Steve: I am impressed, and moved, by your work. Excellent videography, wonderfully accompanied by Caleb Miles. I must correct moviebod on 1 tiny point: the Acid House (love that name) and TA and the land they sit on are still owned, taxes paid regularly, by some of the original hippies. My Jeanne and I met in the latter and honeymooned in the former. Moonrise Hill, a much larger building that housed multiple families of our commune (3 couples including mine were married behind it in the same ceremony), unfortunately stood right by the roadside, and so was utterly obliterated by the authorities the instant we left; no trace remains, not even a nail. Thanks for an emotional time travel.
I so appreciate you taking the time to comment, friend! After visiting these places for nearly 13 years in all light and weather and seasons, I never thought I'd hear from the man himself. I've read your articles from those years, and learned whatever secrets of those times that I could. You see, I've lived my whole life just briefly over the hill from these homes, less than 5 minutes drive, since I was born in 1987. I never even knew that they existed until 2007, just sleeping away in the woods. Discovering these homes was like an unveiling to me, a great adventure, a magical time. Thank you so much for your part in making this history. It helped to make me everything I've become, as an explorer, adventurer, artist. I can't thank you enough!
@@SteveSkafte Steve, your excellent camerawork, direction and narration helped take me back 45 yrs to some of the happiest days of a very happy life. My sincere thanks. For awhile I lived in Phinney’s Cove, across the street from the Bay Of Fundy, in a house called The Red Palace that is now all gray. It stands between 2 of the big navigation markers erected for fishermen. I once asked one how he navigated those killer rocks through fog in a tiny vessel without radar or sonar. He laughed and said he navigated by potato. ‘Ya keep a sack o’ spuds in de bow, and when it’s foggy, ever’ so often you toss one ahead. If ya don’t hear no splash, TURN!” He wasn’t joking. Behind the Red Palace, above it, at the mountain’s peak, we found much evidence of a once-thriving community, so long extinct nobody could tell us what it had been called in its day, nor what had ended it. I was a city boy from the Bronx; my mind exploded. The neighbours were all SO kind to us, so generous with their knowledge and skills.
@@spiderrobinson6807 That's a fantastic story. Love it. You know, the Red Palace sounds like the home I've been calling Phinney's Reach all these years! If you have a moment, please take a look at this album of pictures I've taken there over the past decade, and let me know if I'm right. www.flickr.com/photos/fetusboy/albums/72157622936471086
I've also got albums for The Five-Sided House (www.flickr.com/photos/fetusboy/albums/72157604062602764) and another for Total Anarchy (www.flickr.com/photos/fetusboy/albums/72157622572378059).
@@SteveSkafte That does indeed appear to be what we called The Red Palace. If it’s about 500m from the Bay of Fundy, and stands just to the right of two giant markers that fishermen out there can line up to determine their precise position, that’s the place. I asked one once what he did BETWEEN pairs of markers? I knew he had no radar or sonar: he basically had a dinghy with a phonebooth on the back. He said he navigated by potato. I asked what that meant. “Ye keep a sack o’ spuds in de bow,” he explained, "an’ ever' so often you t’row one off. If you don’t hear no splash, TURN!” He was NOT kidding. Tough b’ys on the Fundy Shore. I saw a neighbour then in his 90s, Lester Bent’s father Don, chainsawing a cord of wood in bedroom slippers! He said he’d TRIED steel-toed boots, but found they dulled too many blades. I’m from the Bronx: I thought I was tough. HA!
This reminds me of where I grew up, on the Evergreen Ecological Land Cooperative (EEC) in Margaretsville; some of the houses, like the Octagon House, are still serviceable, but the ones deeper in the woods may not be. I always heard about the houses in this video, but never saw them. I love reading Spider Robinson and thinking about that North Mountain connection.
I was there! What an adventure. We arrived in a VW bus with no clutch. My boyfriend at the time wouldn't tell me where he was taking me. We parked on the side of the road, and walked into the woods. That alone was magic. Then to encounter Five Sides and TA and Spider Robinson! They were still liveable back then (1976 or 77), and Spider gave us tea and the tour. That was one of my best days. Thanks for sharing!! Never thought I would see them again.
Nice to encounter you again, Meg. I regret to report Jeanne had to leave awhile back, but to her great solace, her teacher Reb Anderson ordained her a Buddhist priest at her memorial service, kindly waiving the usual 5-years-in-silence-in-a-monastery part. (She was already a monk when I met her.) It was Reb who’d given her her the informal name by which she was known in the Soto Zen community: Wired Buddha. Do stay healthy!
@@spiderrobinson6807 So great to hear that you're alive and kicking!! I was sorry to hear about Jeannie, but glad to know that she attained priesthood. I'm sure she could have used that during her life, but after is good, too!
Beautiful work. I have known some other parts of the North Mountain with unusual hippy houses, mostly rotting into the forest now. I wrote a thesis on the "alternative community" of the Annapolis Valley. There would be copies at Acadia, maybe the Wolfville library. Or contact me.
