The New Pioneers

(Page 8 of 8)

September/October 1971
By David Gumpert 
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Following dinner, Sue and Eliot relax by reading and playing with Melissa. The kerosene lamps add to the relaxed mood by giving a soft glow that just allows for reading.

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Perhaps every month or so Sue and Eliot get together socially with a young engineer and his wife who live nearby and have a child Melissa's age. Occasionally they visit friends in Bangor or see the Nearings. That's about the extent of their social life, however. They haven't been to a movie in about three years, and they say they don't ever feel the need to go to a restaurant to eat, preferring their own organically grown food.

Hard as their day-to-day work may seem, the Colemans appear to find it a small enough price for the satisfactions of their life. "I'm working 16 hours a day for survival," Eliot says. "This isn't any game I'm playing. If I don't grow enough, it's that much less to eat this winter." But at the same time, he says, "we find, every passing day, we're just so happy here."

During the winter, things slow down a lot, says Sue. She spends her time mostly knitting, sewing, cross-country skiing and reading. Eliot chops trees when the snow isn't too high and joins her in reading and skiing. "In the summer, you're rushing around trying to grow your food," says Sue. "Winters are rest times around here."

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  • coolgranny6667 11/25/2007 5:10:43 PM

    very informational, i have always dreamed of having a small
    strawbale home and a few animals, but as i am disabled i dont know
    if it is possible on such a small income to get property and build
    a home and aquire the few things i will need to accomplish this,
    any suggestions are appreciated, i reside in arkansas to be near my
    6 grandkids.

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