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Here at Wolf Hollow we are trying to develop a philosophy of life based on a concern for the environment, lowering consumption of goods and resources, moving toward self-sufficiency, preserving the biodiversity of domestic livestock animals, and keeping alive the crafts and skills that helped our ancestors survive. We are still in our infancy in all these areas. A deep and abiding concern for the environment is at the base of all Wolf Hollow's endeavors. The massive, worldwide pollution of our environment by humanity has endangered all life on this planet. We will be trying, in our small corner of the world, to reverse the effects of pollution, recycle, garden organically, reduce the use of and reuse plastics, and aid in returning the area to its prehuman ecology. Some of the things we have planned to accomplish this is the development and use of a composting toilet system so that we stop defecating in our potable water; the building of a house and outbuildings using cob construction(a mix of sand, clay, and straw to make wall material that hardens like rock)such as are found throughout England and which have stood and been used for hundreds of years; a completely organic garden that will serve to feed the residents of Wolf Hollow; and growing from seed local varieties of trees to be planted out to help renew the forest. At Wolf Hollow, in accordance with our concern for the environment and our deep concern over the horrible overconsumption of goods and resources in our society, we are reducing our consumption of store bought items. Prepackaged, preprepared food are being cut from our diet. We will be working more and more toward providing all our own foods, as much as is practical. What we can't grow ourselves, for instance, grains, we will purchase in bulk and store for future use. Making good, wholesome food from scratch will become the norm instead of the exception. We will curtail the use of plastics which, for the most part, can't be recycled and do not degrade in the environment. Sometime in the future we hope to eliminate the use of vehicles powered by fossil fuels(a situation that is problematic at this time due to distance from work and the need to commute to earn money for all these projects). We will be working on alternative power sources for the power that we need and figuring out ways to reduce the power that we use. The goal is to become as self-sufficient as is humanly possible. Along with our concern for the condition of the environment is our concern for the rapidly diminishing varieties of domesticated livestock in the modern world. In this day and age livestock is bred for the sole purpose of producing the most in the least amount of time. Quality has given way to quantity. Varieties of livestock are disappearing as the age of mass production steamrolls over them. As the diversity in the gene pools of livestock varieties is reduced we lose prescious qualities in our animals. Chickens are no longer capable of brooding their chicks, pigs are no longer to be trusted to raise their young. Turkeys, which in the wild are quite clever birds, have become so stupid they can't even figure out how to come in out of the cold. Milk cows have such grossly enlarged udders that they are unable to get out of the mud after a rain storm and die of exhaustion. Beef cattle are so numerous and so poorly managed that they have changed forever and/or destroyed the ecologies of entire regions. And humanity has moved so far from the land that, in order to have convenience and an abundance of things, we will put up with the hormone enhanced meat we eat, the pesticide coated fruits and vegetables, and turn good farmland into housing projects for an ever increasing population of consumers. What happens when we run out of things to consume? At Wolf Hollow we are in the beginning stages of working toward the preservation of the biodiversity of livestock. We have the beginnings of a flock of Shetland sheep and the beginnings of a herd of La Mancha dairy goats. We are looking into the possibility of obtaining and raising either Dexter or Scottish Highland cattle. We are starting a small flock of White Wyandotte chickens. We would like to eventually obtain some large black pigs. These are some of the projects we have in the works. Wolf Hollow is also home to a variety of ancient crafts. We hand spin fiber into yarn. We weave cloth on manual looms. We felt wool to make hats and garments, and we knit and crochet. As we progress in these skills we will be making most of our own clothing. We will be canning our produce to carry us over the winter. We make our own cheese and yogurt from our own goats milk. We make all our own soap. We will soon be adding bee hives so that we will produce our own honey and make our own candles. Lampworking, pottery, stained glass, and woodworking are all skills to be added in the future. Metalworking is on the agenda for farther in the future. We have many plans to bring to fruition here at Wolf Hollow. As time goes on and updates to the website occur I will be giving you progress reports. Someday we hope to be able to hold classes in the lost arts, provide stock for those who would like to participate in keeping rare breeds alive, and develop a retreat center for those who just need the peace and quiet of a weekend in the country. But all that is for the future. Right now we are just getting off the ground. We hope you will come visit our site often to find out what's going on here at Wolf Hollow. |
