October 1978 Journal Entries

In 1978, a group of idealistic and enthusiastic SUNY Plattsburgh students had just acquired the former farmland that was to become the New Land Trust, with a vision of creating a community of ecologically minded co-conspirators in cooperative living. The Barn was in rough shape, but it was their first permanent abode, after several had spent the summer in a tipi and other shelters. Here are some anonymous entries from the "Barn Book" journal, dated October 1978, written as winter started to approach:

"Autumn brings a whirlwind of activity, both physically and mentally, as we proceed with our last minute needs before the season of silence and rest."

"An infinitely beautiful world surrounds us! That is my thought after walking around the New Land today. I feel thankful very often for the long and not so hard summer and for what we have accomplished both in the physical sense and our growth toward spiritual one mindedness as we work "it" out, learning to accept each other, learning the vitality of each one of us and our importance to each other."

"The season of the old man cometh, the season of wisdom and healing

• need insulation

• west wall window (thermal?)

• tar paper outside

• doors

• haul out more wood

• patch roads

• storm windows

• rugs

• furniture"

From the front page of the first Barn Book journal of the New Land Trust