Until recently Liam and Valentina Wilson lived a quiet life in their small country home. They are ardent pacifists and their beliefs include existing in peace with all living things and with nature. For the Wilsons, this means not consuming fossil fuels or electricity, growing most of their own food and maintaining a vegan diet. A recent fire destroyed the home they rented 6 miles outside Berea. Their future is uncertain, but for now they live in what remains of their home as they prepare for it’s demolition at the end of November.
The Wilsons are avid readers. Liam reads in his native English and Valentina reads in her native Russian or Italian. Some of their favorite authors are Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi, who have influenced their pacifist beliefs.
Valentina washes a pot in the stream running through their land. Because they have no running water in their house, they rely on the stream to wash and on rain and spring water to drink.
Valentina kneads a ball of dough to make bread. The Wilson's sole source of income is the sale of the bread they make which Liam estimates brings in about $4,000-$5,000 a year. They have never needed more than that, Liam says.
Valentina kneads a ball of dough as Liam plays the piano. 'For me it's a very direct way of living,' Liam says. 'We try to be as intimately connected to every aspect of our life as possible.'
Liam and Valentina survey the damage from the fire with firefighters from the Berea Fire Department. Initial findings suggest it was an electrical fire originating in their basement. The Wilsons leave the electricity turned on to charge their one electronic item, a cell phone.
Liam holds Valentina as they wait for the Berea Fire Department to clear their house. The Wilsons were at the Berea Farmers Market when the fire started, which is one of the few times a week they leave their property. If they hadn't been away, Liam thinks he could have lessened the damage.
Liam hands the body of Spicy to Valentina. Members of the Berea Fire Department found Spicy at the bottom of the basement stairs but were unable to revive him.
Valentina takes a break from sorting through the debris outside her house. The Wilson's house will be demolished at the end of November. 'Now we rebuild,' Valentina says.
