The Deans of Green

Extreme Green Living

comments (0) June 30th, 2009 in Blogs

Ed Pirnik, producer

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Richard Proenneke at work on his cabin. Circa 1969.

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Despite the fact that a lot of folks at least ponder the idea of abandoning the trappings of modern life for simpler sustainable living "off the beaten path," most of us will probably never work up the courage to actually do it. The idea of cashing in, loading a pickup and heading out into the wilderness to forge our own path, while delightful to think about, can be terrifying at best. That fear of the unknown is what makes us human. Still, I often wonder.

If you've got the wherewithal, the courage and perhaps a dash of insanity for good measure, here are a few resources that'll get you started. Even if the idea of actually "doing it" doesn't interest you, the stories of others who actually have are entertaining and insightful. As an added plus, these resources are full of green living ideas that can be incorporated into more common lifestyles.

One Man's Wilderness

First published in 1973, One Man's Wilderness tells the story of Richard Proenneke, who gave up a life of 50-hour work weeks and set his sights on the arduous task of settling in the Alaskan wilderness. Proenneke is the definition of "tough," having arrived in the wilderness with little more than some basic supplies and hand tools. He labored tirelessly to build his own cabin - felling the trees, stripping the bark and notching the logs (alone, mind you) - and lived almost entirely (except for the occasional visit by a seaplane) off the grid. Proenneke documented his entire journey with a 35mm still camera, a 16mm movie camera and loads of handwritten journal entries. His story is available in book and documentary film form. Have a look at the clip below. Some of Proenneke's construction techniques can be seen beginning at about minute 4:05. If you ever find yourself in Alaska, you can even visit his cabin, as it has been preserved by the U.S. National Park Service as a sort of living museum.

The Good Life

Helen and Scott Nearing's classic story of self reliance. The couple abandoned their city lives at the height of the Great Depression, resettling in rural Vermont and later, Maine. Much like Richard Proenneke, they built their own structures - primarily of native stone - raised their own crops and canned their own food. The segments on stone house construction are quite wonderful and gardening tips abound.

Ten Acres Enough

Edmund Morris' 1864 guide to independent farming, despite having been written a century-and-a-half ago, still contains a great deal of relevant information for the home gardener. Although it's not so heavy on construction techniques, Morris's information on blackberry farming will have you growing atomic fruit!