Safe and warm, all winter long

This past summer, the tiny off-grid cabin I have been renting for the past 4 years that I called my sweet home in the forest of Mt. Shasta was sold. 





Instead of moving into an on-grid dwelling (because of environmental sensitivies, most on-grid housing is not an option for me, as well I was not able to find another off-grid cabin that was affordable to rent) there has been this excited pull to remain in the forest. While exploring some options, a friend suggested I consider living in a canvas tent.  But from prior experience, it gets cooooold in a canvas tent!


I have loads of good blankets. But what is really important to be safe and warm this winter is a dependable wood stove (for cooking and heating) and a hefty stock of firewood. So, this is what I am graciously asking for your help with: A high quality tent stove made for four-season outdoor living (and accessories) and enough firewood to last me through until spring.

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Below is my wood storage, set up next to the tent site. White pine is not the hardiest of woods for this kind of living, so this batch will mostly be used as supplemental wood.



To get through the winter and spring on the mountain will require buying a couple more cords of hardwood, such as lodgepole or oak. The cold, wet weather really begins before Thanksgiving, so the hope is that I can gather the funds together by mid-November. 
             

The beautiful tent I was so delighted to be able to buy is called a "bell tent". The feeling of these tents is just so simple and natural. 


It is 16 feet in diameter and has a stove jack for installing a wood stove. The tent is made of high-quality, 100% breathable cotton canvas and is constructed to allow for snow to slide off of the sides. The photo above is a bell tent, lit up at night. It's not my tent (mine will be on a platform with a floor liner) but I wanted you to be able to see how magical these tents are! 

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As soon as my pup, Little Moon, and I nestle ourselves snugly in our new tent-home, the intention is to begin writing a personal blog sharing with friends and family what it is to live day to day, season to season with very little, surrendering to the richness of inner silence.




The location where I will be setting up my tent will be at an elevation of close to 5,000 ft. on Mt. Shasta, which can get up to 15 feet of snow in a short period of time.  This is my little pick-up truck in the driveway two winters ago.  And this was still a "lighter than usual" winter for snowfall!


 

Just a few words about this passion

For as long as I can remember there has been this passion to give over this entire life in service to something greater than myself. Just how selflessly, how free of contrivance, how undefended and pure, how wildly can this heart love?  And what has been discovered is, the well of the open heart is bottomless... And once this was felt as realer and truer than anything else, this life has become this deeper and deeper devotion to surrendering to love.  The feeling is that the natural world, and the purifying spirit of this mountain is so completely supportive of doing the inner work required to fall into the unconditional heart. This is the ongoing work --
     --To offer up this life to life itself.


    Fill me with the wine of your silence,
    Let it soak my every pore
    For the inner splendor it reveals
    Is a blessing
    Is a blessing    

                                            --Rumi


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Being able to live in a simple, meditative way, with a measure of comfort, and intimate with the beauty and mystery of nature is felt as a bounty of support in surrendering the distracted life. This is an immense gift.


Honestly, I know of no greater gift. Thank you so much for any support you feel moved to offer to make this opportunity possible.  My heart swells as these words flow out to you, as it means so much to me. It is also a great kindness to not be inundated in my home with on-grid frequencies which are a great challenge for my nervous system. I may find living in a tent is the most loving thing, long term.

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The intention at this time is that by reaching out and asking for some assistance, I might be in a position to purchase an all-night burning woodstove, piping and hardware for safety and support, water tank attachment, tarps, smoke detector, fire mats, ash bucket, woodstove fan, and 2 cords of firewood. 

My baby boy and I thank you, knowing we will be cozy and safe all winter long! 




** Thank you all so very much for taking a moment to read my proposal. Feel free to pass this link on to anyone you think might be in a position to assist me in this exciting endeavor.

In the deepest gratitude, your friends, Heather and Lil' Moon.