At the Deer Isle Hostel in Maine, guests sign up for more than a typical escape from reality. The Deer Isle Hostel is located on an island that's just a bridge span away from the mainland, but for guests of the hostel the experience offers a glimpse into a way of life that might seem worlds away from business as usual. Named Homesteaders of the Year by Mother Earth News, owners Dennis and Anneli contend that more than just a good night's sleep, they offer guests the opportunity to enjoy an alternative way of life that "simple, rewarding and dignifying."
Photos by Anneli Carter-Sundqvist for Deer Isle Hostel
Above: Dennis and Anneli live year-round in a 17th century-style farmhouse that Dennis built from the ground up using hand tools and local materials (including the granite used in the traditional stone foundation). The three-story structure is based on the 1687 Boardman House in Saugus, Massachusetts and includes private and dorm-style rooms for guests.
Above: From the inside looking out at the homestead's impressive vegetable garden. Dennis and Anneli raise their own pigs and chickens and can and ferment their garden goods for year-round nourishment.
Above: A cabbage from the hostel garden. Guests staying at the hostel can enjoy a nightly communal meal grown and prepared on site. Guests are expected to participate in the meal, either by bringing a contribution of their own (olive oil, coffee, tea, and wine are welcome additions) or by helping in the prep or cleanup.
Above: The hostel embraces life off the grid and encourages guests to do the same. Water is hand-pumped from a well on the property and solar panels power electric lights, but the hostel goes without refrigeration, instead relying on their granite cellar to keep perishables cool. For guests seeking creature comforts, the hostel provides heated water and a metal watering can that can be hoisted and tipped for showering. Toilets are no-flush but odor-free. All bedding is provided by the hostel.
Above: The newly-built Spruce Hut, available for $60/night single or double occupancy.
Above: Bikes are available for guests to use; opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and hiking also abound on Deer Isle and the surrounding mainland and coastal islands in Penobscot Bay.
The Deer Isle Hostel is open seasonally from May through the beginning of September. Rates are generally $25/person or $30/person for a private room. Call 207.348.2308 or email info@deerislehostel.com for more information.
Interested in heading off-the-grid yourself? See Laura's tips for Growing Vegetables in the Middle of Nowhere. Just looking for a place to spend the night? Earn Your Wilderness Stripes at the Minam River Lodge.