I’ve see a few pics and videos of these building where are they located would love to check them out great video I love seeing this stuff in this beautiful province
@@SteveSkafte I like the music too, but feel like a better balance between your voice and the music could be achieved. I had to interrupt the experience and scroll down to read the content, and that took some of the richness out of it for me..."There is no such thing as human nature." So profound, so true. Still one of your biggest fans!
@@marianwhit Personally, I'm very pleased with the balance of voice and music as it stands. But it may sound different depending on if you are listening on a phone, through headphones, or with speakers. It is difficult to optimize sound of a video for all viewers and viewing situations. I did the editing on my desktop computer with a high quality sound system, and experienced no issues, and have received no complaints up to this point. I always prioritize voice above music. Words are key and king above all else, and this film was edited with that in mind. Thanks for watching just the same!
So many out there! The modern equivalent of the hippie-era communities is the off-grid homesteader. The vast majority of folks who go "back to the land" fail within 5 years, leaving behind structures that linger perhaps another 20-30. I find many on my travels, ranging from RVs to tiny homes and shacks. Often with all their farming implements left behind.
I remember going there as a young teen with my mom. It was a safe and magical place and I think about it often. The world was a different place back then..
Thanks for watching! After exploring the Annapolis Valley area every single day since 2007, I may indeed know it better than anyone alive. Luckily for me, though, I still make new discoveries often!
@@chrisbruce7223 I’ve lived just 5 minutes away all my life, on Clarence Road. I’m glad I took the time to tell the tale of these places before they were lost forever!
I, too, had tea and a tour with @spiderrobinson6807 way back in the day. I was completely star struck, having read his novels. Little did I know I would buy a house and live on the north mountain a couple of decades later.
Steve: I am impressed, and moved, by your work. Excellent videography, wonderfully accompanied by Caleb Miles. I must correct moviebod on 1 tiny point: the Acid House (love that name) and TA and the land they sit on are still owned, taxes paid regularly, by some of the original hippies. My Jeanne and I met in the latter and honeymooned in the former. Moonrise Hill, a much larger building that housed multiple families of our commune (3 couples including mine were married behind it in the same ceremony), unfortunately stood right by the roadside, and so was utterly obliterated by the authorities the instant we left; no trace remains, not even a nail. Thanks for an emotional time travel.
I so appreciate you taking the time to comment, friend! After visiting these places for nearly 13 years in all light and weather and seasons, I never thought I'd hear from the man himself. I've read your articles from those years, and learned whatever secrets of those times that I could. You see, I've lived my whole life just briefly over the hill from these homes, less than 5 minutes drive, since I was born in 1987. I never even knew that they existed until 2007, just sleeping away in the woods. Discovering these homes was like an unveiling to me, a great adventure, a magical time. Thank you so much for your part in making this history. It helped to make me everything I've become, as an explorer, adventurer, artist. I can't thank you enough!
@@SteveSkafte Steve, your excellent camerawork, direction and narration helped take me back 45 yrs to some of the happiest days of a very happy life. My sincere thanks. For awhile I lived in Phinney’s Cove, across the street from the Bay Of Fundy, in a house called The Red Palace that is now all gray. It stands between 2 of the big navigation markers erected for fishermen. I once asked one how he navigated those killer rocks through fog in a tiny vessel without radar or sonar. He laughed and said he navigated by potato. ‘Ya keep a sack o’ spuds in de bow, and when it’s foggy, ever’ so often you toss one ahead. If ya don’t hear no splash, TURN!” He wasn’t joking. Behind the Red Palace, above it, at the mountain’s peak, we found much evidence of a once-thriving community, so long extinct nobody could tell us what it had been called in its day, nor what had ended it. I was a city boy from the Bronx; my mind exploded. The neighbours were all SO kind to us, so generous with their knowledge and skills.
@@spiderrobinson6807 That's a fantastic story. Love it. You know, the Red Palace sounds like the home I've been calling Phinney's Reach all these years! If you have a moment, please take a look at this album of pictures I've taken there over the past decade, and let me know if I'm right. www.flickr.com/photos/fetusboy/albums/72157622936471086
I've also got albums for The Five-Sided House (www.flickr.com/photos/fetusboy/albums/72157604062602764) and another for Total Anarchy (www.flickr.com/photos/fetusboy/albums/72157622572378059).
@@SteveSkafte That does indeed appear to be what we called The Red Palace. If it’s about 500m from the Bay of Fundy, and stands just to the right of two giant markers that fishermen out there can line up to determine their precise position, that’s the place. I asked one once what he did BETWEEN pairs of markers? I knew he had no radar or sonar: he basically had a dinghy with a phonebooth on the back. He said he navigated by potato. I asked what that meant. “Ye keep a sack o’ spuds in de bow,” he explained, "an’ ever' so often you t’row one off. If you don’t hear no splash, TURN!” He was NOT kidding. Tough b’ys on the Fundy Shore. I saw a neighbour then in his 90s, Lester Bent’s father Don, chainsawing a cord of wood in bedroom slippers! He said he’d TRIED steel-toed boots, but found they dulled too many blades. I’m from the Bronx: I thought I was tough. HA!
