Actauly starting construction on desert homestead and like to share the experience.

Hi everyone

I had posted my idea of a desert homestead back in feb., but I guess that and many other threads had been lost since then.

How ever I am happy to report that construction on the site as begun, Now that the heat has subsided. The first order of buisness is to in stall the Airwell to produce water from the atmosphere, as no water can be found here with out drilling at a substancial cost.

I'll be make trips out here once a month at first to get things started and to get a better feel for the land. As the desert has proven to be a chalendging place to home stead so far. But now it's getting easier as time goes on. I my best calculations the air well should be finished by new years day. It will be a small one for the house site. producing 100-400 gals. per day.

Other work on the site is in progress, for instence I have started work on biulding up bio-mass on the land by placing small fences to keep the wind and what little rian I get here from blowing the leafs and other boi-mass off of the land. It seems to be working so far, as there has been an increase in grass and small trees in the last 2 years since the fences have been in place as well as more animal droppings. it may take ten more years before the land has been transformed in to a heavily forrested desert, and I have no dought now that this holistic approach to de-desertification is working and healthy for my land and those creatures who call it home.

It can be lonely out here some times as my nearest neighbor is 3 miles away. How ever I'll be willing to share the land with others or would help others start there own homestead close by, i.e starting a community here in the desert. If living in the desert appeals to you and you are willing to put in some work let me know.

If you interested tell me your proposal and or share your ideas on the formation of a community. How we should govern our selfs and how best to help one another economicly and divide up work load and so on. And how best to maintian an ecological and holistic approach too i.e. grow this comunity form the ground up.

I have already started the beginings of an infastructure that is sustainable and would like to share this experience with anyone who wishes to start there own community or inhance the the one they are in.

I will be living on the land full time in no less than 4.5 years. in the mean time I will continue building and working the land tell that time. I f yor woulding how big the land is, well it's 20 acres with a smal dirt road. The nearest town Blythe lacated in S. Calif. is 40 mile N.E. of the land. And yes there are about 8 full time homesteaders out here and at least 4 that have been here for 10 ten years. There are also many abandoned homesteads out here as well as the snow bird homesteader who only arrive starting in Oct. and leave in May.

Peace.

Will have pictures posted soon.

 

Hi i'd like to talk more with you about helping build your homestead.

peace Dave

 

I'm currently preparing for my next trip out on 9-26-04 you are welcome to join me. How ever let it be known that the desert is a dangerous place and not to be taken lightly. So please prepare yourself accordingly. The day time temps will be around 90-100 degs., so bring plenty of water at least 5 gals. Nigt time temps well be about 65-50 degs. My tent will sleep three people. And I have an extra bag if you need it. I can Provide food for one other person besides my self as at this time,as my funds are limited .

This trip will consist mainly of surveying and siting various strutures and access points for the land. Should take no more than 2.5 days. It will be every easy work, mostly planting markers and recording waypoints for later use. Unless we get stuck in the sand then we maybe digging for several hours,lol.

You can expect the night sky to blow your mind away , as well as recieve a vistation by the local wild life . If we're lucky we may be able to take in uncle sams firework display as f-15 fighters drop bombs on the chocolate mountains 15 miles to the south of the land. I know a good spot on the little mule mnt. to watch it from.

I do have room for you in my truck and your gear. How ever if anyone else care to join us they will be required to provide their own transportation (four wheel drive is difinitely and strongly recomended ), and food ,water and gear.

This may be too short a notice for you however there will be another trip out in later Oct. close to halloween. There will be more work in the form of excavating for the contruction of a cistern for the airwell. I'm not sure on the exact date yet, but it will be some time after 10-15-04. barring any unfore seen events,lol.

Hope this give you and others more info. Please be as specific as possible when asking any question on this thread, so I might better respond to your replies.

Thanks you sun4202001
My blessings and peace be with you all.

 

ive sent you a couple emails to your account but I will post this message for you. I will respond in detail to your post when i get home from work tonight.

talk to you tonight I hope

 

This home stead is 6 miles away from mine but the land scape is almost identical to my own property, minus the structures of course. Just so you all can get an idea of what it's like there. There is an other deference the trees on my property are almost twice as tall.

 

Looking forward to meeting you sun420 in person, on the Oct-25 trip. . It would seem we share many common interests, based on our conversations of the last few days. Its's my hope that more people will join us, and get the village off to a good start. Thanks again for pledging your support. All are welcome to join in the trips that will little by little evolve into a loving and nurturing inviroment, where we all can grow and learn from one another.

I have only these rules :

!. There are no limitations: Meaning no opinions or beliefs will be suppressed. Do what you will so long as it harms no one.

2. There are no bounderies or separations: Asking only that you try to recognize that we are all intimately connected to everyone and everything. That every act will effect whole of creation, whether it is your action or that of something seemingly out side of yourself. In other words realize that everything that you experience is, was, or will be brought into your experience by your own will or beliefs whether conscious or unconscious. So beprepared to excepted reponsibility for what you experience, and not just for what you do.

3. You create your own reality: Meaning you are responsible for what you experience. For example who is at falt when a house is burglarized? The burglar or the home owner? if any one person involved in the event is removed from it then the event would have never have happened in the first place. So both are equally at fault.

These rules or ideas, I hope keep the village in harmony while allowing everyone room to fully express themselfs.

peace to you all.

 

Well its a project I am looking forward to be involved in. Your last post sets a great outline for a harmonious environment, full of energy and mutual love and respect for other human beings.

I know its alot of hard labor ahead but well worth it. And a well needed break from city life with its bobardment of negativity and anger. To breath clean air.

Thanks for allowing me to be a part of it.

