All are welcome to visit us in Idlewild, Mi (aka Black Eden). Drop by for a quick visit or stay a while. We are in the northwestern region of the lower peninsula in the Manistee Forest area. Here, you can slow down and reflect.
We have electric-green springs, balmy summers, mesmerizing falls, and stunning yet long & frigid winters. We’re away from big cities but close enough. We’re about 30 minutes from Big Rapids and Cadillac, 1.2 hours from Grand Rapids, and 1.2 hours from Traverse City.
The small plot is a work in progress, and we’re not rushing the process. Our goal is to fix up the place with mostly foraged, free, and low-cost materials. We’re adding a few tiny shelters for the healing sanctuary and guests. We’re also working on the fellowship home, where people can meet for meals and other gatherings. The lot comes with certain freedoms, such as long-term camping.
The rural block contains a few abandoned shelters, occupied homes, and camping lots. Among various faces of blight and God’s nature, we believe it is the perfect home base for Tp.
transportation
A pickup is possible late March – Oct. We do pickups within a 30-mile radius. While you’re here, we can take you around to some places.
A curb-side bus is also available that can get you around the local area for $1.
An AWD or 4×4 will be quite helpful for exploring, especially in the winter.
accommodations
We offer spartan-like accommodations and plan to keep it that way.
Overnight guests can stay in a tent or one of our guest rooms. We cannot accommodate RVs.
We provide dry toilets, water, heat, and access to power stations. Cell phone signals are strong enough here, so you should be able to use your phone or hotspot. There are libraries nearby that offer free Wi-Fi.
There’s an abundance of campgrounds (for tents or RVs), dispersed camping opportunities, cabins for rent, and some indie motels nearby as well.
sustenance
You can join us for meals or do your own thing. We do the best we can concerning the quality of our food, but we don’t obsess over it. We eat minimalist yet nutrient-rich meals and feast occasionally. A meal might be sardines & eggs or a bowl of gelatin porridge (gelatin & milk), topped with clarified butter and raw honey. We lean animal-based (approx 70%), staples being animal fat, raw dairy, eggs, and fish. Occasionally, we eat nose-to-tail pork and ruminant meat from trusted sources.
In the summer and fall, we may eat some fresh fruit, vegetables, and fungi. In other seasons, (except for spring morels) we eat fermented, buried, or dried earth food.
We’ll do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions. Just let us know about this on the form.
Expectations
Guests might assist with certain tasks, though you’ll have plenty of time to yourself if you plan to stay a few days.
We expect people to clean up after themselves and keep the property in good condition. Someone will pop in to check on you occasionally.
We expect guests to join us for any gatherings. If you don’t want to speak to anyone and want to isolate yourself the whole time, this is not the place for you.
We don’t expect payment. You can give back by helping out in various ways. And if you feel led to give a financial gift, put it in the onsite donation box. This fund is used for ministry purposes.
We don’t expect guests to stay longer than a week. If you’re dealing with a housing emergency, let us know.
IMPORTANT!
Before you book a visit, read some of our writings, especially our collective worship zine, and check out our Beliefs page so that you can get an idea of how we live and other important things you should know. We expect visitors to be respectful of our way of life and beliefs.
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