The Maine Line

This week, between Canada Day and Independence Day, we went down to Brooksville, Maine to visit Andrew, Julia and family at Julia’s Mothers house. Besides the kayaking, sailing and beach access we discovered a part of ‘the back to the land’ history.

The first revelation was Eliot Coleman and Four Seasons Farm. Coleman is an American Organic Farmer elder. He has published several definitive books on the topic. After we toured his farm, talked to the next generation apprentices, we had a second revelation. Just a few miles down the road was The Good Life Center, established by Scott and Helen Nearing. Coleman was a friend and student of the Nearings.

At The Good Life Center, we walked the Fairy Trail; we peeked into the Meditation Yurts, built by William Coperthwaite.

That evening, we went to supper in Stonington. Afterwards, attended a juggling performance by Shane Miclon at Opera House.

What a splendid day!

For those interested, check out the following web site www.goodlife.org or Google Eliot Coleman. On the web site, there are several videos of talks at The Good Life Centre. Or you can pull down one of the books off the shelf.

” Life is enriched by aspiration and effort, rather than by acquisition and accumulation” Poverty and Riches. S. Nearing. 1916.

To get there is very simple. Take the Digby-St John ferry, drive to the Canada/US border at St Stephen/Calais. Take the Airliner, Route #9 towards Bangor. About two thirds along head south on #179 to Brooksville. Specifically, both The Good Life Centre and Four Season Farm are at Harborside.

It is only a four-hour drive from the ferry to Brooksville.

Another observation. Notice the quality of the forest cover in Maine and compare it with the devastation that has been allowed in Nova Scotia.

Safe driving or happy reading, especially for those Nova Scotians who left the United States but brought with them the ‘back to the land’ ethic of the Nearings and Coleman.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Janis for her generous hospitality. To Andrew and Julia for encouraging us to make the drive. Quinn and Isla Rose, such good company. To Heather for her appreciation of the ‘good life’. Edward for his graphics contribution. This blog is for Paul and Ruth Colville.

References.

The Good Life Centre. www.goodlife.org
The Yurt Foundation. William Coperthwaite, Machiasport, ME 04655
Eliot Coleman. The Four Season Farm. fourseasonfarm.com/

” It is opportunity that is rare. Not ability. The idea of equal opportunity is one of the most brilliant dreams that ever came into human consciousness.”
Poverty and Riches. S. Nearing .1916.