Feature
An ‘EcoNest’ They Call Home By Caroline Tremblay Photography by Kelly Fletcher
“O
ur desire was that we wanted our home to be an extension of ourselves. We believe that a home is like a living organism,” says Jen Hudziec. Her house in New Hampshire — which she describes as rustic, holistic and cottagey — has the same kind of welcoming vibe she exudes in her work. Hudziec — who specializes in ritual, ancestral healing, spirit work and more — pictured what is now her home as a sanctuary, even before she and her husband began building it. “We were deeply inspired by the ‘EcoNest’ design,” Hudziec describes. EcoNest is an approach that employs natural building techniques, such as timber framing, light straw clay, and earthen floors. The idea is to create a “living” home. Hudziec’s is located on a forested piece of property in Stoddard, New Hampshire, spotted in the newspaper by her father back in 2005. At the time, Hudziec and her husband, who were not eligible for a loan, put $10,000 cash down on the land and convinced the owner to finance the rest. “Somehow, he found some trust for us and took a chance,” Hudziec says. The two-acre lot became the anchor for a big dream, but it would take several more years to get there. As soon as they purchased the property, Hudziec, her husband, and child moved in with her mother-in-law, who graciously provided them a haven while they gathered every possible penny.
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