Kalen's Bio

EX-MEMBER BIO

After growing up mostly in the suburbs of South Florida, it has been a long slow progression to the point where I am now. For the past five years or so I have been exploring, searching for a lifestyle that I could feel good about. My travels have taken me to art school in Boston, to a zen center in New Mexico, and to an island off the coast of Honduras. The mountains of western North Carolina became a place close to my heart, but I consider Portland Oregon to be my home. Although it is a wonderful city, and it is where so many of my dearest friends live, it is still a city. I became frustrated at how difficult it is to live an ecologically responsible life there, even with readily available organic produce and curbside recycling. I felt disconnected from the earth, and I decided I couldn't wait any longer. I was determined to find a place where I could live the life I've been thinking about for so long. Scouring the Directory of Intentional Communities and their web site led me to focus my search in Missouri--East Wind, Sandhill, and Dancing Rabbit. After visiting and pondering for a while, I decided upon DR and was welcomed as a new provisional member on June 25.

I've been here about two months now and the time has just flown. Soon I'll begin construction on an octagonal cabin that will house me this winter. It is a bit of an imposing challenge, but one I'm very excited about. Plus, a desire not to freeze serves as ample motivation. The structure will be about 15 feet in diameter and will have light clay/straw walls; it's not quite cob, and not straw bale, but an interesting experimental hybrid. Meanwhile, I've been working on a sweat lodge style structure, and helping with the myriad of other daily tasks required to keep this ever growing ecovillage functional and comfortable. This summer will be rife with activity as four new buildings are constructed and the three existing ones are finished.

Something I really enjoy here is the close relationship between DR and Sandhill. While it is difficult at times to tear myself away from all that is going on here and make the three mile trek over to our neighbors, it is satisfying when I do. It was there that I learned to drive a tractor, tap maple trees, and milk a cow, and I have made some close friends in the process. My name is Tony Prince but I've been having folks call me Kalen since there is another Tony here; it is a bit confusing to hear my name and have it be in reference to me only 50% of the time. I'm 29 years old. I envision developing a cottage industry creating various crafts, including recycled hand-bound books, and baskets made of local material. Until that time, however, the source my income is somewhat uncertain. There is much about life here that is not simple or predictable. It is a continuous act of creation; we're creating our gardens, our homes, and our social structures. It will also be interesting to see how my personal shift from being a wanderer to a settler will happen. It is a new direction I'm ready and excited to explore. With all the constant subtle seasonal shifts, the copious flow of interesting and varied visitors, and the radical crew of communitarian rabbits I'm nested with, I feel I will be fully occupied, engaged, and satisfied, with my new life here at Dancing Rabbit.