Ella Diehl, Staff Writer–

It’s a typical Friday night and Denison students of all years gather around a rustic table. They pass the freshly cooked rice noodles, vegetables sauteed with a house-made sauce, naan bread and tofu for a protein add in. Each person around the table has a uniquely colored bowl or plate. First Year and homestead resident, Mia Marjerison snips the rice noodles with a pair of scissors so fellow homestead resident Maya Sutte ‘27 can easily scoop the noodles into her bowl. 

Each Friday night the Homestead welcomes all students to enjoy a home cooked meal in the main cabin, called Bob. Students travel into a more secluded area of campus to hang out, pile wood, pet the cats and spend time together.

The Homestead, located a mile from the main campus, is the home of five Denison students this year, although they are hoping to open their doors up to many more members. Each resident, regardless of year, receives the Senior meal plan. This grants them the ability to purchase ingredients to cook, as well as visit the other food options on campus. Each homestead resident lives in Atlas, a nicer cabin with bathrooms and showers. A chore chart, written on the whiteboard, complete with the “homestead family” stick figures, outlines the members’ work for the day. Chores involve stacking and cutting wood, cleaning, or feeding and taking care of the beloved four cats, among other things.

For members of the Homestead, the community and slow living that the Homestead provides has been beneficial to their mental health and growth at Denison.

“I grew up in a slow living atmosphere so it feels comforting,” Marjerison said, “I love nature. I get stifled when there are lots of people around.”

Furthermore, Marjerison explains how much she’s learned since moving into the Homestead at the start of the semester.

“The range of autonomy for personal life is a lot larger at the Homestead,” Marjerison said. She explained how she’s learned how to cook and how to build fires since moving to the Homestead at the start of spring semester. Aside from the autonomy provided by the Homestead, the place exists as an important community for its members.

”I love the values [The Homestead] represents, sustainability, self-sufficiency, minimalism, intentionality, natural living and community.” Luke Dunlap ‘27 said.

Despite the students’ love for the Homestead, with only five members this semester and a location far from campus, the Homestead is at risk of no longer being a living option for students. 

“Five is kind of calling it close, in terms of chores and stuff we have to do to keep it running, the lower numbers get, it puts us at risk in terms of what we have to do to keep it running.” Marjerison said.

Because of this, the Homestead is working on recruitment for following semesters. The community dinners and Saturday work days which are open to anyone allow for students to get a feel of the community and history present within this place.

“All of the walls in each cabin are filled with artwork, so people will just doodle on the walls if they want, they will write whatever. As a history major it’s been really nice to see all the actual history since ‘77 when it was built. It feels very powerful and awesome to know that I got to be a part of this community.”

Mid-way through the dinner, Marjerison slaps her hand down on the table, “High Low Buffalo” she says with glee. 

Everyone around the table is prompted to share their high of the day, their low of the day, and their buffalo of the day. When asked what the buffalo means, Elijah Stein ‘24 responds with “It’s just something random about your day, like if you saw a Buffalo that would be random.” 

The group shares their highs, lows and buffaloes ranging from academics to personal wins, complete with random stories about baseball teams, naps and more. The sun sets and the group cleans up the mess and washes dishes, ending the night relaxing on the couches eating blueberries.