A modest community orchard was planted with mere saplings on a high clearing at Camp Madron in 1989. One solitary house site happened to be available, looking onto it. The thought was to make a similarly modest porch to enjoy it, with a very simple house attached behind and on top of a porch. Carpenter built, we recall the hand-drawn set was 4 sheets, delivered for just over 100 bucks a foot in the early 90’s. All standard windows, vertically sided in wood, we were channeling Sea Ranch and Bill Turnbull, and the local farm buildings around.

The owners, a couple, saw it as an agent for attracting friends and conviviality, not an asset. It’s been well used by many many through the years, and the orchard, now laden with fruit.

Photography: William Kildow