From Hardwoods to Boreal

Little Knife Sanctuary consists of twenty acres situated one mile inland from Lake Superior and twelve miles northeast of Duluth, Minnesota along Highway 61.

It is in a transition zone between the southern hardwood forests and the boreal evergreen woods of the north. The Little Knife River cuts the property in two sections. The western side of the river is where the artist residency is located. The eastern side of the river is the future site of permaculture community farming.

West Riverside /Blau Haus/ Blue House & Residency Circle

Frank Sander has been collecting Vintage Trailers and is restoring five trailers to provide resident housing. The trailers will be placed in a circle connected with a deck. Influenced by pioneer times when wagons where parked in a circle, this configuration provides security and a community space. On the deck there will be an outside kitchen and picnic tables. Residency sessions will house up to six people at a time. In close proximity is a log sauna and writers studio.

Frank Sander, founder, designed and built The Blau Haus/Blue House with his own hands.

The Blue House is the main structure and will be used for gatherings, workshops, film nights, and artist residencies. The emphasis is on environment, nature, simplified living, permaculture, herbal studies, small house building, and creative pursuits of music, filmmaking, and writing.

A special emphasis will be on energy conservation, including active and passive solar techniques, water management, compost toilets, and recycling.

The mission of The little Knife Sanctuary is to engage a community of people whose knowledge and skills will promote creativity and respect of nature and natural living.

East Riverside/ Permaculture Community Farming

The eastern side of the river is the future site of permaculture community farming. This will include hugel beds, fruit forests, compost toilets, camping sites, common shelter, and nature trails.

The garden area will be a cleared island in the middle of the forest.

This is a way to establish a healthy relation between wilderness and permaculture farming. To make this happen, people be invited to share the experience of creating the community permaculture farming site.

We will create together, and will harvest together.