Great video ❤ and music. Loved 😍 it!! Love hippies.😊
This reminds me of where I grew up, on the Evergreen Ecological Land Cooperative (EEC) in Margaretsville; some of the houses, like the Octagon House, are still serviceable, but the ones deeper in the woods may not be. I always heard about the houses in this video, but never saw them. I love reading Spider Robinson and thinking about that North Mountain connection.
I was there! What an adventure. We arrived in a VW bus with no clutch. My boyfriend at the time wouldn't tell me where he was taking me. We parked on the side of the road, and walked into the woods. That alone was magic. Then to encounter Five Sides and TA and Spider Robinson! They were still liveable back then (1976 or 77), and Spider gave us tea and the tour. That was one of my best days. Thanks for sharing!! Never thought I would see them again.
Nice to encounter you again, Meg. I regret to report Jeanne had to leave awhile back, but to her great solace, her teacher Reb Anderson ordained her a Buddhist priest at her memorial service, kindly waiving the usual 5-years-in-silence-in-a-monastery part. (She was already a monk when I met her.) It was Reb who’d given her her the informal name by which she was known in the Soto Zen community: Wired Buddha. Do stay healthy!
@@spiderrobinson6807 So great to hear that you're alive and kicking!! I was sorry to hear about Jeannie, but glad to know that she attained priesthood. I'm sure she could have used that during her life, but after is good, too!
I just found your channel. I love seeing your nature and cemetery videos and your rales about them. Keep up the good work .
Thanks very much! I don't make a ton of videos, but the ones I do mean a lot to me.
Beautiful work. I have known some other parts of the North Mountain with unusual hippy houses, mostly rotting into the forest now. I wrote a thesis on the "alternative community" of the Annapolis Valley. There would be copies at Acadia, maybe the Wolfville library. Or contact me.
Old Hippie, new to the Valley...I would love to acquire your work!,,,,,
I’ve see a few pics and videos of these building where are they located would love to check them out great video I love seeing this stuff in this beautiful province
Wonderful. Thank you, and great job Caleb Miles for the music.
His work definitely brings a lot to the film!
@@SteveSkafte I like the music too, but feel like a better balance between your voice and the music could be achieved. I had to interrupt the experience and scroll down to read the content, and that took some of the richness out of it for me..."There is no such thing as human nature." So profound, so true. Still one of your biggest fans!
@@marianwhit Personally, I'm very pleased with the balance of voice and music as it stands. But it may sound different depending on if you are listening on a phone, through headphones, or with speakers. It is difficult to optimize sound of a video for all viewers and viewing situations. I did the editing on my desktop computer with a high quality sound system, and experienced no issues, and have received no complaints up to this point. I always prioritize voice above music. Words are key and king above all else, and this film was edited with that in mind. Thanks for watching just the same!
I love Steve's work, very inspiring man
This is fascinating. Reminds me of druid heights in nothern California, a mostly abandoned hippie/artist commune.
So many out there! The modern equivalent of the hippie-era communities is the off-grid homesteader. The vast majority of folks who go "back to the land" fail within 5 years, leaving behind structures that linger perhaps another 20-30. I find many on my travels, ranging from RVs to tiny homes and shacks. Often with all their farming implements left behind.
I remember going there as a young teen with my mom. It was a safe and magical place and I think about it often. The world was a different place back then..
Fantastic music to go with the video👍
Caleb Miles does great work!
Steve Skafte, you know Southwest Nova, so very well. Thanks
Thanks for watching! After exploring the Annapolis Valley area every single day since 2007, I may indeed know it better than anyone alive. Luckily for me, though, I still make new discoveries often!
This is close to where I live. Love it there
@@chrisbruce7223 I’ve lived just 5 minutes away all my life, on Clarence Road. I’m glad I took the time to tell the tale of these places before they were lost forever!
It really is a beautiful thing to see the world in a different way.
Thanks Steve. Really enjoyed that. My sister has a poster size photo of Hippie Jim's castle.
what a master piece
The first Hippie House was probably Crowley's Abbey in Cefalu Italy in the 1920's.
I first visited what remained of it in the 1970's while in Italy.
Please message me as to how to find these, I now live in the Valley and am a good Soul!
Where is this, I see someone from pictou ns was there, not far from me?
Pictou was quite a distance to come. This is in the western Annapolis Valley area.
Wonder where they got that glass sticker or stain of the star of remphan / Star of David ✡️?
Wish I could have seen it
It's still there last I checked. Did you see that someone is now building on the site of your old unfinished place?
Love This! Thank You. RjB (Down Under)
Steve ... when did you film the graffiti on the walls?
This was filmed 4 days before it was posted, on April 10, 2020.
The Hippie Schoolhouse
Is that Crows Hollow Steve
Doesn't ring a bell! The names I used here in the video are the only ones I've heard.
dig it
The diamond church
Wish this was done without the creepy voice
Hahaha
Are you kidding?? The voice is what makes this video. Also very much Steve's style if you follow him. Each to their own I guess.
I, too, had tea and a tour with @spiderrobinson6807 way back in the day. I was completely star struck, having read his novels. Little did I know I would buy a house and live on the north mountain a couple of decades later.