 In 1998, year 9 in a job I was burning out on, I started to think about how I really wanted to live and work. In my mind, I saw a mountain with water, buildings powered by the sun, a central meeting space for people to gather, gardens, stone walls, a flow of people coming together for healing and peace, living close to the land, being caretakers of this pocket of space here on earth. The vision kept unfolding and I began to really listen. I invited different people to join me in the venture. No one committed. Person after person faded. It became apparent it was for me to do and the rest would unfold. I was ready to answer the calling.
I took business courses, developed a brochure and a business card. A friend showed up and built the first website for free. I got my Maine Guides and Ski Patrol license so I could take people into the wilderness and have winter work that utilized my current base of knowledge in sports medicine and emergency care as well as my love for skiing. I devoured a variety of texts, I started meditating, studying plants and birds, all resulting in an expansion of my understanding and knowledge of life. While leading my first holistic canoe trip for women, I got to witness transformation first hand. That experience guided me to the core of what was being created, a space of healing. I offered everything I knew at the time. Nature and heart did the rest.
I led retreats for 7 years without a base, with the container simply being a canoe, the shore, the island, the camp fire circle, the sunset, under the full moon, in the rain and the sun. It was time for a base now. I sold my house to buy the land. It was the land I envisioned 7 years previous, a mountain with water and stone walls, spectacular views, and a space for building. Nurture Through Nature was truly taking its form and ready to be built.
A barn raising happened. Carpenter angel shows up named Bob Dunning. He teaches volunteers the art of orchestrating a barn raising. Ten hands-on weekends later, the retreat space was closed in, made with wood from the land and volunteer hands and hearts. Even the logger, who had cleared space for building and the solar panels, asked the birds to move from the trees before felling them. I spent a lot of that fall (2003) in tears of gratitude. I knew and I think everyone else knew that what we were working on was bigger than our little selves. It would evolve with time. NTN grew as requests showed up at the door. The vision was manifesting. My passion was exploding and apparently it was contagious as retreaters kept returning and support kept showing up. Donations, hands, hearts kept everything afloat. NTN was still not generating enough income to support a living wage. So, I worked part time jobs along way, gradually releasing old identities and hats, former skills, and made progressive leaps to leave the past life behind. I mentally gave it 7 years for NTN to be a viable business.
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On year 7, “the fleet was complete” with 7 canoes and enough gear to take out 14 travelers into the wilderness. It felt like full circle. A frequent retreater lent me money to buy the first cabin, Harmony. A grant then paid for ½ of the materials for the second cabin, Robin’s Nest. A carpentry workshop helped a bunch with it's construction. Each group that came here to retreat purchased, unbeknownst to them, beds, mattresses, a door, chairs, a woodstove, on and on, all for comforts, shelter, and service. It had all come together, now in the most beautiful, green, natural setting I had thought it could be. Without all of the love and support of so many people NTN would not have been born.
We can currently accommodate 12 guests in beds. There are beautiful trails, healing spaces, a full kitchen. Still to come is a wood-fired sauna and gardens, a tree house or two. Creation creating. Evolving with sustained interest, zest, and adventure on the path.
A heartfelt thank you to all the amazing friends, and community for the immeasurable support and love you have shown over the years. A special thank you to Lisa Baldwin who was there from day one. NTN would not be where and what it is today without her and each of you.
Warmly, Jen Deraspe September 2009 |
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