Eastern TN vegan ecovillage sanctuary

Hello! I am looking for fellow vegans to build an intentional vegan community with. I have a small bit of land in Eastern TN, close to the Appalachian trail and national parks. My vision is to create a safe space, a sanctuary, for my fellow earthlings to heal from the toxicity of our cities and modern society. Some of my ideologies include raw veganism, so no consuming animal products or harming animals as far as practical, and raw food, which is generally nutritionally superior, has less carcinogens and uses less resources to prepare than cooking them. Growing all my own food is something that I wish to accomplish soon. I will not use fossil fuels to heat any structures and wish to be completely free from fossil fuels and petroleum products by the end of the year. Once I have become self sufficient, I would like to be able to take care of other animals. If the animal is a carnivore I will try my best to use synthetic taurine and L-Carnitine and not animal flesh to feed them. I am not going to kill animals or pay others to kill animals on my or anybody elses behalf. There are many projects that I am starting soon, including building steps and terraces for gardening on a hillside, building a tiny house, composting, etc. The land is off grid - ish and has no utilities. There are many challenges ahead but with the right vision and a little practice we can accomplish anything! Please reach out if some or any of these values resonate with you!

Hello, I wonder how many responses this might get of those who would be interested. I am, I was trying to appeal to interest in something very much like this years ago, before the COVID issue. I am California, if I could know this would be right to join and to stay with I would go. I have wanted to be with others who join for a small community separate enough from cities and civilization to be independent together when they can manage that growing everything for what is needed and is desired, for food and things. I would not have dependence on animals, I know for myself it is not needed, I and others have lived well for years without need of things from animals. I gave up meat a long time ago, and all animal products since at least ten and a half years ago. I learned the very healthy way to eat having no processed foods or anything from animals eight years ago and I stayed with that, while still trying to find others who would join in living somewhere for that life. I am only less able to start something for others to join now but I would try communicating to others for where I would go, that they may join there, when I would know where I can go for it.

If there are animals cared for in such place, it would be preferable that they do not need to be predators, I do not think it good for people to bring in predator animals with them, and it is desirable to minimize affecting the environment. Yet any food should be what is available from growing there. Such that would be predators might only be justified with having been rescued, there would have to be ways considered for how to accommodate those animals, as things from slaughter is not desirable from this.

I can also be reached in other ways, including with my email at vegrox@aol.com

Hey I'm a vegan too and these ideas definitely resonate with me. I don't mind the challenges and have a lot of energy to offer toward helping. Message if you're interested

Fred Frank V Bur wrote:Hello, I wonder how many responses this might get of those who would be interested. I am, I was trying to appeal to interest in something very much like this years ago, before the COVID issue. I am California, if I could know this would be right to join and to stay with I would go. I have wanted to be with others who join for a small community separate enough from cities and civilization to be independent together when they can manage that growing everything for what is needed and is desired, for food and things. I would not have dependence on animals, I know for myself it is not needed, I and others have lived well for years without need of things from animals. I gave up meat a long time ago, and all animal products since at least ten and a half years ago. I learned the very healthy way to eat having no processed foods or anything from animals eight years ago and I stayed with that, while still trying to find others who would join in living somewhere for that life. I am only less able to start something for others to join now but I would try communicating to others for where I would go, that they may join there, when I would know where I can go for it.

If there are animals cared for in such place, it would be preferable that they do not need to be predators, I do not think it good for people to bring in predator animals with them, and it is desirable to minimize affecting the environment. Yet any food should be what is available from growing there. Such that would be predators might only be justified with having been rescued, there would have to be ways considered for how to accommodate those animals, as things from slaughter is not desirable from this.

I can also be reached in other ways, including with my email at vegrox@aol.com

Thanks for your response! That was eloquently stated. I myself have been vegan for about 7 years. In 2019 I ate mostly raw for the whole year which helped heal my chronic eczema condition. I believe if we start something with vegan values in mind, then the result will be worthwhile.

