What exactly is Halcyon Haven and why am I chasing it? Sit back in the rocking chair...I have a little story to tell you...
Back in 2001 a little seed started to grow. Well really, the soil was enriched in 1989 by reading a book. I will begin by saying that I am a nerd: a book nerd, a bike nerd, a self sufficiency nerd, and probably any other kind of nerd you can think of (in case you are wondering--my friends consider me Sheldon--that should explain a lot!)
The book (of course) was Walden by Thoreau...I was primed in dreams of living so simply like Laura Ingalls, but I was waiting for certain things to happen, for stars to align, before I embarked on my adventures in Self-Sufficiency and Stewardship. I will tell you that I am a planner...to a fault. Once this idea rooted I began frenetically writing in my journal a bucket list of sorts...all the things I wanted to do and accomplish. I had this grandiose list of things I was going to do--right then! I was going to get rid of my car! grow my own food! live off the grid! have solar panels! eliminate my trash! get a goat! Then reality set in...and I had to figure out what was feasible and what I needed to work on. I knew I wanted to own a home (harder to grow a complete vegetable garden in pots in my apartment); I had to accept that getting rid of the car was not going to work at that time; and I only had a finite amount of time and hands. So this is my journey...come ride with me.
One fine day, in the near future, I will live in utopia. This utopia is named Halcyon Haven. (I know it seems redundant, but it is not). In the Haven we will have: a solar space and water heater, a worm bin, compost pile, organic vegetable garden, small apple orchard, grapevines, raspberry bushes, a cherry tree, a cutting garden, rain barrel, kitchen herb garden, cellar full of self canned goods, recycle bins, and produce almost no trash. Its residents will travel mostly by feet or bike, keep bees, make cheese/yogurt/butter, can/freeze as much as possible, make their own laundering and cleaning agents and everything possible will be reused/recycled/repurposed. I also really want one of those generators you hook up a bike to....oh and don't forget the goat!
In 2004 I took some steps toward my dreams. I purchased a house in the city limits of Indianapolis with a 1/4 acre backyard. (and the really cool thing about Indy was that you could have up to 6 chickens and 1 rooster in the city limits!!!) Unfortunately riding my bike to anywhere but the grocery store was out of the question for my location. but, I focused on what I could do. I started a compost pile, enrolled in the recycling program, started a kitchen herb garden and prepped my backyard for growing vegetables. I looked into geo-thermal and solar panels. Just as I was getting started, I made a decision that would put my dreams on hold for a few years. I moved back to Michigan in 2008. I had a strong desire to move back home to Alpena, but that would have to wait for two more years. In Grand Rapids, I felt I would be there temporarily...so I biked/walked to work, downtown and the farmer's market at least twice a week; I recycled religiously; I tried to grow vegetables in pots...which failed dismally. The kitchen herb garden was a moderate success. I found plans for a worm bin (vermicompost). But honestly, I didn't really try. I loved the city, but hated my job. Looking back, this was the path I was supposed to be on. Had I loved my job, I would never have opened the bookstore in my hometown.
So after my meandering reminiscence...we are back to the present... I feared that my goals were so futuristic because I knew it would be difficult for me to find my own little plot of heaven just after starting a business. (It occurs to me only now that I should have bought the house before opening the business!) I asked my landlord if I could plant a garden (he said he would rather I don't); I biked to work, the pharmacy and various other places; I thought about a worm bin again; I recycled. But really, I felt that I was only playing at being the person I wanted to be--having the life I wanted to have. As New Years rolled around, I as usual re-evaluated my life. I found that I had actually taken steps backward in many areas of my life--this and other dreams included. In the past year or so I had somehow lost my fearlessness...this manifested in questioning my instincts and paralyzing my ability to make decisions. Awareness is half the battle! Once I focused, I figured out what was holding me back...I could remedy the situation! Onward! So, I decided that I would figure out if I could buy a house. It turns out, that by the Grace of God...and the help of my family, I could. On Leap Day 2012, I put in an offer on a house 8 blocks from work (with a clothes line!!). The yard is very small (a half lot), but just like a British Allotment, but I know there is enough space to do nearly everything I want to! Although, I believe that I may have to wait on the goat....
In anticipation, I am readying for occupying the miniature homestead I will christen Halcyon Haven. This will be my outlet for discussion, musings and foibles....so hop on the wagon....
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