In
1978, I enrolled in the Spring semester of Western Michigan
Universities,
Homesteading Practice course. I had just completed my second year at
W.M.U.,
and had an undeclared coordinate major in Geography/Environmental
Studies.
However, more importantly, I was a social malcontent from the tail end
of the era of "drop acid and drop out". My father had died the previous
year from the effects of a misdiagnosed case of salmonella food
poisoning.
I had been exposed to just enough of the Environmental Studies program
to realize that life on Earth was a bit tenuous, given our human
cultures
predisposition to destroying things. I was ready, I thought, to drop
out
for good, and learn the skills needed to survive in what was surely
going
to become a survivalists future.
Well guess what? I am living a comfortable middle
class
lifestyle now, destroying 
along
with every one else, the Earth upon which we reside. Dropping out was
harder
than I thought! In order to have land, you have to have money. In order
to have money, you have to work, unless of course you are rich, or have
a tendency towards illegal activities. I toyed around with the
intentional
community idea, tried living on other peoples farms, and even raised a
market garden or two.
The highlights of my experience at the MLT
Homesteading
Farm, or "the homestead" as we referred to it, included not only
learning
to grow vegetables, and husband animals, but also brewing and drinking
beer and wine, making cheese, butter, and I even learned to "cook" a
little.(Thanks
to Patty) Then there was also the infinite pile of junk scattered
around
the place. Stu put me to work sorting the salvageable from the trash. I
also experienced a couple of weeks of severe stomach cramps and
diarrhea,
which were presumed to be caused by either drinking raw milk, or from
the
train which we suspected carried radioactive waste from Palisades
nuclear
power plant. However, maybe it was my cooking! Any way I liked it at
the
homestead so much, I returned for the Fall semester for another couple
of credit hours. I commuted from the farm to Kalamazoo to take my other
classes. Fall was an interesting semester on the homestead; harvesting
the fruits of our earlier labors, cutting firewood, and painting the
house.
The butchering of animals also had an affect on me. I was always a
confirmed
carnivore, and had resisted the temptation to conform to the spring
class’s
tendency towards vegetarianism. However, I must 
admit
that I ate less and less meat after I shot that pig. Vegetarianism was
to eventually win me over, however, it was a long drawn out battle, and
I currently eat poultry and fish. I also took an independent studies
course
under Maynard and Stu. My paper was called "Student of the Earth", and
was basically a comparison of Native American world views and that of
the
Judeo/Christian tradition, and the effects the later has had upon the
Earth
ecosystems.
After graduating from W.M.U., and working one season
as
a Park Ranger at a state park near where I grew up, which I had been
kicked
out of during high school for excessive partying, I returned to the
homestead
once again. This time just to live, not for college credit. I lived
with
Jon, for the winter, prior to the class of 1980 That winter was
interesting.
Also sharing the homestead, were George and Bob. George and I jugged
cider
for Sunshower, and tipped a jug or two of our own after work! Bob was a
bit of an antagonist, however, I sure hope he is well and doesn’t hold
a grudge! I spent the following spring, summer and fall living with
John,
Linda, and Kumari, across the road, milking cows, working for Sunshower
Orchard and picking blueberries. I also worked at a cherry processing
plant,
and finally as the assistant tax assessor for South Haven Township,
before
packing it in and moving back to Kalamazoo. 
Sue and I currently live in the woods of central
Alabama. I still cut and burn our own firewood, raise a small
garden, and tend to our dogs. I am working for the V.A. Medical
Center, Southern Blind Rehabilitation Center, as a low vision
therapist. Sue is a computer access specialist, also with the
V.A.. We can be reached at: jtmartin15@direcway.com
Back to Homesteading, a Compilation home page.