Deer Isle Hostel

Oh, how I wish that someone made a movie or wrote a novel about this wonderful summer (Why not me myself? someone might ask, well, I’m busy to the brim already, in case you hadn’t noticed), a story that could capture not only the insane beauty here on Deer Isle, but even more so, all the characters. Our neighbors, supporters, the Yard Sale folks, the post office guy and the ice cream man. One pair of characters that definitely plays a role not only in this summer, but in the hostel creation are Ian and Diane Walker, by far some of our biggest supporters and most generous and devoted contributors. Over and over again have they blown us away with their eagerness and will to help, ranging from everything to use of their truck for seaweed pickup, to editing the Letter of appeal to field trips to MA to an enormous effort to spread the word about what we're doing. How on earth can we ever thank them enough?

   We met Ian way back in March and he and Dennis hit it off immediately with their common interest for traditional building and hand craft. Ian has a blacksmith shop in his basement, so he signed up to custom make the hardware for our hostel, voluntarily, that is. We could never afford to pay anyone for what he’s doing, and yes, even the most fabricated hinges would have eaten a good chunk of our budget away. A famous Ian quote; “I looked at the foundation and the frame and thought; this is a Class A building. It shouldn’t have anything but Class A hardware”. So Ian has been banging away through the spring and summer and while Dennis now moves on to the next step, the 6 bigger windows, Ian has strapped himself to his forge to keep the pace and line the work up with Dennis.

Custom made hardware by Ian Walker

   The crab waste idea might have been bright on the paper, but in reality, plainly put, it stunk our farm out for days. Even though covered with leaves and seaweed the animals got to it and dragged the shells out for a good baking in the sun and a lingering stink all over our farm, our house, the garden and the driveway. What could we do but laugh and hope for a good payback in terms of a big and generous garden harvest next year….

// Anneli