My Favorite Tree House-living Hippie

Shawnee can be described as a modern hippie. She has been living in her tree house paradise located in North Miami. Although she owns a house on the same land where the tree house is located, she chooses to rent it out to college students attending the FIU Biscayne campus instead. “I don’t like to feel confined by concrete walls, I just love my openness and being this close to nature.”  She also manages her own business, Shawnee’s Green Thumb Popcorn, a healthy snack she’s been making for years.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. Shawny sits in her bedroom, close to her favorite tree. "When it rains, I love that I can just extend my arm and feel the water drops on my fingertips."

November 29, 2011. North Miami, Fl. The living room in Shawnee's tree house is decorated with photos of her loved ones.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. You rarely ever see Shawnee with shoes on, or without a daisy in her hair.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. Shawnee's tree house was built by her older brother, Ray in 2008. He owns a 3-story tree house in North Miami as well.

November 29, 2011. North Miami, Fl. Shawnee sits in the terrace by her tree house, which is technology friendly and offers Wifi.

November 29, 2011. North Miami, Fl. One of Shawnee's many fascinations are bees, she describes how they play such an integral part in our ecosystem, but are slowly dying off. About 6 months ago, she decided to get a beehive in her backyard.

November 29, 2011. North Miami, Fl. Ray, Shawnee's brother, prepares a smoke pump that causes the bees to unprotect their hive during the honey removal.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. While lying on her bed on the second floor of the tree house, Shawnee reads one of her favorite novels, Siddartha.

November 29, 2011. North Miami, Fl. Shawnee dedicated her tree house to her late son, Josh that died of a heart attack at 30.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. She makes a batch of her famous organic popcorn in her kitchen.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. Spirulina is considered to be on the top of the list for superfoods, and is one of the main ingredients used for Shawnee's Green Thumb Popcorn.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. Shawnee plays with her pet dog that she's had for over 10 years.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. During warm days Shawnee and her family enjoy bathing and playing in her pond.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. Wren, Shawne's daughter eats her favorite snack with her children, Shawnee's Greenthumb Popcorn.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. Shawnee reaches in her jewelry box for a necklace made in Guatemala. She is an admirer of central American jewelry.

November 29, 2011. North Miami, Fl. This bookshelf holds images of Shawnee (left), one of her favorite artists, Alanis Morisette, and her role model, Malcolm X.

 

Shawnee feeds her pet raccoon.

December 9, 2011. North Miami, Fl. Shawnee and her granddaughter climb the tree by her house. 'Kids barely play outside and get dirty anymore. I think it's so important for them to play and use their imagination, most children just stick to video games and watch television for fun."