Today we’re joined by host Tess Connolly’s parents, Rick and Martha. In 1976, these parents moved their five children, all under the age of ten, to the woods in New Hampshire with no electricity and no running water so they could find freedom, individuality, and live through their own values.

This experience instilled the values of cooperation, hard work, and connectedness and laid the foundation for who Tess is today. During this episode, Rick and Martha share how they prepared for this move, why they are grateful their family had this experience, and what happened that they didn’t expect.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• How and why Rick and Martha made the decision to make this big life change.
• The influence of Parent Effectiveness Training (PET).
• What Rick really wanted to teach the kids.
• How Rick and Martha planned and prepared for their move to New Hampshire.
• What they had with them when they arrived on their new land.
• Why Martha says they “raised eyebrows” when the family first moved.
• What had to be built from scratch and the difficulties encountered along the way.
• Why they instilled cooperation between the kids from a young age.
• The role that this upbringing has had on individuating the children.
• How their decision to homestead influenced the other people in their lives.
• The different “seasons” they experienced living in New Hampshire.
• Rick and Martha’s advice for other parents considering a change like this.
• How they knew this move was the right thing to do.
• The value and benefit Rick feels the kids got out of this experience.
• Why they made the decision to leave their home in New Hampshire
• What Martha and Rick are most grateful for about their experience.

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