Boistfort Valley

Where my story begins

My name is Ruby L. M. Johnson. I am fifteen years old and I live in Pacific Northwest Washington. I was born in Pe Ell, in the spring of 2005. I was the youngest, and I was raised in the countryside with my three siblings. I never had video games, or internet, or public school, or really anything considered normal for a child in our society. What I had was the forest next to our house, the clean flowing river a walk away, and an imagination. Everyday, I give my thanks to the world for putting in the family I was born into. I give thanks that I ate vegetables that we grew in our garden. I give thanks that I was home schooled and learned about wildlife and plants. I give thanks that instead of looking at a screen for entertainment, I built fairy houses in the woods and went swimming in the river. My childhood wasn’t normal, and I couldn’t be more thankful for it.

We moved out of that house, and bounced around in the adjacent town of Boistfort for a couple of years. It was a valley, with Bawfaw Mountain at its head. Finally in December of 2011, we settle in a house halfway down the valley. It had a willow forest, room for a garden, three bedrooms, pasture space, four huge barns, and many apple and pear trees. The land had fallen into disrepair, but had an overwhelming amount of potential. As soon as I laid my eyes on it, I knew we weren’t leaving anytime soon.

We have been here for a decade, and many things have changed. The once gritty and weed filled garden dirt is now soft and plant supporting soil. The willow forest is a fairy land of walkways, nooks and campsites. The pasture space is green grass being grazed by my three Shetland sheep. Our once empty pantry is now overflowing with canned goods, and winter vegetables. Many structures have been built around the house. A fire ring in the back yard; a tool shed out North with the garden; a pizza oven next to the fire ring; and a new hot tub near it.

I love my house, I love my way of living, and I love my sense of community with my family and neighbors. Something is missing in the lives of children brought up in the city. Never learning how to dig in the dirt, or eat something they didn’t buy in a store. Learning how to swim in a pool, instead of a river. I feel so lucky to have this life. The only way I can truly feel worthy of it is by sharing it with those who don’t understand what it means to make something from nothing. To be given seeds and soil and make a salad. I couldn’t imagine living without grass, and trees, and towering sunflowers. It breaks my heart to think of the people who can’t breath fresh country air.

My goal is to connect those people, to the forests, the fields, and the gardens of my valley. To teach them what the meaning of “handmade” is, and to share what I have with those who are missing it. This is the beginning of something I want to reach as many people as possible, and inspire people to change their perspective on the word “normal”. Because normal isn’t natural, and natural is what the world needs.

~Ruby L. M. Johnson