Compiled by Adam Fornear
It’s amazing how fast the off season goes…where did November go?! This month has been a busy one. Outside of my Nebagamon responsibilities, I have found myself swinging a hammer and doing a bit of chain-sawing on a friend’s hobby farm. The work on “80 Mile Farm” has been a project for the past couple years that I’ve been able to devote a fair amount of free time too. The farm has 120 acres, about 40 acres of it are designated agricultural, and the other 80 are forested with oak and popple trees. Currently there are two main projects that we are working on to bring this neglected farm back to life. We are working on making it a healthier forest by thinning out many of the popple trees so the oaks can get more sunlight to flourish. While we did our fair share of chain sawing, it’s now in the phase of real loggers. The difference though is that the loggers themselves are not 20 feet tall like Paul Bunyan, but the machinery they use is gigantic. Those of you that grew up with Tonka Trucks back in the day would really dig this machinery. Sadly, they won’t let me drive the skidder so I just have to pretend. The second project that’s in full swing down on the farm is rehabbing the farm house that was built there in 1908. We gutted the entire inside of the cabin (that was home to every bat, pigeon and feral cat in Pine County), and have been slowly rebuilding it in our vision. Amazingly, it was a log building and after sandblasting and staining it has really come to life. It’s been an interesting process how this farm house has taken shape. “80 Mile Farm” comes from an old sign found buried in a junk pile on the property… and that’s it. Much like our 9th graders naming a big trip… it’s something simple that happens on their trips and it just feels right to name it after that. Anyhow, we’ve been harvesting materials from old, non-standing buildings on the land an using them inside the house. Not to brag, but the finishing work on the inside is really sharp! 80 Mile is now about fifty percent done, but it is livable, even during a harsh Minnesota winter.
80 Mile, lookin’ spiffy!
There is something satisfying about construction. Taking raw materials, having a vision, and seeing it to the end. When that project is done, you step back and look at the finished product…and just smile. Making the cuts with the saw, hanging tin on the ceiling, and just being exhausted at the end of the day. It’s rewarding. It’s an end of one project and the beginning of something new. You see it down at our craftshop, campers focused hard on the lump of clay on the wheel, bracing wood legs on tables they built. If you watch them closely enough you can see them processing what is before them and seeing those thoughts come to life in the form of whatever they’re working on. It’s quite magical to watch.
Soon I will be joining Adam Kaplan on the East Coast for the second reunion tour of the season. Hopefully you can join us in your respected city and share loads of those great camp memories with us. Till then, send me some news for the next publishing of the Arrowhead and have a great day! Email me (Fornear) at fornear@campnebagamon.com.
Mayhem crushing it on Paul Bunyan Day
IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW that in Chicago, Jack Gordon place in the top 12 for his cross-country conference. Myles Rontal (Detroit) is playing basketball and his team recently made the playoffs. Eli Zelvy (Cincinnati) is swimming for a year-round club team and his school. While, his brother, Aaron “Mayhem” Zelvy is on a diving team. Mayhem is also crushing it in lacrosse. He scored seven goals in his last game.
IN THE WHERE-ARE-THEY-NOW DEPARTMENT: Zach Sullivan (Chippewa Falls, WI/Duluth ’16,’18) is the Program Director for the Duluth Folk School. Sully is responsible for creating and implementing classes with both children and adults in Duluth. Next week he is running a canoe paddle making class. Zayla Asquith-Heinz (Haines, AK/Duluth ’17-‘18) is a Tax Site Supervisor for Community Action Duluth in Duluth, MN.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RECENT ENGAGEMENTS go to Peter Soroko (Los Angeles ’02-’06,’08-‘09) and Kristen Kalkin (Los Angeles).
BAR MITZVAH CONGRATULATIONS go to Rafa Posen (Los Angeles)