Off-Grid
As we continued our zig zag motion across the Northern United States, we found ourselves in the northern most point in Wisconsin at an off-grid permaculture farm. Once again from the recommendations of friends we were welcomed in by strangers and are the richer for it.
The farm is both rustic and sophisticated, and a full time operation for Shyam and Nat who have 4 girls under the age of 12. Shyam is also head of education for the girls as well as the main kitchen manager. Nat is the head of the farming and has organized his land (250+ acres in total, about 15 have been cleared and are in active use) according to permaculture principles. Everyday he out to milk their dairy cow around 7am, which yields about 3 gallons per day. After bringing the cow in from the field, he scythes that section of land. Shyam and Nat use the mild to make their own cheese ( manchego in style) yogurt and butter.
With the help of a natural builders guild, they constructed all structures on the farm. The main house is only powered by solar that charges a battery, and the stove is wood burning. They do have running water which is pumped from a well on their land. It is used sparingly as the bucket that catches the contents of the drain get heavy quickly. With water being used as scarcely as possible, all toilets are composting toilets. This means mostly urinating outside, and other business is contained in buckets between layers of sawdust.
All food scraps are repurposed for the chickens, pigs or to be added to the compost pile. During our stay Rene helped build and turn beds, Johanna assisted with meal prep, squashing potato bugs and we all helped harvest- as most meals were plucked directly from the outdoor gardens. We were there mid July and did our part to earn our keep in sweat equity.
During our off days we went to visit Bayfield a picturesque town with an amazing bookstore and the Sea Caves near the Apostle Islands.
This area is home to the Red Cliff Reservation, has and continues to be home for the Ojibwe people. Here you can listen to name pronunciation in the original language and other links expanding on the culture that symbiotically shapes the land.
