Visiting the Northern Sun Coop Farm!

Naked sauna... What?

No, it's not a nudist colony.  No, they don't shit into their hands, as some people have heard.   It's a co-op farm, and their way of living for sustainability is not only a peaceful way of living, a unique way of living, but a responsible way of living.  And honestly, why don't more of us adopt more of their ways?  Because we're stuck on the selfish, destructive not constructive way of living we've become so accustomed to.  To me, that stinks more than the compost they make from the waste their bodies produce, only to put back into the land they took their food from.

On this day, Earth day, Good Friday, we were lucky enough to work a little and have a tour at the Northern Sun Coop Farm.  There are about 17 people living there, in houses, many of which straw bale and made of recycled materials.  They worked hard to build everything so that it suited their needs (nothing excessive, of course) and were sustainable, lasting and made sense to them.  Thus, little new materials were used in the making of their houses.

In the end, it appears to me that they're living a fulfilling lifestyle most people will never really know.

So here's how our day went:
In the morning, we were a little chilly so we were put to work to warm up a little.  Work consisted of moving a stack of wood as well as a few rocks.  The rocks were, of course the fun part, since we had to work together to move the larger ones and came up with some creative and innovative ways of moving them together.  Laughs were shared as we'd pull one and all fall at once as the rope around the rock slipped.
Then, we relaxed in their house for lunch which was followed by a long talk about their philosophies and beliefs, some history and how they got there and just stuck.  "Noble was born in my room, under the skylight with a full moon and the stars above. Sam, 7 years old held the flashlight."

It's certainly fascinating to see other lifestyles and soon, maybe one Katimavik volunteer will experience that for two weeks when we're billeting.

After, we were given a tour of the farm, including sights of the cows, the goat and sheep, the windmill and the wells and their houses.  They explained how everything was built, how much it all costed (mostly next to nothing) and why they were more efficient in this way or that. (Especially straw bale houses.)  Everything- the windmill, the wells- you name it- they built it.  One thing they didn't build: plumbing. electricity.  They just didn't see the need.

And the way they use their waste is a really interesting topic.  They have a bucket system they eject into.  (Interesting word choice, I'm aware.  It seems fitting to me...) They put worms in with that and the waste becomes soil that goes back into the earth.  I guess they have a give and take sort of policy.  The earth gives them a penny, so later they give back to the earth.
"as humans, we have these hands and these brains..."
She told us that we were created to do great things- things that destruct, and things that can create as well.

Mitch even talked about how he loves to be there so he can create things.  He's worked on a lot of projects constructing the green house, the coop centre, and helping with houses.  Later he continued to tell us that he also loves destructing. They go hand in hand, you know.  All of this reminded me of studying a little of Hinduism in World Religions class a few years ago, the God of destruction, Shiva.
I remember thinking why would they have a God of Destruction, such a terrible thing?  Because destruction is creation.  Destruction leaves room for more creation.  So by all means, Shiva is not at all a negative energy to respect.

Following our tour, we had the opportunity to experience a sauna.
Now,because of this sauna, there are rumours that they're a nudist colony or whatever and they're not.

But yes, naturally, most people that live there prefer doing the sauna's in the nude.  Katimavik volunteers, however, did so in their underwear.
Except me.  I went in my towel and remained wrapped in that until I finally got the nerve to let go of all my insecurities and just be.  When I finally did, it felt so liberating, so pure and when I finished, I felt so clean.  In the sauna, they usually sing songs too. Sometimes they sound like incantations with the Om sound repeated.  "Just make any sound," Kathryn, whom I worked a couple days with at the MPRC said.  She's the one that taught me my first few chords on the guitar actually.  Later, they led spiritual songs we could catch on to.
It was so beautiful and I feel so honoured to have had the opportunity to experience that, even just for a moment.  I hope that I, too can adopt at least some of their ideals of living in my life time.

A garden would probably be a really good first step.  Composting my waste might be a little uncomfortable for my family to get used to, but that could be another.

After the sauna, I rinsed off with a bucket of cool water over my head- followed by a little scream, haha.  Mitch, of course, peered out the door "are you okay?"  Yeah, the girl I am let out a few screams :S  So worth it- i don't know why I hesitated.
Then, we hung out in the house and there was a guitar just screaming "play me Stacey!"
So, with the 4 chords I knew, I started strumming away and sure enough, Mitch plays guitar, so he showed me a few things, and even played  a little.  "Pretty good for just starting on Monday," he said.

Yeah, it's been easier than I thought it would be, since I've had so many people cooperatively teaching me how to play.

It's that simple.  All you have to do is try something, give it a chance.  I always wanted to learn to play but found it too difficult to teach myself. And in less than a week, I've come so much further than I thought I could.  Soon, I want to buy a ukulele so I have something from Steinbach that I can bring home, that will not just sit on a shelf, but I'll be able to play and not just memories will come, but the satisfaction that I learned so many new things that I could carry with me.

Pretty cool eh?

Well, here are some pictures!

I'm not sure what this is called, but I've seen this somewhere else before- it appears to be a few flags in different colours on them with Sanskrit written on it. I wish I'd asked about it.

The beautiful house they built.  You can see behind, that's her room, it's a straw bale addition.

The lovely green house.  Love the artwork...

Inside the green house.  Sorry about this picture :S

One of the wells they built.  Very, very cheaply I might add.

Garlic! Lots of Garlic!

Mitch is picking out a carrot in the recycled soil.

Apparently those carrots are hard to eat...

The sheep, I forget his name, at peace.  You can see those boxes behind- They're wheat!