Most people are struggling individually just to survive. But what if you could leave the rat race behind? Suppose you could join with others, share resources, and live more easily than is possible on your own? This is the idea behind intentional communities.
Over the past year, I have researched ecovillages. I visited 3 in France with hopes of joining and living with like-minded people in a sustainable, cooperative community. What I've found is either they are prohibitively expensive to join or they have some dietary, behavioral, or religious mandates, or they are disorganized and struggling to get off the ground. My seach continues, however, as my soul yearns for such community.
It occurred to me that nowhere have I found more like-minded folks than right here on the G-spot. So, I'm setting my quest before you in hopes that someone here might also share my dream. If you're interested, send me a PM and we can email or Skype and share ideas.
I'm currently looking at land in South America, but I would consider returning to the States under the right circumstances. I own Michael Reynold's book on building "Earthships." These are insulated, sustainable dwellings built from recycled tires. One wall is a greenhouse, so food can be grown year round. They can be customized for any climate. It's just one option and you may have ideas of your own.
If this concept is new to you, you can find out more here:
http://gen.ecovillage.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=226
http://directory.ic.org/iclist/geo.php
http://www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk/index.php?one=dat&two=dat
Essentially, this project requires inexpensive land (without zoning restrictions) and people committed to living in harmony with each other and the planet. Any seekers?
I have just suggested something similar on a response to the AC wars against the reptilians, prior to reading this. I agree with what you are saying, and it deserves honest discussions. We need to begin with honest solutions that are not always fear based.
Yes!!! Sounds like a wonderful idea to me! I would love to live amongst others who are aware!! Where in South America are you thinking of? My dear close friend and I are considering Brazil...not sure yet though. Thank you for bringing this idea up and thank you for the links about it. I'm very interested! Much Love, Peace & Happiness, Linney
I have heard similar - Noa - and Paraguay seems a good middle ground, and it has been recommended by people such as Simon Black - the Sovereign Man guy. Plus - as I am sure you already know - the Bushes are already there to the tune of some 90,000 acres (I have heard that figure at 900,000 as well - not sure). So there must be some reason for that (safety no doubt) - so you will at least be in the company of one Elitest family who thinks its a good place to be!
Simon commented on Paraguay - and said what you mentioned - cheap land, good soil and the government leaves you to your own fate pretty much. Could be an excellent place with the right people and a little planning. Kind of like the Pioneer days here in the US - so look for people willing to be hardy enough to act like pioneers! Cob houses could be made very cheaply and they are supposed to be excellent for living in such an environment (thick walls means a cool interior).
Go for it!
America is where we are needed. This is where it all began with 9/11, and this is the battleground of the future. This is where the energy must come from, and is coming from. There are a lot of intelligent people within Gathering Spot, and we are all here for a reason at this time, learning and contributing, sharing. Is this not what is needed within any community? Have we not actually started one already just by thinking about it? Think about it!
I suspect there is a more sinister plan at work here. I believe Bush bought 600,000 acres, if I remember correctly. Paraguay has a huge aquifer. He who controls the water, controls the country and its people.
The other downside to PY, (and it initially crossed the country off my list), is that a large portion of land is being used for GMO crops - mostly soybeans which are sold as pig and cattle feed to Europe. That farmland is in the vast Chaco (western) region. There is still plenty of good land in the east, however, and it's cooler in the hills. And a huge plus.... no chemtrails!
Sadly, wealthy Brazilians are also snatching up large tracts of land for farming and forcing the indigenous people out. Seems to be a common scenario everywhere these days.
Yes, Starr, I agree. In my travels, I find that nothing replaces the wealth of ideas and resources found in America. For better or worse, it is a land of extremes. While it can be observed that so many slumber within the memory that was once the American dream, the opposite is also true. Nowhere else are people more enlightened and willing to change the system.
As I said, I'd consider coming back to the US, although the timing could hardly be worse. Not much opportunity for much of anything right now and the future of the country is terribly uncertain.
But if I find a group of similarly-minded, emotionally-supportive folks working towards a goal I also share, I might just jump back into the fire.
East Wind in Missouri is one of the oldest communes in America:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0508/feature7
I have a great many friends who live off grid (I now see them rarely as I no longer live in Maine) and sustainably--- going to town is like going to Sunday Meeting: done once a week.
The community that is there is very stoic and New Englander--- a curt nod and an Ayah is most of what you will get out of the folks until they get to know you. In Northern New England-- living in the woods requires a certain set of skill sets-- I would recommend you take a Northern Climate survival course and learn about the back to land movement--- This is for the loner type that likes to see people on at Sunday Meeting or on the Monthly Supply day.
Around Farmington, Maine is a place where there are a lot of Progressive Earthers living in the woods. Land is fairly priced-- but not cheap unless you want to live up in the County near Cananda.
