permaculture

[Jerome Rigot <rigot.3@osu.edu>]

Just passing along an interesting offer. Please, do not reply to me. Jerome

> From: Neal Van Milligen <CAVM@AOL.COM>
> Subject: [SANET-MG] I may have land to share
> To: SANET-MG@LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU
>
> I may have an opportunity to share 300 acres of woods and pasture if 
> some large family or a group is interested in working out a joint 
> venture relationship.  If you want to move to the country or move to 
> another site this could be for you.  I have convinced the land owner 
> that he could be providing a life changing opportunity for the right 
> people and he is going for it.
>
> The owner would like to see the land be productive and provide an 
> income for him.  He would help the occupants with whatever business 
> venture they persuaded him to take on, mostly with lending a hand 
> and offering professional advice.  This is not a solicitation for 
> tenant farmers or share croppers. It is for a joint venture.
>
> He is considering making this a project for either hard working 
> homesteader types or for immigrants.  He is interested in dependable 
> people with a good work ethic who will put the land to productive 
> use.  This is an opportunity for someones who have a plan for rural 
> life and want the site to put it into action regardless of your 
> color, religion, ethnic background or native language (legal status 
> is required of immigrants).  NGO's, non-profits, cooperatives and 
> other arrangements are welcome.
>
> A good idea might be a group of similar minded individuals or 
> families forming a cooperative of some kind to put various projects 
> on the land.  I can imagine meat and dairy goats, rabbits, perhaps 
> cattle, vermiculture, truck gardens (CSAs?), mushrooms, fish and 
> greenhouses, free range poultry and hogs, a sawmill and much 
> more.  Due to the relatively small size of the various parcels of 
> tillable land (1-10 acres here and there) I do not see row crops here.
>
> The land is in northern Alabama USA, 30 miles south of 
> Huntsville.  It has several year round creeks and springs.  Some of 
> it has old fencing but would need shoring up for goats.  There are 
> several barns in varied states of repair.  Two 20,000 sq. ft poultry 
> buildings are in very good shape.  Two more are in poor repair but 
> usable for storage, etc.  There is a 4 bedroom 2 bath home on the 
> land that could become part of the arrangement.  There are several 
> mobile home sites with power.
>
> What I would like to see is someone or groups of someones putting 
> together an offer that includes plans for the property with the 
> arrangement going to the best plan.  If I didn't have 200 acres of 
> my own I would be making an offer on this opportunity.  When I first 
> came to rural life I couldn't even afford to rent a decent piece of 
> land.  Eventually I bought 10 acres of shrubs on a land 
> contract.  This offer would have been as if from heaven to me 
> then.  How about to you now?
>
> Some of you know that my company consults on greenhouses, Organic 
> farming, composting, free range poultry, alternative energy, rural 
> economic development and self-sufficiency.  We would be willing to 
> be involve with you if you would like.
>
> A sound business arrangement would have to be worked out in the 
> event that several folks would utilize the land in cooperation with 
> each other. What happens when new ones want to become involved or 
> when existing ones want to leave?  Who decides what is to be done 
> and how the profits are to be used?  These things must be worked out 
> in detail ahead of time.  It would be better if your plan suggested 
> options.  If you are one family and intend to make an offer on the 
> whole parcel it should include provisions for keeping the operation 
> going for the long term.
>
> It might be better to discuss this away from the group unless 
> tossing around ideas and plans seems like a good idea to the 
> moderator.  This is the kind of brain storming that could lead 
> others to seek opportunities similar to this at other sites but I am 
> OK with either this being part of the group or separate. If you want 
> to share this offer with other groups, please feel free to do so.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Neal Van Milligen
> Kentucky Enrichment Inc.
> <http://www.kentuckyenrichment.com>www.kentuckyenrichment.com
> www.naturalproteintech.com
> <mailto:cavm@aol.com>cavm@aol.com