Starting a collective

[daveycrockett]

nevermind

 

[Cosmo]

Might be on the wrong side of the Country for you, but check out Appalachia and the surrounding 'hillcountry.' WV, Ky, Tn, Nc, Etc... have cheap-ish, isolated, arable land, with useable water, and access to 365 camping on state land in some states(as long as you have a 10-15$ permit.) Laid back locals, and the fact that everyone keeps there damn trap's shut is a bonus. Just don't tell anyone i told you.

 

[happyearthhomes]

Well the many roads and byways of America have led me to Missouri. It looks like we are actually going to be settling in to start working on our project. We have been running around southern Missouri for the last few days doing job interviews. And things are seeming very portentous I have already found land for cheap $8500 not as much as i wanted but enough to get started 3 acres with a fresh spring and creek, lots of good size trees for harvesting, and 15 miles from the nearest town. I feel as if the universe is aligning to make my goals come true. I went into a casino with a $100 walked out with $3000 20 minutes later. Went the next day and bought a solar kit and batteries for my off grid home site aka (rv in the woods) along with a down payment for the property to build my version of an earthship. I will have more exact details of location and plans to be posted soon definately will be wanting people to come out and hang. Some of you know me from the Slabs and the work I did out there for East Jesus along side Matt Derrick and other noteworthy individuals. We will be working on the same principals of construction ie reuse recycle renew cohabitation with flora and fauna in a balanced way people will be welcome to hang and stay as long as they make some sort of contribution (work play assist)

 

[happyearthhomes]

So I am a land owner 3.5 acres to start with an additional 35 acres available across the road. A small pond and a flat area are the starting point for this dream of mine to build an off grid haven. Been doing some research on local laws and there are no restrictions on my use of the property except I cant start a junkyard or breed pitbulls. On Friday the 22nd I can take possession of the property. They property lines are being marked on the 20th.

 

[Sc0ut]

man thats awesome

 

[tobepxt]

very awesome

 

[daveycrockett]

whos comin over? and when? w wh

 

[happyearthhomes]

So far no definitive answers on any one coming out. I am going to flag the property lines today. And start doing some logging and fencing these next few days we wont be able to offer shit to any one except food and a fire to any one that wants to hang

 

[necrofeelinya]

looking to settle business at home and head out for some adventures in about a year. will definitely keep an eye on this. awesome thing you're doing, man.

 

[keg]

goog fuckin job.someone doing something!Missouri has the best sunsets and sunrises i have ever seen(and i am from Hawaii).the weather is crazy and unstable but cheap and people mind there own mostly.Iwas there in 2008 a bit and liked it.If you want extra hands let me know.do not need anything from you but place to put tent and water.Inever had a job in my live but pretty much can do anything.Whenever you get settled in and want people there let me know.Nice someone is doing things.But i am kind wondering about you looking for work?what are you plans for the land,etc?

 

[happyearthhomes]

Keg thank you. yes it very picturesque country I am applying to the state to get my electrical license in order to start a electrical company doing backup geni systems and solar panel systems along with any other work i can grab in that area also my wife is the microbiologist at the hospital 20 miles away many and varied ideas fill my mind for my land mostly artsy uses for trash and cohabitation with animals ie goats rabiits and guinie hens

 

[barefootinbabylon]

That is MOST excellent, bruddah; I'd been curious as to how this whole sit. would pan out (I read a previous post a while back). That is BRILLIIAANNT, and I give you big 'ups' for (as others have said) actually DOING something. Ohh, when the fates align, when you believe it, can conceptualize it actually happening, and then it DOES - that is just manifestation, the law of attraction, the law of energy. You were led together...

Do y'all got WATER? Ponds are great and glorious, but ponds dry up, especially in the horrendous heat and drought (I live in MI, and the Great Lakes have dropped 15 FEET [allll of themmmm] in the past 7 years or so - it's horrifying. I'm sure you know this, but get the land... water-well... tested. I don't know how this works; I just know water is good. Lots of it, preferably.

I'm planning on making a bigggg circle around the U.$. once I get fired or quit this job - but it would be more like... up through VT, NH, ME, back down through MA, DC, all the way down coast, St. Auggie, NOLA, Biloxi, Galveston (my BOY's down there), and then north thru PNW. Would like to work (some kind of) harvest. Gooood, gooood shit. the summer is TOO precious, and I am craving farmin' time - there is too much to LEARN under the brilliant sun. But my home garden is doing gloriously (lots of letter, was spinach, zucchini, basil, sqush, broccoli, more lettuce, a few watermelons, pumpkins... I lust for 3-5 acres... my grandmother has 120, down by Coldwater, MI - that is my potential manifestation for the time being, but.. Time Will Tell. Let's see if the Universe doesn't Flip around the aligning of the cosmos (or we stupid humans merely blow ourselves up).

