ARKY of the WOODS -Crystal Cottage (CONT.)
Finding three acres in the back mountains of south west Arkansas with a one room cabin and a dirt floor and no running water, she put her dreams into action. I would like to say that everything from here was perfect and she lived happily ever after, but that’s not quite what happened. What did happen was cost and consumption of the coffers, thunder storms and high winds and winter and brutal icy conditions in between rays of sunshine and song birds. So brutal in fact were the conditions that after 8 months broke and beaten she gave up and packed it in and chalked it all up to experience. She took a management job back in the food industry, and tried to forget her failed experience. It was only a matter of about 2 months back in the mainstream, though when she realized that she hadn't failed, and that it was still the right thing, and that it was where she belonged. Even the blown down trees and frost bitten crops were better than selling her soul to the man for a dream that she would never get. So she packed back up again and returned to the one room Cabin with the dirt floor and the leaky roof, and then she took a big deep breath of freedom and rolled up her sleeves and began the tireless work that only seems to make you stronger. Digging and turning, she established food plots with raised beds made with stick walls that she wove herself, from pieces of the forest that she found around her. She turned an old shed into a greenhouse, and set up a solar system for electricity, and bartered her way into a wood stove that would keep the cabin warm, and give a place to cook on. Knocking down her needs to $500 a month, she now has the creature comforts that truly fulfill someone mentally, physically and emotionally. Looking to lower her monthly cost even lower, Arky hopes to be mostly self-sufficient within 5 years. She has come full circle on the idea of what she is doing, and has realized that it’s not a race but a way of life, and that there is a time to work and a time to relax. Her financial situation is rocky, but she always seems to find a way to keep things going. Bringing her entrepreneurial spirit with her to the mountain life, she has started an all organic seed company http://www.crystalcottageseeds.com/ as well as monetized YouTube channel “ Crystal Cottage” that chronicles her journey to self-independence, https://www.youtube.com/user/thecrystalcottage/featured .
Her closest neighbors are 1\2 mile away, but the need of community has become relevant to her for social and economic needs. Fostering relationships with neighbors at the local water spring, which supplies a lot of the locals with their fresh drinking water, has become a place to socialize as well as barter and discuss the community’s needs. Finding a plethora of likeminded folks in her surrounding area is both comforting and encouraging. Knowledge is shared and needs are met as the community helps each other to move forward.
She has this to say about the demands and rewards of her decision.
Physically: It can be a lot of work living this way and doing things the "hard" way, but it's so rewarding that it really doesn't feel like hard work to me. It's a LOT easier than working any job I've ever had as far as I'm concerned! I did pull some muscles in my back out here once, and was down for three days over it. So I learned it's better to pace myself and just keep moving forward. It's not a race! It took a little while for that to sink in. This is a lifelong journey and it doesn't all have to be done today. As long as my basic needs are met and I'm making steady progress on the rest of my goals, then that's all that really matters.
Mentally/Emotionally: I'm pretty stubborn, but I think you really have to want to live this life to make it work, especially alone. You also have to be willing to make some sacrifices and changes in your life. I have a lot of people on Youtube who support me and it's been a huge help to be a part of that community. I get a lot of encouragement from people and it helps to keep me focused and motivated on my goals. I also live in an area where most people in my community are pretty like minded. I don't know anyone else out here who is living off grid yet, but most everyone grows large gardens, raises animals, hunts, etc.
My biggest piece of advice is: Stop dreaming about it and make it happen! Work on becoming as minimalist as possible and simplify your life.
The thing I look forward to the most in the mornings is being able to wake up and just BE. No stress, no worries. Just enjoying my oneness with nature and following the path where my soul leads me.
Thank you Arky for taking the time to talk with us and sharing your inspiring message.
Finding three acres in the back mountains of south west Arkansas with a one room cabin and a dirt floor and no running water, she put her dreams into action. I would like to say that everything from here was perfect and she lived happily ever after, but that’s not quite what happened. What did happen was cost and consumption of the coffers, thunder storms and high winds and winter and brutal icy conditions in between rays of sunshine and song birds. So brutal in fact were the conditions that after 8 months broke and beaten she gave up and packed it in and chalked it all up to experience. She took a management job back in the food industry, and tried to forget her failed experience. It was only a matter of about 2 months back in the mainstream, though when she realized that she hadn't failed, and that it was still the right thing, and that it was where she belonged. Even the blown down trees and frost bitten crops were better than selling her soul to the man for a dream that she would never get. So she packed back up again and returned to the one room Cabin with the dirt floor and the leaky roof, and then she took a big deep breath of freedom and rolled up her sleeves and began the tireless work that only seems to make you stronger. Digging and turning, she established food plots with raised beds made with stick walls that she wove herself, from pieces of the forest that she found around her. She turned an old shed into a greenhouse, and set up a solar system for electricity, and bartered her way into a wood stove that would keep the cabin warm, and give a place to cook on. Knocking down her needs to $500 a month, she now has the creature comforts that truly fulfill someone mentally, physically and emotionally. Looking to lower her monthly cost even lower, Arky hopes to be mostly self-sufficient within 5 years. She has come full circle on the idea of what she is doing, and has realized that it’s not a race but a way of life, and that there is a time to work and a time to relax. Her financial situation is rocky, but she always seems to find a way to keep things going. Bringing her entrepreneurial spirit with her to the mountain life, she has started an all organic seed company http://www.crystalcottageseeds.com/ as well as monetized YouTube channel “ Crystal Cottage” that chronicles her journey to self-independence, https://www.youtube.com/user/thecrystalcottage/featured .
Her closest neighbors are 1\2 mile away, but the need of community has become relevant to her for social and economic needs. Fostering relationships with neighbors at the local water spring, which supplies a lot of the locals with their fresh drinking water, has become a place to socialize as well as barter and discuss the community’s needs. Finding a plethora of likeminded folks in her surrounding area is both comforting and encouraging. Knowledge is shared and needs are met as the community helps each other to move forward.
She has this to say about the demands and rewards of her decision.
Physically: It can be a lot of work living this way and doing things the "hard" way, but it's so rewarding that it really doesn't feel like hard work to me. It's a LOT easier than working any job I've ever had as far as I'm concerned! I did pull some muscles in my back out here once, and was down for three days over it. So I learned it's better to pace myself and just keep moving forward. It's not a race! It took a little while for that to sink in. This is a lifelong journey and it doesn't all have to be done today. As long as my basic needs are met and I'm making steady progress on the rest of my goals, then that's all that really matters.
Mentally/Emotionally: I'm pretty stubborn, but I think you really have to want to live this life to make it work, especially alone. You also have to be willing to make some sacrifices and changes in your life. I have a lot of people on Youtube who support me and it's been a huge help to be a part of that community. I get a lot of encouragement from people and it helps to keep me focused and motivated on my goals. I also live in an area where most people in my community are pretty like minded. I don't know anyone else out here who is living off grid yet, but most everyone grows large gardens, raises animals, hunts, etc.
My biggest piece of advice is: Stop dreaming about it and make it happen! Work on becoming as minimalist as possible and simplify your life.
The thing I look forward to the most in the mornings is being able to wake up and just BE. No stress, no worries. Just enjoying my oneness with nature and following the path where my soul leads me.
Thank you Arky for taking the time to talk with us and sharing your inspiring message.
ARKY OF THE WOOD'S