 

I may be interested in talking to you about this...sounds interesting

 

Thanks for your interest the our village Motoboi . We'll be happy to anwser any question that you may have on the Eco village project. or send a pm if you like. You may also speak to sun4202001 as we have been discussing the project for some time now as well as exploring other subjects. There will be a trip in Oct on the 25 if you would like to come and help.

peace man

 

Dave:

What does it cost to initially get started in homesteading out there? What does the property cost? I've been out to Blythe Ca. and Quartsite Az. It gets pretty hot out there. All I saw were trailers with swamp coolers on top and aluminum foil in the windows to keep the sun out. What's the design of your place. I could be interested.

go4it

 

Footnote for Dave: or Dirty Mary

Dave;

Have you ever been to Quartsite Az. and searched for gold or other minerals with metal detectors etc. I know the place draws a big crowd in the fall. I once spoke with "dirty Mary" a metal detector sales women in Quartsite. However. this was in July and nothing moves after 12pm. too hot so I didn't try for gold. Now with gold over 400.00 per oz. you could pay for a decent well ?

go4it

 

Well I'm glad you ask those questions The property cost 10k for 20acres and the cost of the home stead maybe as little as 5k per home place on the property. including appliances.As for the design seee for you self.

FYI this is not a house on my property.

Peace

 

Its still pritty warm out there so I made quick work of it.lol I Found the south east coner which was professionaly surveyed and then use my otometer and a compass to find the other 3 corners. Then I walk around the property for most of the afternoon, trying to see where the best place for the village to be built would be. I think the north west & South west corners are the most suitable sites for homesteading. The wash runs through the center of the property from west to the east and is about 30 feet wide and 3 feet deep. I think we should build a pond in the wash to collect run off from the surrounding desert too start as well as a air well. most of the property is accessible by 4X4. The north east corner will need the most work, as its a maze of small washes. Like a miniature version of montana bag lands.lol but not quite as bab. It looks like it hasn't rained in 2 years, and the trees are having a tough time of it right now and some have died. once the water features are in this trend will reverse.

Here are some pictures of the land.

peace.

 

well those picture are just to big lol. If wolf wants to eraise that last post thats fine with me. the pictures are to blury I'll try again. I think I have got it this time. Well the one came out a little too small lol.
Sun 420 has committed him self to the the community and motoboi is going to test the waters and see if this is right for him. Now for those of you who wish to tryout the waters but do not have a 4X4 I have seen small car make it out there as well as 2x4 trucks. I would Recommend you get a high lift in the event you do get stuck and some 2"x8" planks if you wish to comeout in Oct 25 or any other trip. And remember there will always be others there to help you get out. Oh and make sure your tires are in good condition and that you have a spare in good condition. I also would bring a couple of spare tire in a can, they're good for quick on the spot tire repairs.

I know it looks like I'm talking to myself here but the bulk of the conversations has been taking place on MSN Messenger. To allow for better and continuous communication. How ever I will answer any question that you post here, on this thread.

Thanks again for showing your interest in our village.

 

Amberfilter suggested that I give a lay out of my views an ideas about a governing structure of the village. Well it would be my intent to have a consensus type of organization to the village. In my view thats the only way to go. I think it would be best that all members vote for anything that would effect the village as a whole, and that it would have to pass with a 2/3 majority vote to take effect. I mayself don't believe that a governing body is necesary for the village as I believe that the # of people should not exceed 20 for the 20 acres of land that I own my self. However If someone where to buy there own land next to mine and wanted to be part of the village, then it would be my hope that they would adopt our consensus organization. I believe that people should govern them selfs and that no individual should should be controlled by a governing councel or body. Because then the members would have no say unless they were voted or place on to such a councel. So far I only have 3 rules which you can look up about 9 post ago. These rules are none negociable and I feel they give everyone great freedom to explore themselfs and the world around them.

I would be most interested to here how other feel and think about this point of view.

looking forward to hearing from you hippies out there.
peace

 

damb dave im very happy that you are organized enough to acctually make it happen best of luck to you!! keep us all posted with the progress i wouldent mind stopping out sometime in my travels much love Jeph

 

have you considered a true consensus of 100% agreement before any major decisions that effect the village are made? What if the spirit has given one man insight that the others cannot see? this is how rainbow family works. just an idea.

I think you'd have to be more specific in your governance outlines. I mean, i totally agree with you in concept, but the way things act out are often different.

Much props though, your doing it, and to that I tip my hat.

how did you get started with this idea?

 

DesertDave

Any update on whats happening?

 

Are you building with earthbags? Earthbage buildings are beautiful! I worked on a cob/lightstraw clay/strawbale/earthbag home this summer, and it was a life-changing experience for me.

I hope I will be able to build with earth again someday soon...it's addictive.

I think you might consider having a second vote if something bothers a particular resident so much they may decide to leave, or extreemly unhappy. How does 100 percent consensus work in an intentional community setting? Does anyone have experience with it?

 

100% consensus = unaminous consent ?

It does work but it's a lot of work - comunication becomes even more important.
One of the guiding priciples also has to be the willingness to agree to try something even if you don't specifically want it if you cannot see a better way to address it. Like in finances - some may wish to leave the whole concept of money out of the equation - but reality dictates that some method of dealing with exchange and paying $$$ for those things for which no other means of exchange is accepted (you know - taxes) - so some method of a working arrangemnet must be worked out even though you may not wish to deal with the filthy lucre. (Just 1 example)

Best be with people of like mind pulling for the same goals - usually a purpose statement becomes a necessity to have as a guide. But warning also need to be given that flexability becomes paramount because with each incoming memeber your goals and purpose should alter enough to include fulfilling their personal dreams and visions for their purpose - if you wish them to stay.


Hey dave ,
many blessings and well wishing sent your way - go for it brother - please keep us posted - we all need to hear success stories and how to deal with any challenges that may come.
Keep it coming