That is marvelous about your investment, and it sounds crazy-interesting about your projects/interests - you have quite a few things I'd like to learn someday. Yeah, I would have somewhere around $3,000 to spend (if that), so... that ain't shit. I'd lease 5 acres from my grandma, import MYYY dirt, and grow the shit outta some... everything. Ammeenn to the Earth. Small farms/collectives will be the ONLY way ANY humans will make it... and even then, it's highly dubious. :\ But that's just one of them propheciez. ANYWAYS! Haha. Peeacccee.

Namaste, Blessed Be,
~ melissA

 

[happyearthhomes]

Again thanks all for the encouraging comments. I have been meaning to keep a regular blog about projects as they come along and get done mainly just chainsaw work the last couple of weeks, cleared an acre or so of trees and bush-hogged the undergrowth where they were got a real nice area of clear land now with a small pond . Its been real hot and i have only comfortably been able to work in the morning 5 till 10 or so when its been hitting 100 degrees. We have been staying at a campground making the most of their amenities (pool shower electric) but are moving completely on to the property tomorrow. My work is being impeded by the drought conditions. I am building the biggest bonfire but cant light it. I have been raking all the leaves and debris into the middle of the field we made, along with a few tons of branches that I have removed. I am removing all the branches off the remaining trees upto head height. I dunno what else to say today thanks n later

 

[Auto]

grats, glad to see someone is making their dreams a reality.

 

[uncivilize]

I am building the biggest bonfire but cant light it. I have been raking all the leaves and debris into the middle of the field we made, along with a few tons of branches that I have removed. I am removing all the branches off the remaining trees upto head height. I dunno what else to say today thanks n later

Have you heard of hugelkultur? Basically, you just bury woody debris, creating a raised garden bed. You can do it above ground, or put the woody material in trenches (which could be dug level on contour, providing better water collection and easier control of overflow/drainage). The woody material holds a tremendous amount of water, many people never have to irrigate those beds. It's true that there is a bit of nitrogen lockup, as the woody material is obviously high carbon, but that isn't too big of an issue if you bury it deep enough with well amended soil and add compost mulch to the beds as needed. The first few years, as the material starts composting, it gives off heat, raising soil temperatures and extending the growing season a bit for those beds. As the material breaks down, and the bed slowly starts to sink, air pockets are created, which help keep the soil aerated and eliminate the need for tilling (which saves you labor, and helps preserve the delicate microbial/fungal ecosystems that occur in healthy soil). On top of all that, as it breaks down, you're building topsoil and trapping carbon. Seems like it might be a good option, especially considering the drought conditions, high temperatures, and all the particulates and carbon dioxide you'd be releasing into the atmosphere by just burning it all (which is contributing to the problems we're all currently facing). Good luck with your project! I'm interested to see how it evolves.

 

[billyriot]

I'm glad to hear things are going well for you! I've been meaning to start something along the same lines, just haven't got much farther than the planning/outlining stage; but this gives me hope to work more on my project. I'd love to come see how you work on your site, but I know it'll be a bit before it fully up and functional. Best of luck to everything out your way!

 

[happyearthhomes]

I appreciate what you are saying uncivilised the original and long term plan was to use goats to clear the land with the harvesting of the wood for cooking and heat fuel. Honestly I hadnt thought of your proposed idea and an excellent one it is the soil conditions here need all the help they can get it is very rocky and the best so. il is under the trees where a natural version of what you explained happen. I am often at odds over the size of my carbon foot print and I do try to minimize it. One of our goals is to leave as little of one as possible in the creation of this place we are building. Along with it being fully self-sufficient and sustainable

 

[happyearthhomes]

We are working on getting everything in order around camp put up a solar shower and built a composting toilet system using peat moss. Also had a major addition to our enclave 5 kitties and a 1978 30ft rv. that is in great shape actually looks alot better than the one i drove here from the slabs. Got it for $300 and a trade of a car dolly also got a 65 gallon water hauler for the bed of my truck. Our nearest town has a water filling station and it is 25 cents for a 100 gallons of water. With the addition of the new rv we are now capable of hosting people if they come out o also bought 20yards of chit gravel and have been laying out the paths and a nice big open area of 50ftx50ft all smooth and gravelled for the kitchen and outdoor living area

 

[Hittheroadjack]

Ya well I am not looking for people to put up their money unless they want to we are capable of doing this financially alone just looking for people that can support their own bad habits(pot cigs booze)
we would collectively eat and work and provide direction for the main support structures of the location

I am definitely interested. Can I pm you?

 

[happyearthhomes]

To any and all please feel free to contact me