Tucked away atop Hinds Ridge, two miles across the Union County line in Grainger County, is Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center, whose mission is to study, teach and demonstrate sustainability and to provide experiential learning of Earth Literacy.

There are 11 home sites now at Narrow Ridge as well as the five eco-constructed lodge/training facilities. They have made an effort to show various types of construction. There are three different types of the straw bale construction–post and beam, load bearing where the bales support the roof; or the third type which is called modified post and beam and is built with 2 x 4s on either side of the windows to offer extra support. The exterior can be stuccoed or sprayed with a polyurethane coating. The beauty of this is, construction methods in the straw bale buildings can be done by a novice builder.

At Narrow Ridge, all learners are teachers and all teachers are learners, as well. They are willing to share their mistakes in whatever they attempt so that others don’t repeat those mistakes. Ninth grade students in both Grainger and Knox Counties come for a training day each year. Other counties are encouraged to participate. There is no charge to host students; nonetheless, donations are always welcome.

There is a great Library at Narrow Ridge open every day for researching alternative construction and Earth Literacy. There are other reading opportunities including some local history.

The Narrow Ridge vision began in 1972 by founder, Mr. Bill Nickle. However, it took many years for his vision to “take off.” In the 1990s, Mr. Nickle met Mr. MacGregor Smith and with his support Mr. Nickle made a fresh start with a new way of thinking called Earth Literacy. During the 1970s and 1980s, Bill Nickle worked at Wesley Woods at Townsend adjoining the Smoky Mountains National Park. A fellow park ranger, named Mike Wilburn, enabled the land holdings to grow from 40 acres to over 500 acres of protected land. Cash donations from philanthropist Valeria Violate and community member investments enabled the building of five eco-constructed lodges and many other enhancements. Narrow Ridge offers many opportunities for students and city folk to reconnect with nature and to hold family and corporate retreats to rekindle the spirit of those attending.

A sample of what Narrow Ridge has to offer is the annual Hogskin History Day, generally held the second Saturday in September from 11 am to 5 pm featuring good food, good music, folk dancing, crafts, local history and much, much more. I have attended the festival several times where I was able to purchase some wool–straight from a sheep. I have now successfully washed it and have begun the carding process. Who knows, I may even learn to spin! The spinner at the festival, Marsha Phipps, has offered to teach me. I also toured some of the facilities and am impressed with the solar panels, particularly because last year I was without electricity for seven days caused by one of the summer storms. I also enjoyed learning about the waterless, composting toilets. The “flush” is one cup of peat moss. Had my family had one when I was growing up, I would have thought I’d died and gone to heaven. A composting toilet can be constructed for about $300 to $400; however, the commercial models sell for about $1,300 to $1,400. With the price of water these days, this is not too bad. While a conservation philosophy is practiced in all things concerning the Earth, rainwater collection systems are in place and rainwater is used for most needs except drinking water. I checked on the information provided in the most recent census about indoor plumbing in homes in Union County and found that about 93 percent of Union County homes do have indoor plumbing. For the other 7 percent, a waterless composting toilet sounds good to me.

One of the highlights of a previous festival was newlyweds Anne and Roy Rotenberry. Anne is 76 and Roy is 80. Married a few days before, they stopped by for a visit with Anne’s niece, Mitzi Von Misener, the Executive Director at Narrow Ridge, while on their honeymoon and on their way to Branson, Missouri. They participated in the folk dancing, then went on stage to sing “As Long As I Live.” They sang beautifully, and everyone loves a love story.

For More information, to make reservations or to participate in Hogskin History Day, or the annual Mushroom walk, call 865-497-2753; e-mail community@narrowridge.org, or visit their website @ www.narrowridge.org.