Off The Grid
I'm presently reading a book about homesteading in Alaska—old time homesteaders. What about today?
I know of an isolated Maine island that offered free land to families—a New York couple thought it a good idea until they wintered over.
Kansas has some land available as a way to attract new residents. Nebraska gave away free parcels of land —in designated areas—if you built a house and stayed put for three years.
But how about the person who wants to reside in a remote area far away from cities, towns and people?
People who look into arcane questions came up with ten remote areas. There's an area between Green River in Utah and Salina, Utah—"a 105 mile stretch of highway with no towns and only six exits." I've been on that road—it's isolated, but you do see cars.
They listed Supai, Arizona as the "most remote town in the continental U.S." The town is at the bottom of the Grand Canyon—capital of the Havasupai Indian Reservation. But there's an active tourist trade there—
I don't think any of the places mentioned fit the label of isolated and far away from civilization. Where does the hermit go today?
According to a blog hosted by Vincze Miklos— when David Glasheen lost ten million dollars in the 1987 stock market crash he took some drastic steps. First, he divorced his wife and then moved to Restoration Island, Australia. He barters for food using his homemade beer as a trading commodity.
Emma Orbach, an Oxford graduate, "lives in her self-built mud and straw roundhouse" in the Welsh mountains. She does without electricity and running water. She's self sufficient—forages for fruits, tends her vegetable garden and raises chickens and goats . In the evening she plays her Celtic harp.
Reading about Emma I initially thought that I had found a true hermit, but then discovered that she runs a retreat center and has built four other roundhouses for guests at the center.
Perhaps we all yearn for a respite from our technology.
I am fascinated with people who choose to live off the grid—people who are willing to let go and release the cacophony of the 21st century.
I know of an isolated Maine island that offered free land to families—a New York couple thought it a good idea until they wintered over.
Kansas has some land available as a way to attract new residents. Nebraska gave away free parcels of land —in designated areas—if you built a house and stayed put for three years.
But how about the person who wants to reside in a remote area far away from cities, towns and people?
People who look into arcane questions came up with ten remote areas. There's an area between Green River in Utah and Salina, Utah—"a 105 mile stretch of highway with no towns and only six exits." I've been on that road—it's isolated, but you do see cars.
They listed Supai, Arizona as the "most remote town in the continental U.S." The town is at the bottom of the Grand Canyon—capital of the Havasupai Indian Reservation. But there's an active tourist trade there—
I don't think any of the places mentioned fit the label of isolated and far away from civilization. Where does the hermit go today?
According to a blog hosted by Vincze Miklos— when David Glasheen lost ten million dollars in the 1987 stock market crash he took some drastic steps. First, he divorced his wife and then moved to Restoration Island, Australia. He barters for food using his homemade beer as a trading commodity.
Emma Orbach, an Oxford graduate, "lives in her self-built mud and straw roundhouse" in the Welsh mountains. She does without electricity and running water. She's self sufficient—forages for fruits, tends her vegetable garden and raises chickens and goats . In the evening she plays her Celtic harp.
Reading about Emma I initially thought that I had found a true hermit, but then discovered that she runs a retreat center and has built four other roundhouses for guests at the center.
Perhaps we all yearn for a respite from our technology.
I am fascinated with people who choose to live off the grid—people who are willing to let go and release the cacophony of the 21st century.
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