A Wikipedia article sums up their operation succinctly (click here to be redirected), but the feel - the atmosphere - is not quite captured there. When we expressed how pleasantly surprised we were as we drove closer to this magical little land in SE Minnesota, our hosts said, "Yeah, well don't tell everyone!" (the absence of a crowd certainly contributes to the magic). So you didn't hear it from us, but ...nestled by a curved, tree-covered bluff, adjacent to a clean, lazy creek that runs through the damp forest, and bordered by lush pasture lies Dream Acres, an inviting group of people that exemplifies responsible union with the earth in their method of sustainable existence. Head honchos Todd and Evie have been creating this peaceful place for about 15 years now and although they admit they are still learning, it seemed to us that they have things pretty well figured out. Their home is actually lit by kerosene lamps and heated by a brilliantly designed masonry stove which is also used as an oven and warms late winter seedlings for early planting outside. They say that even when the MN winter thrashes its 30 below fury, 2 fires a day keep it comfortably warm inside. They cut ice out of the creek during the winter to fill their well-insulated, sawdust-filled "ice house" which serves as their refrigerator throughout the muggy summer. They use horse or oxen instead of tractors. They cultivate enough food for a dozen or so shareholders of their CSA in addition to what they as a family will need to survive. Other structures (some equipped with solar power) provide space for animal homes, summer camp activities including theater and music experiences, a blacksmithing area for their Tillers Intl. connection as well as routine maintenance/ repair of their faming implements, very comfortable guest lodging that was offered to us for our brief stay, and the list goes on.
We got involved in some weeding and planting, as well as a lot of work on the damaged pasture perimeter fence that was damaged by the spring swell of the creek. I was taught how to drive the horses, and used their power to transport hay for mulching purposes, and to turn up part of the garden that needs to be planted soon.
A delightful couple Jake and Liz, along with their sweet little daughter Adele, recently joined the land collective and are in the process of building their home. It was great to hear their perspective as we sat around the fire one night, and the next day I got to make a bit of sawdust helping Jake get the roof on his new home as Molly finished some mulching and planting. They had interned here years ago and after searching for a similar community in a similar setting, they returned here to raise their family and be a part of such a healthy, enduring thing.
This is not a reclusive commune-type effort of people who want to escape, but rather a bold and successful attempt at creating a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable community. And truly an integral part of the larger community, too, we learned that there are regularly neighbors and friends and students who come by to learn, volunteer, and get a glimpse of the homesteading lifestyle, beautifully executed by the people of Dream Acres.
See more pics of our Dream Acres adventure HERE.
