THE MILLENNIUM PROJECT IS FOR SALE
This note is about an awesome place to live in Ireland’s County Cork. The land is called the Millennium Project. The owner and creative artist is Dan Hummel, an American who emigrated to Ireland 30 years ago and now divides his time between his 140 acres of green, green Ireland and the mountains of southwest China.
Based on the idea that less is more, there are no machines on the Project, so Dan uses hand-powered tools. Nor is there electricity, so he buys batteries for a portable radio. There are no toilets, so he digs trenches. And because there is no running water, he captures what he needs from the springs and streams of the valley and uses it to bathe as well as drink. He spends his days creating works of functional art from stones. These works then provide shelter and sources of inspiration.
The house sits on a cliff. To get there one walks through a gate, crosses a stream and then walks another mile across an open lea of heather, thistle, briar and an untold number of wild flowers. Off to the right is the five mile-wide estuary of Bantry Bay. Dan built the house with stones from the garden. On the roof he planted flowers and grass. His garden provides vegetables and a nearby village supplies the rest.
But Dan is 72 and ready to move on. After 30 years there, he’s finally ready to part with the project he’s spent the last three decades developing and enjoying. He wants to sell to someone who will carry on with the spirit of the Project. Anyone interested is welcome to get in touch with him. His email is danghummel@hotmail.com. Even if not interested, tell others.
Here are some photos of the place.
All were taken in May 2012:
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GETTING THERE
From Bantry Bay, drive west along the
southern peninsula.
Go about as far as Kilchrohane (on
the southern side of the peninsula), cross over to the north and start looking
for a sign to “Glenroon”.
Glenroon is below the “P” in “SHEEP’S
HEAD”, just about the middle of this picture.
The turn off leading to the path to
the house
Close up of road sign marking turn off to the path to the house.
Park your car outside this gate, push
open the gate and walk through the meadow.
This is the view from the beginning
of the path.
Find this little gate, walk through
it and up onto the rocky lea that leads to the house.
Follow the “paved” path for about a
mile. Enjoy the heather, gorse and briars.
As you walk, appreciate the fact that
every rock has been put there to mark the way and make walking easier,
especially after a hard rain.
Enjoy the wildflowers that grow in abundance along the way.
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THE HOUSE
The first full view of the house from
the mile long footpath
The house as you enter the property.
Entry into kitchen and sleeping area
View of second room
The kitchen side of the house
Entry to second room used for storage
and sleeping
VARIOUS OTHER SHOTS OF THE KITCHEN AND BEDROOM INSIDE THE HOUSE
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INTRODUCING MILLENIUM PROJECT PROPRIETOR,
ARTIST, STONEMASON, SAGE AND BON VIVANT –
DAN HUMMEL
Dan amid the flowers on his roof.
Days are spent working in the meadow, the garden or the hillsides.
Down in the meadow, Dan uses his hands to pile rocks carried in by storms. He then
carries the rocks up the hill and
scatters them on the long path leading to the house.
A stone mason at heart, Dan chisels
stones to the size he wants before putting them to work for him.
A stone like this would be used to
build a wall.
Briars need to be removed by hand on
days when heavy work clothes are suitable.
Walking through the thick grass one needs to pick up your feet as if walking through snow.
When it’s time for a break, hearty
yet simple meals grace the lunch and dinner table.
A well stocked wine cellar provides
daily inspiration.
Relaxing out of the wind on a thick bed
of grass.
(Note the dining table left of the
house.)
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THE MEADOW
A large meadow lies below the house,
here seen atop the far hill. Dan is walking across the meadow towards one of
two ponds
that are kept full by underground
springs and a stream that cascades down the hillside. A natural stone wall
barrier keeps
the salt water of Bantry Bay from
washing ashore. Even so, during heavy storms waves crash 80 feet into the air
and easily breech
the wall, wreaking havoc on all in
its path.
Dan’s property goes along the coastline
another kilometer or two beyond what can be seen here.
Hidden over the hill are “The Valley
of the Gods” and a host of other natural wonders.
Another shot of the meadow as seen
from the house.
The first little pond at the bottom
of the hill is spring fed. The second is fed by a stream that rolls down the
side of the hill.
This is the steep path down to the meadow.
This is the steep path down to the meadow.
The Meadow as seen from below
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THE GARDEN
At the foot of the path down from the
house is Dan’s garden, surrounded - of course - by a stone wall.
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THE HOT TUB
Dan is a Japanese specialist with a
Masters from the London School of Oriental and African Studies (BA from
Dartmouth).
His years in Japan made him appreciate hot baths.
The one installed here is powered by peat and twigs and is double insulated. It can get to 112˚F (about 44˚C).
The one installed here is powered by peat and twigs and is double insulated. It can get to 112˚F (about 44˚C).
Dan
fills it with water from the nearby stream.
They say the word awesome should be
reserved for the very best. If so, I nominate Dan Hummel’s Millennium
Project.
It’s Grade A “Awesome” because it
epitomizes values such as it’s normal to deviate, it’s okay to take life one
breath at a time and to hope that by so doing we help make a world where all
peoples are at peace and no one goes to bed hungry.
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This blog was prepared in June 2012 by
Jay Henderson
self portrait
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This blog was prepared in June 2012 by
Jay Henderson
self portrait