A little more about the property... right now I only own about 1.5 acres which is not enough to form a whole "ecovillage", more like an "ecohomestead". There are other parcels for sale in the area and it is my hope that other vegans will acquire this land. I am hopeful that my current property will be able to sustain a handful of people. It is wooded, with a south facing slope of about 27 degrees. About 4/5 of the property is sloped and on the north boundary it levels out, enough to build some large structures, and then it starts to descend. There is alot of work to be done, trees need to be cut to make room for fruit trees. There are many pine trees and birch trees. I imagined digging and building rock wall terraces but this will take much work and I am wondering if there are alternatives. I know digging is distuptive to the soil ecology, and I want to preserve its fertility. Maybe I can seperate the top organic layer and then replace it once I have created the terraces? I am also planning to build a passive solar greenhouse and other structures. There are currently no utilities on the property and I like it that way. The property doesn'y even get cell phone reception, but if you travel up a large hill nearby there is a signal. I feel like I am being pulled in two directions: the easy, modern, technological solutions vs traditional, simple and environmental side of things. I want to build a traditional structure such as a timber framed house. But also I have purchased dimensional lumber secondhand and from a hardware store, and I have also acquired power tools. I dislike using the power tools because they are noisy and dangerous, but they also appeal to me because of their speed. I am inspired by the youtuber Mr. Chickadee who does timber framing using only hand powered tools and I have been doing much research into these methods.

Hey,
We have the same dream.  Your values align with what I've been trying to transition to.  How much are the other parcels going for? Do you have a link?  I've been moonlighting at different farms for 2 years but want to be around like minded people without a million rules.  I plan on living out of my camper for a minute, so I'm looking for warmer climates.  I have been looking in AL, AR, AZ, TN, due to year round growing season.  I'd like to move to a quieter place and practice without having to pay a monthly stipend with others structures.
Thanks,
Kristen

Just curious, how close is your lot to the Appalachian Trail?  For years I've been thinking it would be wonderful to create an eco-village to support the trail hikers and be a loved stop on the trail.  I keep looking for large lots abutting the AT with the hope of doing something like that up here in Maine.

kris Ten wrote:Hey,
We have the same dream.  Your values align with what I've been trying to transition to.  How much are the other parcels going for? Do you have a link?  I've been moonlighting at different farms for 2 years but want to be around like minded people without a million rules.  I plan on living out of my camper for a minute, so I'm looking for warmer climates.  I have been looking in AL, AR, AZ, TN, due to year round growing season.  I'd like to move to a quieter place and practice without having to pay a monthly stipend with others structures.
Thanks,
Kristen

The area is in Cocke County, TN near Hartford and Del Rio. If you do a search on zillow you can find some parcels for sale. I believe there is currently one for about 38k for 4.5 acres. There are also many parcels close by that are around 15k for about an acre or so.

Greg Martin wrote:Just curious, how close is your lot to the Appalachian Trail?  For years I've been thinking it would be wonderful to create an eco-village to support the trail hikers and be a loved stop on the trail.  I keep looking for large lots abutting the AT with the hope of doing something like that up here in Maine.

It's about 6 miles away from the trail. I have had the same thought before! Although it's not right off the trail I am sure some folks would go out of there way to visit, once it is beautiful enough

I always thought it would be wonderful to have a chain of eco-villages that are like sister villages and that members would get to know each other and be able to jump from village to village.  My thinking is that they could provide support to each other and also become a bigger draw if they provided information about each other to the hikers.  Maybe had linked websites or something.  Thoughts?  Does anything like this already exist?

Greg Martin wrote:I always thought it would be wonderful to have a chain of eco-villages that are like sister villages and that members would get to know each other and be able to jump from village to village.  My thinking is that they could provide support to each other and also become a bigger draw if they provided information about each other to the hikers.  Maybe had linked websites or something.  Thoughts?  Does anything like this already exist?

Yes yes! I love this idea of having ecovillages all along the appalachian trail, and instead of driving between them, we just hike to them! I have never heard of anything like that before.

So I am intending to start digging into the hillside soon, to create space for vehicles along the side of the road and to create the first terrace. I want to preserve the fertility of the soil, so I think I should seperate the soil layers into boxes and then replace them in the same order after I create the terrace. Does anybody have experience doing this? How many layers should I seperate?

I think that is a good question to make its own thread out of. Some people who might know might not look at the intentional community forum but would frequent the soil forum instead.

