Ben Brownell

Yep: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/15221-Vantine-Rd-SE-Tenino-WA-98589/304979179_zpid/

also, https://chooselatitude.com/heartwood-homestead

Tangential late bump to this surely lovely now past event, but I just saw that GCH is hiring for a "retreat center steward" and figured someone in the crowd here might do well to apply, and enjoy or expand on the good work of Uncle Mud & friends:

https://mendocino.craigslist.org/dmg/d/talmage-retreat-center-steward-airbnb/7941787544.html

What kind of life span are you building for, realistically? How might the structure want to evolve or retrofit along the way? Is it in THE right spot for that trajectory?

Some nicely creative examples to check here, but these are pretty light weight non-structural units more like a wall tent on wheels:

http://www.sheltonhuts.com/huts

Looks like a really positive and inspired project! Would love to visit sometime. The 'upcycled' dairy farm model has spawned all kinds of cool cooperative ventures in the northeast states in recent decades, but I haven't seen many in the west yet. https://elkenmist.com just NW of Portland is a nice instance though, and maybe a worthy peer group to link with if you haven't yet. Good luck growing out!

Sensible aspiration! I would ask if you have enough familiarity with different regional 'flavors' or sub/cultures of homesteading, land-based lifestyles, and local economies, to know which areas you may be drawn to, as things tend to work quite differently based on a range of more or less subtle particularities of place (climate, history, politics, agriculture, infrastructure etc being some of more obvious examples). If that discernment isn't real clear yet, I'd suggest some research and then direct exploration and trials to learn more - perhaps a year long sabbatical journey to engage directly in several locales via work trade or renting. What might be your first choice region off the top of your head, if I may ask?

I've been toying with some similar ideas and experiments (similar climate and substrate) and can't recommend the pond scheme without significant interventions. Namely, line it with a membrane and supply regular supplemental water. Even with impermeable subsoil, water will quickly 'wick' outward through any adjacent topsoil, like draping a paper napkin into a glass of water. It's nice to have even a 3-season water feature in dry climates, so maybe worth the effort to engineer it on a small scale, but if it's not a priority for you I'd keep doing your prior strategy - I use basins like that as low profile compost / yard waste pits or to charge biochar over a season or two, much more effective than raised piles in dry climates.

Anne Miller wrote:Sounds to me like you want to do something very similar to Wheaton Labs.

Why not look at the structure that is used there.

Hi Anne, I am curious, and don't know details - can you elaborate a little or point to documentation of the ownership structure/plans of WL? I haven't paid real close attention, but got the impression it was initially a 'private' (ownership) project, that built up the capacity to host and teach others, and can now offer a form of sweat + skill equity 'buy in' for committed participants. I think that approach makes good sense, for projects that have the initial momentum to develop and sustain independently, i.e. not requiring capital investment to accommodate more people. Is there also a long term plan to transition to a community owned-run organizational form? Thanks for highlighting, it's certainly a relevant case study!

That's a big tangent I'll leave for other discussion threads Daniel, but I will say one objective of mine is to create reasonably fluid structure that helps people grow and adjust or relocate with relative ease, keeping some of the "stakes" of member-ownership low enough to avert persistent conflict or dysfunction. Lots of tools and tactics to apply toward those ends, I'm not so concerned.

There's some wisdom in something like a "Limited Equity Housing Co-op" model adapted to land based living I think, which can also work in conjunction with a land trust, but again my question is more geared toward initial steps in those directions and pooling resources to get there.