Minnesota couple build eco-domes in Lutsen – Reuters

LUTSEN – Nicole Leand’s Nigerian dwarf goat munched on grass while her four-legged companions watched from behind the fence.

It was the second time he had gone out. (Before the News Tribune left, there would be a third.)

They can climb, Leand explained, before cornering Elwood, hugging him and leading him back behind the door, as he bleated disapprovingly.

Goats are the latest addition to

Clarhet

a North Shore farm featuring four geodesic traveler domes, chickens, fruit and nut trees, and a developing regenerative food forest.

More than a glorified tent, the Klarhet domes (rhymes with “star bet”) feel luxurious and inspiring with a king-size bed facing the clear lake frontage; organic and sustainable bedding; and a chic, clean kitchenette with a single sink, mini-fridge, and microwave.

The large loft rests on the central structure, which houses the bathroom with its rain shower head, a handmade vanity and a sacred stone for a sink.

The Airbnb listing

note that there is no air-conditioning and the tent-like structure can be noisy on windy nights. But, based on Airbnb’s slew of high ratings for all four domes, that doesn’t seem to deter guests. After Sarah Speer’s first stay in Klarhet, the wife from Baxter, Minnesota said she had never seen anything like it before.

“Amazing. I lay in bed, looking at the stars, taking pictures of the sunrise,” she said. Sleeping in the dome is similar to being outside with more temperature control.

“It’s really pretty, it’s also very practical,” added Speer.

Heat and air move more efficiently in a dome compared to a traditionally square build, Leand said.

The sun streaming in the bay windows facing the lake heats the concrete floors, which provide passive solar heat, reducing the amount of energy used. There is also a pellet stove for winter nights, and the domes have side screens for ventilation during scorching summers.

The structures are comprised of two vinyl coverings stretched over a climate-specific reinforced steel frame. The Leands built and designed the entire interior: the concrete floor, the kitchenette, the bathroom and the mezzanine bedroom.

Emma Andringa lives and does an internship in the field. She was introduced to Klarhet by family friends in March.

While in the dome, Andringa found herself stargazing at night, reading, and walking in the woods – a drastic change from her return home. “Hating the Twin Cities life,” Andringa was ready for a change.

Now she feels happy to see the farm evolve and assimilate what she is learning, that is, so far, how to hunt and milk a goat and how to build a chicken coop.

She is also thrilled with the way the Leands communicate and aim to elevate her creativity. “You’re surrounded by this environment that you don’t see when you’re in a city. It really changes your perspective,” she said.

The Leands want to foster this very environment through these structures and on their lands.

When they entered their first dome, they felt a “sense of clarity”, which led to the name of their operation: Klarhet, which means “clarity” in Swedish and Norwegian.

The couple started out in real estate as a side business, which led to flipping and selling duplexes in Minneapolis before getting into the Airbnb game.

At the beginning of 2020, they sold their properties in the cities and invested everything they had in this 25 acre parcel. Soon they were living on-site and off-grid as they developed it, which meant no running water or electricity. They charged their phone with a solar panel, and they walked around while their then-baby was napping, to charge a laptop.

The initial process was intense, they said, and through it they learned patience and “love each other really hard.”

“The most important thing is that I can now fully trust our momentum to the point where I know we can pull through. I kind of feel unstoppable,” she said.

Kirk Leand added that there were no regrets. They have taken that leap, they are learning and “noticing the beauty”.

Afterwards, the Leands develop a self-sustaining regenerative food forest on which Elwood and the other goats will clear the land; chickens will provide eggs and meat; and both will produce compost to fertilize the soil.

They want to practice ecological and personal well-being through food, Nicole Leand said.

Farming this farm to the north is difficult with the rocky terrain, short growing season, and soil. So they built huge flowerbeds: a traditional garden mound constructed from felled trees, woodchips, soil and compost that will allow them to grow on any water retention area, resistant to drought and on a larger surface.

The new farmers also brought in Colin Treiber, who is trained in biodynamic farming. He explained that a biodynamic farmer observes and approaches the work in relation to the earth, its creatures and the cosmos. “The central idea is that farmers and participants work with forces, not just substances,” Treiber said.

“We have a lot of rock and a lot of amazing mineral stuff, but it’s all stuck,” he said. “We want to release the essential minerals and compounds here.”

During a walking tour, the team explained how they had already planted lingonberries, raspberries, walnuts, chestnuts, blueberries, pears, apples, plums and asparagus. They bought 10 kids and Leand shared their designs for a dairy farm.

Elwood kicked a News Tribune reporter’s hand and chewed the string off his sweatshirt. “That’s why my shoelace disappeared. They are very good at it,” she said.

To learn more about Klarhet, visit

liveklarhet.com.