Homestead mailing list

["Lisa K.V. Perry" <lisakvperry AT gmail.com>]

On 6/21/07, VAN DELL JORDAN <vdjor AT yahoo.com> wrote:
> Instead of commune type organization, perhaps a
> community.  I'm thinking of a number of properties
> close or even adjacent.  If your next door neighbor
> was interested in sharing chores / trading work that
> might homestead life much better.  If the neighbor
> turned out to be a dud, it would be no different than
> any other neighbor who is a dud.


This is what most of the IC's are in Floyd County. They may or may not have
a common house where they share a couple meals a week, but they co-garden
and share maintenance on the property both in effort and with expenses. They
own one tractor, bush hog or dozer among the whole community.

The IC we are the most interested in is on 100+ private acres with a huge
pond and frontage on a river, they co-garden and live independently (you
take over an existing cabin or house if one is available or build your own,
or bring a yurt), and share 2 meals per week (not mandatory). They are also
just 4 mi. from town on a state maintained but not very busy road. This
sounds good to us. Since we've lived here for 8 years, we know everyone that
lives there and have been to potluck parties they've had in the past on the
Solstices. We don't mind pitching in with gardening or yard maintenance, we
actually like to work outside, we just don't think we're cut out to take
care of 36 acres, lots of fruit trees, blueberries and our own big garden by
ourselves. My husband wants to gig on weekends.

My husband says the drawback is the lack of complete privacy. I tell him he
could throw on a towel around his mid-section if he needs to get clean
laundry off the line in summer. Then remind him that he wouldn't have to
prune fruit trees anymore, ha!

We're also interested in moving to a place where every one has a separate
house on a small plot of land and a large commons area, with walking trails
and a co-garden shared among all. Lots of these communities being built here
and there.

Gene, maybe a "homesteaders subdivision" might be a
> project for a reformed real estate professional.  One
> who does not have the "max out" mentality of
> developers.


The wave of the future?