The March Hare: Fall 2006 Issue 50

Homecomings • Going Home • Reflections • Nature Corner • Bernadoette • Wordy Gurdy

New Resident Reflections

By Tony B.

I recently had occasion to return to my parents' house in the suburban sprawl of Northern Kentucky for the tenth-year reunion of my high school graduating class. Though this was my first time in the area in more than six months (since I became a resident of Dancing Rabbit) Florence has been the closest thing to a permanent address for this traveler since I donned the powder blue cap and gown of Boone County High School so many years ago. While the faces were the same at the reunion, most folks had either subtracted hair from or added girth to their person over the years. While a majority of conversation revolved around who had gotten married, had children or divorced (occasionally all three) I preferred to spend my time extolling the virtues of sustainable and ecological lifestyle choices to all who would listen. One might assume that among the traffic and big box chain stores of suburban nowhere, USA, my proselytizing would be met with blank stares and total confusion. However, I am pleased to report that, among those I bumbled through adolescence with, nearly all were familiar with some aspects of sustainability - whether it be renewable energy, grey water systems, local economies, natural building and the like. It was with a sense of optimism then that I returned to my new home at Dancing Rabbit.

And it is indeed home. Not just because my personal checks list Dancing Rabbit Lane as my address, but because I have decided this is the place to put down roots and really start to grow to finally put into practice the ideas I have been exploring for so long. I can't think of a better place to do it.

On the last day of July, fellow new resident, Alyssa, and I broke ground on the first house either of us have had much of a hand in. Since then it has become the project that consumes our energy, thought, and action. What an amazing time it has been. With no expertise between us and only questionable skills, it is amazing that we have gotten this far É or perhaps not. This is community, after all, and Alyssa and I benefit from the experience and labor or those we live with. How incredible it was to see more than a dozen folks show up for our stick-frame wall raising. The forms that had had us so perplexed for so long took the shape of a house in less than two hours that morning. No one here at Dancing Rabbit is safe from our probing questions, "How do you do this?" "What does this need to attach to?" "How to you build this?" "What have we forgotten?" And no one shies away from helping. Were it not for Tamar, Ted or Tom we still wouldn't have our roofing installed. Cecil and Sara are the only reason we have any faith in our electrical wiring. Without the help of Suzanne, Sparky and so many visitors we would still be de-nailing reclaimed lumber and our light-clay straw infill would have only just begun. Without Thomas or Bob stopping by to say, "have you thought of this" we might be scratching our heads about one thing or another even now. Without Skyhouse and Ironweed graciously loaning tools, we would never have gotten this far.

While this project is far from finished, Alyssa and I are sure that it will be our warm place to live this winter; not just because we are building a nice house, but because together - and in this place - we are building a home.

The many faces of Tony and Alyssa's house

Homecomings • Going Home • Reflections • Nature Corner • Bernadoette • Wordy Gurdy