Welcome to Holden Village

This past summer, I went on a week-and-a-half-long trip to the Cascades Mountains, north of Seattle. My destination was a small, mostly self-sustained village in the mountains called Holden Village. I went with my mother and brother Matt.

The village is owned by the Lutheran Church and is a place of retreat for some, and a home for others. The majority of the food eaten there is either grown by the people who live there, or bought locally, and consists of a healthy, mostly vegetarian diet. Most of the people who live in the village work a 40 hour week, doing things such as cooking meals, building, and directing garbology (the separation of different types of garbage into compost, recyclables, and burnables). Everyone enjoys the work that they do to keep the village running, and it runs very smoothly because of this. The village was converted into this settlement from an abandoned mining town, and is located near the copper mine that first brought settlers there. The Lutheran Church then acquired the land and helped to turn it into the amazing place that it is today.

The village life at Holden revolves around worship and community. All the people living there are encouraged to attend the worship services held every night. These worship services were perhaps my favorite parts of Holden Village. The services covered a large scope of different worship styles and formats, from education about our effect on the planet's ecosystem in our everyday lives to bluegrass concerts to traditional candlelight services.

The community of people living in the village was also very refreshing. Over my time spent there, I did not meet one person who wasn't completely open and friendly with me. My time spent working, eating, hiking, and relaxing with the many friends I made was great and was another part of my experience that will stay with me for a long time. People from all different parts of life, different ages, and different races formed a tightly knit community, held together by a love of each other, God, and the beautiful part of the country where Holden was located. Everything that went on in the village reflected this outlook on life that was shared by every member of the community.

My trip to the village was a renewing and refreshing time. I made many close friends in the time span of one week, spent a good deal of time in nature, and worked around the village. I had a great time hiking, working, playing cards, celebrating the Fourth of July, staying up late talking, and doing many other things. Everything that I did gave me a close sense of connection with the spirituality at Holden. It is truly a special place. I treasure all of my time spent there, and I know that I will return, hopefully to stay for a much longer period.