, and struggling as the last. The struggling, though, has evolved into a new sort; it has become the constant, rhythmic, straightforward kind that belongs to a group in which the members are taking in a lot of new ideas, yet are comfortable enough with themselves and one another to take every punch with confidence. I personally feel lucky to be a part of a group so eager to grow. I think that’s difficult to find in fifteen to twenty-year-olds.

How many people do we need to hold the circle together?

We started off the week with a thirty-mile bike ride through the hill-laden terrain of New Hampshire to Hans’ workshop, where we made the beautiful stained glass that will decorate the door and windows of our yurt. It was difficult to settle in to our new project after such a strenuous ride, but we were able to push through and begin the amazing process of obsidian art. Lisl, who took over for Marcela and Mathias for the afternoon, was very impressed by the immense increase in physical strength we are experiencing after only eight days.

Long bike ride…, maybe next time we get sent by mail !!!!

We stayed three days at Hans’ house, all the while camping in the backyard. Hans and his amazing wife, Marci, often graced us with their presence during meals, which we cooked on an open fire. They shared quite a bit with us about their lives and home, a twenty-four roomed beauty where many people in need find home. I must admit, I almost drooled looking at all those soft beds… Marci also delighted us by showing off her tapestries, as well as the studio where she makes stylish clothing out of recycled sweaters. Finally, on Thursday, we said our goodbyes and headed out for another long bike ride to Lisl’s house, where we spent the evening. Lisl fashioned an incredible meal for us, while we were entertained by Katie and Bill, the coolest people in the world. The couple run Badger, an eco-conscious company that provides bug repellent balms and skin treatment products. Together with stories, singing, and excellent oatmeal chocolate cookies, Bill and Katie won us over whole-heartedly. Sorry, parents, but you may need to prepare yourselves for some of those adoption forms…

We biked back to Kroka Base Camp on Friday morning, and I was pretty sore by then. If it weren’t for Novi encouraging me, I don’t know if my poor rump would have made it! We spent most of the day working on the yurt, which is coming along fantastically. The floors, walls, ceilings and doors of the structure are seeing major improvements. On Saturday, we placed our sore bottoms back on those bike seats in order to make our way to Noah the bread baker’s. We baked some sandwiches in his clay and stone oven, and then meandered off to his father’s orchard, where we climbed trees, picked and ate (mostly ate) beautiful apples, and even engaged in fruity guerilla warfare. Learning about that whole family and their experiences was like being handed a key to the life we are all trying to open ourselves up to here at Kroka. It’s not an easy one, but with hard work and a true drive to be sustainable, it’s both possible and enjoyable.

And at last, Sunday, the day of REST. We got close: we slept until 7:00 a.m.! Then we cut down trees with a saw, logged them, and made boards with a small-scale sawmill, provided by Hans Van Reel. Hans, the woodworking teacher at the local Monadnock Waldorf School gave up his free day for us. He hauled his portable sawmill to Kroka. With his help we now have boards for the Yurt grown and harvested on this land. After all that, we still had time to bake, can foods, have a jam session, and bond…

Got to go feed the chickens!