C Oakes wrote:

Fred Frank V Bur wrote:Hello, I can also be reached in other ways, including with my email at vegrox@aol.com

Thanks for your response! That was eloquently stated. I myself have been vegan for about 7 years. In 2019 I ate mostly raw for the whole year which helped heal my chronic eczema condition. I believe if we start something with vegan values in mind, then the result will be worthwhile.

A little more about the property... right now I only own about 1.5 acres which is not enough to form a whole "ecovillage", more like an "ecohomestead". There are other parcels for sale in the area and it is my hope that other vegans will acquire this land. I am hopeful that my current property will be able to sustain a handful of people. It is wooded, with a south facing slope of about 27 degrees. About 4/5 of the property is sloped and on the north boundary it levels out, enough to build some large structures, and then it starts to descend. There is alot of work to be done, trees need to be cut to make room for fruit trees. There are many pine trees and birch trees. I imagined digging and building rock wall terraces but this will take much work and I am wondering if there are alternatives. I know digging is distuptive to the soil ecology, and I want to preserve its fertility. Maybe I can seperate the top organic layer and then replace it once I have created the terraces? I am also planning to build a passive solar greenhouse and other structures. There are currently no utilities on the property and I like it that way. The property doesn'y even get cell phone reception, but if you travel up a large hill nearby there is a signal. I feel like I am being pulled in two directions: the easy, modern, technological solutions vs traditional, simple and environmental side of things. I want to build a traditional structure such as a timber framed house. But also I have purchased dimensional lumber secondhand and from a hardware store, and I have also acquired power tools. I dislike using the power tools because they are noisy and dangerous, but they also appeal to me because of their speed. I am inspired by the youtuber Mr. Chickadee who does timber framing using only hand powered tools and I have been doing much research into these methods.

I would be most interested in simple dwellings, with areas for growing the vegetation for what is needed and is useful, for food, remedies, and materials, where minimal effect is done to environment in location. So I am aware that cutting a number of trees down disrupts the living systems there, and would want that minimally done, leaving many more growing in the area, seeing value of living systems continuing. The group living this way can be community, but I don't mean as large as communities might be, just a small group of people together in this will work fine for this, where they can work at some things together for it, voluntarily, that makes that go smoother.

Fred Frank V Bur wrote:

C Oakes wrote:

Fred Frank V Bur wrote:Hello, I can also be reached in other ways, including with my email at vegrox@aol.com

Thanks for your response! That was eloquently stated. I myself have been vegan for about 7 years. In 2019 I ate mostly raw for the whole year which helped heal my chronic eczema condition. I believe if we start something with vegan values in mind, then the result will be worthwhile.

A little more about the property... right now I only own about 1.5 acres which is not enough to form a whole "ecovillage", more like an "ecohomestead". There are other parcels for sale in the area and it is my hope that other vegans will acquire this land. I am hopeful that my current property will be able to sustain a handful of people. It is wooded, with a south facing slope of about 27 degrees. About 4/5 of the property is sloped and on the north boundary it levels out, enough to build some large structures, and then it starts to descend. There is alot of work to be done, trees need to be cut to make room for fruit trees. There are many pine trees and birch trees. I imagined digging and building rock wall terraces but this will take much work and I am wondering if there are alternatives. I know digging is distuptive to the soil ecology, and I want to preserve its fertility. Maybe I can seperate the top organic layer and then replace it once I have created the terraces? I am also planning to build a passive solar greenhouse and other structures. There are currently no utilities on the property and I like it that way. The property doesn'y even get cell phone reception, but if you travel up a large hill nearby there is a signal. I feel like I am being pulled in two directions: the easy, modern, technological solutions vs traditional, simple and environmental side of things. I want to build a traditional structure such as a timber framed house. But also I have purchased dimensional lumber secondhand and from a hardware store, and I have also acquired power tools. I dislike using the power tools because they are noisy and dangerous, but they also appeal to me because of their speed. I am inspired by the youtuber Mr. Chickadee who does timber framing using only hand powered tools and I have been doing much research into these methods.