There is an organized and Patrician Ecovillage in Belfast, Maine as well Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage
There is also an ecovillage in NH--Cite Ecologique of New Hampshire
I found a child free Cohousing/Eco focused community in Jamacia Plains, MA heARTbeat Collective
Also in MA is a Katywil Ecovillage, Colrain, MA and Sirus Community, Shutebury, MA and Sawyer Hill Eco-Community, Berlin, MA
In Mo is Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, Rutledge, MO
In GA is Enota, the Workamper program seems to be of interest---
In TN is Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Community, Washburn, TN
In OR is Columbia Ecovillage, Portland, OR
In CA Shambala-Shasta Kin Village (Anastasia inspired ecovillage) Mount Shasta, CA
Thanks for the links, Fairy. Some of these might be listed in the links I posted here initially. The problem is not that such communities are difficult to find, rather it's a matter of finding the right fit. That's why I posted my quest here. I feel close to many of you already and wanted to test the waters for your interest.
And Jeff, I don't know if your nod to the East Wind community was meant to be humorous or not... but my bare-bottom days are over!
Actually - I was serious! I saw a documentary on them (plus there is the write up in Nat'l Geo) and it sounded intriguing. Not perfect - as the article mentions - but sustainable and a long history of stability. One of the intriguing things is that the land is in some kind of trust or foundation that was established many years ago - and I got the distinct impression that government has no jurisdiction to fool with them. Never mind that none of them are interacting with the system at all - so there is no reason for them to. It's a nice set up. They have a nut butter business that pays the bills for the community - so everyone puts in some kind of hours.
I thought the bare bottom was great - since it denotes the liberal atmosphere - and the freedom to do what you want, as long as you aren't interfering with anoyone else. Again - not perfect - but I doubt that any of these communities are. And obviously - they NEED people like us to help them grow and be better at what they are doing - so you might be perfect for them!
Cool! I took another peek at the East Wind website and I'm putting them under consideration. (Must find out if we butter our bread on the same side... hee, hee.)
"The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind; the answer is blowin' in the wind."
I'll take a look at the ones you posted, too, Fairy. Thanks!
I would love to go and get away from where I am right now & live amongst you all but I would never leave without my daughter (she's almost 7) but I haven't a clue on how I would get her close-minded father to agree to let me take her, although I do have full physical custody, we have shared legal custody...
No worries, Linney. We're not all making plans to form a community together. And if the idea appeals to you, there may be some communities already in existence near you.
Check out these links to find one:
http://gen.ecovillage.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=226
http://directory.ic.org/iclist/geo.php
And here are two more links I just found http://www.cohousing.org/directory and
http://www.thefec.org/ - Egalitarian communities share property and income equally among members, so it doesn't take much money (if anything) to join.
Bon chance!
I had considered Central America, but found that the politics, economies, and natural disasters are too volatile a mix for me. Plus, it's above the equator, so if nuclear fallout is a consideration, So Am wins out.
I have researched all of the countries in South America, except Guiana. By and large, immigration to anywhere is not easy for Americans because the US has made it difficult for so many countries. Just try to immigrate to Canada or Mexico and see what happens. Americans can, however, visit almost any country for up to 90 days without a visa*.
I have ruled out Chile and Peru because of the earthquakes. Both lie on the Ring of Fire. Also, Peru is mostly covered by jungle and is very buggy; outside of the jungle, the soil is poor and prone to mudslides. Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina have tough immigration requirements. I forget why I ruled out Uraguay. I think it's because most everything is imported, so it's expensive to live there and I seem to remember something awry with it politically. Immigration to Ecuador requires a bank balance of $25,000, lots of Americans are moving there. Nothing attracted me to Bolivia. I chose Paraguay because it has no natural disasters and permanent residency is relatively easy to get - at least in theory. The requirements keep changing and everyone tells me something different. I will know more when I talk to immigration next week.
Some people call Paraguay paradise, others hate it. It's not perfect. Summers are hot and humid. There are mosquitoes, cockroaches, tarantulas, crocodiles, and piranhas. But food can be grown year-round, water is plentiful, and most everything is inexpensive, including land. There are no zoning restrictions to prevent you building any type of house you like, and the government leaves you alone.
Further research has uncovered things not readily apparent. Paraguayans have bought into consumerism. The banks have lots of money to lend and credit is easy to get. From that, one might deduce that their credit bubble is still a few years away. Litter is everywhere. People don't seem to care about the environment, natural health, or sustainable living. There are, however, several large communes of Mennonites outside of Asuncion who are thriving within their own sustainable communities.
On the whole, I'd say that Paraguay is a good place to establish an intentional community, but probably only if its members come from outside of PY. The locals just don't seem to have the mindset for it. If you're looking for a safe harbor outside the US, PY just might be the place.
* Paraguay is one of the few countries that require application for a visa before entering, but it's easy to get. Just mail your passport and the fee to your nearest Paraguayan embassy in the US and they'll return it with your visa for up to 90 days. Beyond 90 days, it's possible to border hop and get stamped, though obtaining a cedula (resident card) is the permanent solution. I know someone who lived in PY 7 years before applying for a cedula.
Please feel free to share your ideas on this subject or ask any questions.