For those who are satisfied with the world as it is,
places like the Hermitage, obviously, have no reason to exist.
Beyond everything else the Hermitage is about the group.
From the concept of the group flows all that we do and our whole philosophy
of living.
It is the beginning and end of everything we do – our raison d’etre.
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Our remarkable success story would
not have been possible and the resultant practical evidence of ecological
and spiritual synthesis would not now exist, had it not been that we
live and work as a group. Nor would we have enjoyed the extraordinary
personal creativity, for each one of us, that this has encouraged. We
have seemingly evolved very slowly from our early and very small beginnings,
in 1975, to what we have so far achieved together. Many people, of less
resolve, might have been disheartened by such a long journey. Today’s
world likes quick results! But real things don’t happen quickly and
the journey is as important as the destination - and over that time
we have welcomed hundreds of non paying guests, who have all come to
learn with us, been inspired - and added their energy and love to the
purpose of the Hermitage.
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From this single concept of the group flows our whole belief
system.
Putting the principle of wholeness first - our sustainable successes have
all been founded on it.
Our self sufficiency in food production - our kitchen garden, our animals,
the beautiful landscape of mature
trees we have planted, our shops and our farmer’s market food stall - and
above all our educational influence,
have all flowed directly from this.
Over time this has encouraged a huge diversity of wildlife to come and live
with us and contribute to the whole.
As part of our ecology we have a large part of our land devoted
to sustainable forest. This provides all our
timber needs – from building, to fencing - to our famous furniture.
Mainly vegetarian, we grow all our own food - fruit, eggs, cheese, even meat,
with the deepest care and love.
Our terraced vegetable garden thrills to the organic energy of three decades
of manure and birdsong.
It is a real kitchen garden which includes roses and herbs and all things
sweet smelling and climbing.
Each one of the many work departments, which all add to the
overall synthesis, owes everything to some
individual’s enthusiasm - work is love in action. We make our own wine and
beer and dance to celebrate our joy.
We have acquired, over time, a diversity of talents and experience. Individuals
adding to the whole.
To our sustainable forestry production, our hand made furniture, our beautiful
shops, our fine food - our own lives.
These all flow from our ability to creatively live and work together. No-one
says this is easy but it all comes from
putting first things first. Lets face it – the me generation was a disaster
that ended in global warming! Everything
we do grows out of the earth – the soil must always come first - the result
of our sensitivity to spirit. The trees, the
stones - the wind and the rain. Everything is connected and must look connected
to be truly aesthetic and whole.
Likewise our built environment must nestle in hollows, protected by trees
and last forever.
Beautiful things, beautiful food that we make or is made
for us needs to be cared for, valued and loved - a
gift, no less, than a gift from the beloved. The present day obsession with
newness makes us deeply sad. We
love all the things that enhance life and culture and beauty and we see nothing
wrong with cutting down a tree
or buying a lamp or going out to dinner with someone you love – but please
lets treasure everything. Don’t lets
throw it away when we are bored. The planet comes first!
The Hermitage is about being real. Real things. Real food. Real furniture.
Real life. Real communication.
Real People working, playing and laughing together….real love!
To visit the Story Tree and access the many
and varied facets of the Hermitage.
Click on the Hermit’s Lantern .
