NEW HOPE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW ON-LINE

Helen Nearing was an advocate for self-sufficiency and living the simple life.

This video portrait of her life uses documentary footage, extracts featuring Helen herself talking about her life at various stages and reading from her books. The story is also taken up by friends who knew, worked for and cared for her, narrating their own parts.

As a teenager she took the opportunity to travel to Holland where she thrived in its cultural atmosphere. She became acquainted with Scott Nearing and took a job as his secretary. With his head full of ideas and hers full of music they began a life together that started in poverty in a New York slum.

In 1933 they moved to a farm in Vermont and taught themselves how to live off the land. They wrote a book — THE MAPLE SYRUP BOOK. It was an account of their life at the farm and how they divided their time. This and subsequent books brought them a certain amount of fame and followers who wanted to share their way of living.

Later they moved to a new farm in a remote part of Maine. Working the farm and attending to their many visitors did not prevent them touring extensively abroad lecturing and teaching.

Scott Nearing died three weeks after his 100th birthday. He had refused drugs and hospitalization. As his health had gradually deteriorated he at first refused solids and later drank only water. In this way he passed away peacefully. Some years previously they had discussed the process of dying. They had made arrangements for their funeral and cremation. They were strong believers in reincarnation and this gave a purpose to their life together.

After Scott's death, Helen decided to carry on keeping the house open to visitors, but also to live alone, writing her books. When she died as the result of a road-accident her friends were there to prevent her body being kept at a hospital mortuary and brought it back to the house so her wishes could be followed.

This is a very moving and uplifting account of a life led fully yet simply.