Coweeta Heritage Center/Talking Rock Farm is located in a temperate rainforest in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The area is rich in biodiversity of animals and plants. Lack of power coming in has limited development, so it retains most of its pristine qualities and remoteness. A hydro-electric system provides adequate power for basic needs and
solar offers the potential for additional power for the future.
A 1/4 acre organic garden is well established with raised beds and produces
enough extra produce to share with the
local community at the tailgate market, a restaurant, and health food store. A
pond is filled with trout and a place to cool off in the summer's heat. A saw mill and timber is ready to produce lumber for building. I have hosted dozens of volunteers over the years and taught them what I could about living lightly on the
land, gathering and processing wild foods, gardenings, building and much more. But I'm getting more into the twilight of my years and realize I can't keep this up! I believe it takes a village to host volunteers.
So my intentions are to find individuals, families or a group of dedicated folks who want to help establish a community here and continue the heritage of the center: one of healing and educating others. I have closed and opened many doors in my life and always found something better on the other side. For me, life here in the mountains is a joy and privilege. Privilege in the sense that it takes work to live here, so finding the right folks who can make the commitment to living and growing here is important. Coweeta could be an ideal site for a healing/retreat center that brings people together to learn how to live, work and play together.
Coweeta can be a place to rest and recover from the ravages of life and then build reserves to do the work you feel is needed. Living with less means you have more time to engage in what you feel is most important for yourself and others. I feel this could be a great opportunity for anyone seeking a different way of life, one grounded in living closely with the earth, building with your hands, and meeting daily challenges with a light heart. Coweeta embraces the principles of Voluntary Simplicity; living simply, so others may simply live. It is also a place to get away from the trappings of society. Coweeta is drug, alcohol, and tobacco free environment! A place to raise children with your values.
I realize it also takes a great leap of faith for anyone to make such a change in their life! I'm here to encourage you that it can be done, one board at a time, one nail, one seed planted in the ground. Coweeta has openings for new members to explore their place here. Come for a few weeks stay to learn more and help out, then decide if you would like to explore becoming a member over a year-long stay.
Permanent membership offers both rewards and responsibilities. Temporary housing is available while we build more permanent structures. Even if you decide this isn't for you, you can take away the experiences, knowledge, and skills you have learned here. Contact Paul for more info.
More info is available about Coweeta Heritage Center/Talking Rock Farm on IC.org
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