I would be most interested in simple dwellings, with areas for growing the vegetation for what is needed and is useful, for food, remedies, and materials, where minimal effect is done to environment in location. So I am aware that cutting a number of trees down disrupts the living systems there, and would want that minimally done, leaving many more growing in the area, seeing value of living systems continuing. The group living this way can be community, but I don't mean as large as communities might be, just a small group of people together in this will work fine for this, where they can work at some things together for it, voluntarily, that makes that go smoother.

How simple would you want your dwellings? Like a pure bamboo hut? I think that would be awesome. Maybe I will get to that point. I have some resources already to make a 'modern' structure, so metal and glass. This structure would, ideally, only use passive heating. I want to limit the use of plastic in construction materials, so no vinyl siding. I already have some concrete mix and was thinking of using that to build some piers for the foundation. Ideally I would use stone but I think I will save that for another structure. I had told myself that I want to keep about 1/2 of the land wild. This would give me about 1/2 to 3/4 of an acre to grow things on. Today I was pruning many of the branches that overhang the prospective garden area. Yesterday I had to cut some small birch trees down. I justify it by vowing to replant other trees that will bear tasty fruit.

I would not mean to cut nothing down, but to minimize that and need less, for having a simple home. It would involve use of some wood and available material there rather than involve transport of materials from elsewhere, other than myself and what I bring whenever I would come if this happens. I would try doing that while it does not indicate you should not have your approach. Some may call the simple home I could manage if I make it myself a hut, but I would have it made to be comfortable enough, while this is primitive. I would live there with what animals are naturally there, I would not think of bringing animals there myself, but I would bring what I might for growing many of the things that can be grown there, where there can be space had for that, and some space from terracing can help for that, and I could willingly do what I can in helping with that.

C Oakes wrote:So I am intending to start digging into the hillside soon, to create space for vehicles along the side of the road and to create the first terrace. I want to preserve the fertility of the soil, so I think I should seperate the soil layers into boxes and then replace them in the same order after I create the terrace. Does anybody have experience doing this? How many layers should I seperate

I've found here jn Kentucky there will average a thin layer of topsoil, usually 1" to 6" then a transition to about 1 or 2 feet of mostly brownish clay, then a rock layer, then more clay turning somewhat grayish around and underneath the rocks til ultimately another rock layer is found. Rocks vary from typical gray central/eastern field stone, some heavily fossilized, to more of a brown softer sandstone that can be flakey.

In areas where I can, I scrape that top layer only and pile up for later use, and consider the rest fill, while pulling out the rocks for use in the landscaping or as stabilizers in erosion control or terrace making. I like to also include a few large rocks in areas of fill especially on a slope, I feel like it kind of "locks" things together.

I can't express how hard it is to find others to join in with who will include such simple living I see is important and who are vegan.

Fred Frank V Bur wrote:I can't express how hard it is to find others to join in with who will include such simple living I see is important and who are vegan.

Indeed we are a few lot. Even among vegans I find there to be conflicts, such as whether cats and dogs can be vegan, whether or not to kill insects, etc. I find myself trying to be a purist, because if I don't, what else am I striving to become? I am not quite the buddha as I would like to be but I hope that I can create something sustainable and beautiful that will inspire others. I am just about to start planting near the base of the hill. I started pruning and cutting down some native trees, like beech. I was about to cut down a pine tree but stopped myself because of its size. I don't want to cut more than I have to. And if it may be beneficial to have them there as a windbreak, then maybe I should leave them. I figured because they are shading over the area that I want to plant fruit trees that I should cut them down.

Edit: i havent done any terracing yet. The time to start planting is now and I figure the terrace is not necessary, so I am putting that on hold while I figure out what to plant and where.

Distance does concern me, and not having abundant money, being in California, I would yet afford to go such distance for where I am sure I would stay and settle down at, I would not want to go such distance to look, to decide whether I would choose such place or not, and then return and have other places to look at that are good distances away too. So it will mean I want to know a whole lot about such place I would consider, what issues there really are there, as there is no paradise I am going to find, there are then issues, and who else may be there or come there. I do not want to be alone in this, a small group for a kind of community is desirable, but there is still the issue of whether I can continue a vegan way of living, which would not be hard if others there are vegan as well. This is desirable, living simply and growing everything for good and materials that are needed and most desirable is a very good way to come to for a small group in community, and makes little demand on this earth compared to other ways.

I could respond a little more frequently through email, it could be considered.

