Sanna McKim and Alan Gibson
Finn (9) and Pia (6)
Alan and Sanna met in 1991 when they were both homesteading, each with their own set of draft horses. Rather than clogging with Clydesdales alone, they began helping each other and ended up yoked.

Alan has a History degree from Brown and a deep interest in the arts. He is a musician (piano, guitar, and a songwriter) who plays with the band “rural electric”. He is interested in politics and current events and makes his living as a builder. He is a partner with architect Matt O’Malia in G O Logic, LLC, designing and building affordable, high performance homes. He built the family’s current home (using draft horses to haul logs) and for a time, they lived off-grid. When he isn’t building, parenting or gigging, he is likely running, biking, playing soccer, or reading.

Born in Boston, Sanna grew up speaking Danish, later visiting cohousing communities there in the early days. After a degree in American Studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges she earned an MS in Environmental Education through the Audubon Expedition Institute at Lesley College. Travelling for 6 years with 20 other people in an intensive, experiential program, sleeping under the stars every night, and studying the places and people on all sides of the issues sparked her ecovillage dream today. Sanna later joined Maine Business for Social Responsibility for eight years, most recently as Executive Director. Between the environment and the economy, she studied nonprofit management in Cambridge, Mass at the Radcliffe Institute, worked with Maine DEP on ‘rails to trails’ land acquisitions, and peered out over the Charles River from the 26th floor of Boston’s John Hancock building while at the large advertising firm, Hill Holliday.

A past shepherd of 30 Shetland sheep, Sanna is now seeking Scottish Highland cattle and another team of horses. She likes to play soccer, sail, garden and work with fabric. A student of local living economies, “transition towns,” and rural living skills, she is energized by the idea of our Ecovillage as fertile ground for growing these concepts locally.

At nine, Finn is in third grade at the Cornerspring Montessori School in Belfast. He is mesmerized by mechanical things and how they work as well as mazes, puzzles and all things Harry Potter. He plays chess with his grandfather when he isn’t outside playing soccer or hockey, camping, collecting rocks or making things fly through the air.

Pia is in first grade at the Cornerspring Montessori School where she shares her love for fairies, colorful dress, varied artistic media, and games. She enjoys making pancakes (or anything in the kitchen) and is an aspiring gardener, planting vegetables for the whole family each spring. Both children have dreams of a cohousing tree house and (with luck) an ice rink.