Sky Meadow (part 4)

Michelle and I have a mutual friend Bill who was an intern at Sirius Community in Shutesbury while we were apprentices there. For the past 6 months he has been living at Dreaming Mountain which is about 45 minutes from Sky Meadow. We went to visit him for a few days. He gave me a book of his called The Tassajara Bread Book. We visited his friend Peter King who is getting well known in the "tiny house" scene. There is a couple really interesting videos of his work . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VV2MBo-ZMM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9g8Jwi_nks

Although he builds lots of these tiny houses he lives in a big round house. He lives a very very simple life. He hand pumps his own water, heats his house with wood which he gets on his own, he grows most of his food, and he doesn't travel much because he hates the idea of using fossil fuels. He told Michelle and I that because of his lifestyle he is able to have lots of free time and no debt, while other people in mainstream society have lots of debt( because they buy stuff they don't need) and not a lot of time ( because they work so much to pay it off). His views on things were interesting.
Peter, Bill, Michelle and I ate bread that I made and hummus that Michelle made. Peter told us to come by sometime and live on a tiny house on his land and do a work trade kinda thing. surely we'll see him again.


We said our goodbyes to Bill and headed back to Sky Meadow. The next day was the first time we saw Miles and the family in a week. They were very happy and surprised by how much work we were able to do. At the morning meeting when discussing what jobs were to get done for the day I was asked to show their daughter Emma how to make my Nannie Tillies Challah. I was honored to do so and I'm sure she would be proud. Emma was a natural at kneading and braiding a 6 strand loaf after i showed her just once, but she was not so good with keeping an eye on the oven. The outside was burnt and black as night, but it still tasted great. I like the idea of showing people how to bake bread. I could never do it professionally but once in a while it would be nice.

Cella, took us to meet with her friend Suzanna. We had a little potluck and then did some needle felting. I don't think I ever want to needle felt again. To stressful for me. Suzanna is real good with it though, she even sells some things at the market.
Later that day I went to the shop of a local baker. Bohemian bread. It is probably some of the best bread I have ever had. He has a huge brick oven that can hold about 30 loaves. It cost him $11,000 to have it built, but it was worth it. His bread is really well known around here and sells quick. Like all the bakers I've met he seemed to be in a big hurry, so our time together was short.