Fred Frank V Bur wrote:Distance does concern me, and not having abundant money, being in California, I would yet afford to go such distance for where I am sure I would stay and settle down at, I would not want to go such distance to look, to decide whether I would choose such place or not, and then return and have other places to look at that are good distances away too. So it will mean I want to know a whole lot about such place I would consider, what issues there really are there, as there is no paradise I am going to find, there are then issues, and who else may be there or come there. I do not want to be alone in this, a small group for a kind of community is desirable, but there is still the issue of whether I can continue a vegan way of living, which would not be hard if others there are vegan as well. This is desirable, living simply and growing everything for good and materials that are needed and most desirable is a very good way to come to for a small group in community, and makes little demand on this earth compared to other ways.

I could respond a little more frequently through email, it could be considered.

I sent you a moosage. So far on the ecohomestead I have been busy building hugelkultur terraces in which I have planted tomato, cucumber, beans, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, mint, lemon balm, melons, cilantro, bell peppers, sunflowers, marigolds, nasturtiums and more to come. I bought a fig tree, blueberries and grapes but I have yet to plant them. I have cut down a few trees, and I will probably cut down more. Some of them are very tall tulip poplars and might need some assistance with.

I was born in that area. I fled long ago.

I have access to some land and resources there now, but it'd take a lot to get me to return.

I've been vegan for over 16 years. I'm 46.

I have experience living off-grid, fossil-fuel free, and with d/c solar power systems, solar cookers/kitchens, rocket stoves, etc..

I'm large, super-fit, with incredible stamina and work ethic. I have a vast array of work experience.

I've happily owned less than my weight in things for the vast majority of my life.

I require around 3,500 calories a day to work like I do. Also, eating a good meal has very often been the only source of joy I've had in my life as someone who grew up in extreme poverty, so I'm not willing to give up cooked meals and taking pride in my kitchen.

I don't share your interests, culture, or vision, but I'm available for hire, am someone who can get a lot of work done quickly, and someone who can endure in that/virtually any environment. As a poc, I also take self-defense very seriously, especially in that area, so I'd need assurances in that regard.

Hi (t)here. I've been following this discussion since March, have traveled off grid for 3 years, now back in the area, currently in Cocke County, actually, after enduring Helene in Asheville. I was there, as here, to further explore tiny houses and eco/sustainable communities, villages and other possibilities and so grateful to assist with my solar setup+. I am vegan (10 years), a sympatico compassionate priority which most guides me, greatly miss year-round organic gardening and would very much like to plant roots again quite soon. Are you alright after Helene? Today I picked up more water in Newport to share. The distribution center helpers advised that they had just sent foodtrucks to Del Rio and Hartford.  I would love to visit, bring what you may need, truly interested in seeing toward participating in what you're'developing. All good thoughts, Sol

I only saw the response to me now, and the date shows me how I missed it. It was when I had just left on what was a big trip for me, out of state, to be in the Rockies, and being involved in permaculture there, there really was not much data available to me and I was away for that for several weeks. I came back and when coming to this forum site I somehow with searching for posts or threads to respond missed that there was this response. I looked and indeed there was the purple mooseage. I will respond to it too. But it would really be desirable to have communication by email and I would be more easily seen sooner.

The experience was helpful to me, and I am more hopeful that I can be at growing things for food, useful herbs, and things, and especially if I go to living this way soon again. And I really want to try using seed balls to see it really working well.

I just found this site and thread, I am a 59 year old, female vegetarian and vegan since '82, presently living in Costa Rica, seeking US location with likeminded folks. I am a reader of The Ringing Cedars series, By Vladimir Megre..... this is a post I am working on , please share it   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oTJ49QMhly5bjkBl_JF7vLdsKtB96AEyoYeeVnrtS-w/edit?usp=sharing
I havent time just now to read more of the thread but look forward to meeting plant based folks

Such a vegan ecovillage sanctuary is what I would want to find for joining. I would just hope there was such that was closer to where I am, I am in an area on the west coast, and this place would be hard for me to get to. I would even try it, if I was very sure it was the place for me, that I would always stay there, living with doing those things, and there was nothing closer to where I am here and easier to get to. So far I still am not finding something for that.