Homestead mailing list

[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

With eight acres, multiple buildings and animals, how many women and
children do you anticipate housing/helping at any one given time?
What is the terrain like in that part of OK?  Is all of the 8 acres
arable/tillable?  You mentioned a creek and potentially a pond...does
the creek flood?  You are in Oklahoma, what kind of disaster
preparations will there be-maybe underground shelters not only for
tornadoes but as a possible safe room from the abusers-maybe underground
tunnels from the cottages for quick access to the safe room?
Who will be teaching the workshops?
Who will provide security?

I believe you will need social workers or other mental health
professionals, but not just anyone,,,,it will take a special breed of
person with an attitude of self reliance.   You know there are camps for
troubled juveniles out in Utah and in other 'wilderness' type places.  I
realize what you are doing is different, but staff-wise, it might be a
good idea to model your staff after theirs..

Ivy Bickl wrote:
 It will have gardens , orchards, a green house, and goats,
> sheep, rabbit, chickens and bees. I will be growing and selling teas,
> apothacary herbs, smokable herbs ,and spices.And holding workshops to
> show about homesteading, organic farming, and alternative eco
> building techniques also to paying students. The animals and gardens
> will also provide our needed food. We are striving to make sure that
> this homestead is self sufficient even to the point of being off grid
> at some point in time. I have also sectioned of part of my property
> to host some cob-strawbale cottages. These cottages will be housing
> abused women and their children as a safe sanctuary to help them with
> their first steps of escaping to a new life as a survivor. The
> gardens and livestock will also provide for them. 

This is very, very ambitious.  I love the idea, but I believe it will be 
difficult to implement.  I look forward to seeing your answers to my 
questions above.


We are currently
> working on bringing together needed board members to enable us to get
> our 501. From that point, we will be eligable for grants and funding
> to cover the costs of going off grid. Our eligablilty is based on us
> being a woman owned, eco farm, that is in a rural depressed area.

And who is we??

> Here is a rough business outline.
>
> Wanderer's End Farm is the parent company with a number of subsidiary
> operations within its control and is responsible for regulatory
> compliance.

Are there other operations currently, or is this just a future plan?
Do you have additional land somewhere?
I am worried about the land..Eight acres just doesn't seem like enough 
for what you want to do.



> The WE Sanctuary is the main subsidiary operation. The WE Sanctuary
> Women's Refuge is an independent, voluntary organisation.There is
> currently a waiting list that is graded by priority of those in need
> to acertain who will recieve our services first. My current residence
> is in a small apartment that I open to those with the most need.

So you do not live on the property now?
Do you personally have homestead experience and if so what, when, and where?
Who has the waiting list?  Local authorities or is this your personal list?
> WE Sanctuary provides the facility where women and children who are
> in domestic violence situations are offered crisis accommodation in a
> safe and secure environment; 24 hour access to staff availability; 
> counselling and education; and referral to other services as
> required, including legal and financial agencies.

That is a lot to offer-requires retaining an attorney, too.
I have a brief law enforcement background so I am also very interested 
in how many security persons you intend to hire.  I assume that these 
persons will not live on the property.


> The third subsidiary operation is the WE Farm and gardens which will
> consist of a garden and orchard. Petting zoo. Animal husbandry, and
> traquil gardens for producing food for the residents and for sale. It
> will also include a rustic campground.
>
> * to provide tranquil gardens and relaxing wandering trails.
>
> * to provide a petting and learning zoo for "Love Thereapy" .

I missed the petting zoo and campground on the first read.  Girl, you 
seriously need more land.

Bev
--
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will
not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius
will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the
world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone
are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve
the problems of the human race"

~ Calvin Coolidge