The Homestead, Downtown: Dale Pullin’s Newest Brainchild Intended to Be ‘Pathway to Independence’

Posted

Dale Pullin, to no one’s surprise, has a new project. 

Nearly 40 years since he founded the first Thorbeckes Fitness Center and almost a decade after he helped lead the push for the NW Sports Hub, Pullin is hard at work on his latest brainchild. 

On a small, unassuming lot on the north side of downtown Centralia, Pullin is finishing work on raised garden beds, a greenhouse, chicken coop, beehives — and a pair of small apartments. Positioned on Tower Avenue, a sign on the barn-like chicken coop declares the space the Step Up Homesteading Community. 

“It’s something I’m passionate about,” Pullin said. “I can see the vision of where it’s going to go.”

Pullin’s plan is simple. Over the next month or so, as he finishes building out the site, he’ll find candidates who are looking for a “pathway to independence.” He’ll keep rent for the two apartments low, with the only requirement that residents hold a minimum-wage job. Pullin will put a portion of their rent in a savings account, to be released back to them as a down payment whenever they’re ready for the next step in life. 

Once they’re set up with housing, the residents will begin operating the homestead, mentored by Pullin. They’ll grow fruits and vegetables and tend to chickens and beehives. They’ll learn skills like canning and composting. Whatever they grow and care for, homesteaders will use to supplement their diet. And they’ll be able to sell everything else and keep the profit. 

“The people that will be here will hopefully stuff it with everything they need,” Pullin said. “I’m looking forward to seeing where this journey goes with a community of people who are like-minded thinkers. People are looking for clean food, they’re looking for things they know are in good soil. These are things I’m passionate about, so I’m going to learn with them.”

Pullin founded Thorbeckes because he was passionate about weightlifting. His commitment to the homestead is even more personal. Several years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer of the blood, which he’s been battling ever since. At present, the cancer is “stable but smoldering,” he said, adding: “I am going to completely reverse it.” A key part of Pullin’s battle has been taking careful consideration of what he consumes.



“When I got my cancer, I felt there was better foods, clean foods,” he said. “I learned a lot about organic and living the way we used to live. … I really think our environment has been so changed by commercialization. Everything’s so processed anymore, and everything’s so commercialized that people are looking for real.”

In addition to a better diet, learning to tend to the land cultivates a better lifestyle as well, he said. 

“All these life skills that people used to learn back in the day but don’t anymore, they’ll learn that here,” Pullin said. “It’s less stress and a more purposeful life. This will be something they’re growing and being a part of.”

Pullin bought the Tower Avenue property about a year ago, and he said the location was intentional. Situated downtown, it’s walkable and on a bus line. It’s also across the street from the Pioneer West Garden and Pet Center. Pullin envisions hosting a small farmers market at the homestead once crops start coming in. 

Compared to Thorbeckes and the Sports Hub, the Step Up Homestead is a small enterprise, though Pullin envisions obtaining more property to expand if it proves successful. Still, once he starts talking about his plans, it’s clear he’s just as invested in the homestead as any previous project.

“I follow my heart, and my heart’s here now,” he said.