Help wanted, space available in East Tennessee

I think this sounds like an incredible success story or proof these communities can work. I don't know for sure, but I'm betting the key was being able and willing to sell split up land. It gives people a real incentive and flexibility to do things differently while still working together.

Hi Wes, we've thought we had the keys several times, but we keep losing them and getting locked out!

Personally I think the master key is tolerance. Human interaction is the most difficult problem to deal with; way harder than any homesteading chores. You have to be careful not to drift into conflict avoidance though. That's not being tolerant, that's just leaving problems unresolved.

Hello David, my name is Adam Klemenz, ive been looking for a homesteading community or intentional community to join for many months and just haven’t found something that fits. After reading all your threads I noticed that you actually respond to people on here, most people do not respond more than once or twice and I commend that. I like your flexibility and openness with different opportunities to acquire land and would like to talk with you more about your homestead and community. My email is arkuniverse369@gmail.com look forward to hearing from you!

Arkuniverse369@gmail.com

Hi my name is Seth Whidden. I have lived off grid for most of my life, I'm very knowledgeable in pretty much every aspect of it I do have a significant other and we are planning to hike the trail of tears in a few months. I've also been trying to find homesteading communities... She has never done anything like this and really wants to... I don't participate in this so called society and over my 25+ years of doing this I have found that you don't need money to live... It does make things easier. I was wondering what exactly you were needing help with and what kind of people you were looking for feel free to contact me @4092021320 I'm doing some barter work and in a couple of weeks maybe a little more I'll be moving on towards the Smokey's

Hello there,
I know this is a long shot since the post was made 4 years ago but someone responded to it bouncing it to the top
I sent a message to you David but is this still available and for non family people like myself. you know singles

We're still active and still looking for community members.

Three families have purchased parcels. Two have moved here, and are working on their living spaces; the other is taking things more slowly.

The current project is the community water system, as well as all the usual homesteading activities.

Hello David,

I sent you an email form mousingthesailor@gmail.com

cheers

eddie majesky wrote:Hello David,

I sent you an email form mousingthesailor@gmail.com

cheers :)

Unless you sent from a different email, I didn't get your message.

Unless you sent from a different email, I didn't get your message.

please send me a quick email so i can bounce my message right back.

thank you

Hello David

This is Eddie, 43 y/o retired merchant marine, thanks for keeping up with the forums…

I wonder if your community has room for some work trade situation?

I’ve been looking for a long term project on wooded land, where I can learn the sawmill and timer framing, along with the other homesteading activities.

For the last 2 years I’ve been traveling communities and volunteering a good bit, now that I’m back in America, I’m looking for something more long term.

Today, my finances and nearly exhausted, while I’m waiting form some investments to pay out. So, I really do need to earn my keep with work exchange.

When they do pay out… I’ll be needing a good way to spend it. I love what you said about not having a culture of ’score keeping’

I very much appreciate your tone on the forum, I’m not detecting a lot of forward go, and you sound like someone I would like to work with.

Hope we can chat soon
My best
Eddie
9107468480

I'm 52 and I've been a hunter gatherer all my life.  Also have skills in construction,  landscaping, gardening ,firearms, mechanical skill.. would there be any place for me in your community.

Hi Charles,

We are always looking for good people. Please tell me more about yourself and what you are looking for. You can email me at davidcmichael at gmail dot com.

Hello again David,

Looks like I'm headed that way... finally with a solid job lined up.

What city are you nearby? I'll work from Murfreesboro

Hi Eddie,

We are about 4 hours east of Murfreesboro near Parrottsville. Just email me when you'd like to schedule a visit.

Hello everyone!

Dave's wife, Tammy, here.

Things are really starting to gather momentum (finally!).

Four parcels have sold in the last year. The community is/will be working on putting up 3 houses. (To clarify- each owner is paying for labor, materials, and use of equipment.) Another member has dried-in his home and is working on the rest. We are thinking of adding at least a tiny home on each of the remaining parcels, but that project is much farther down the priority list.

The community water system is essentially complete, Buying into the system is not mandatory, and water lines are the responsibility of the owners involved. Some parts of the lines are shared; some are individual.

The saw mill building is up. A large portion of the framework of the mill has been rebuilt in metal (old mill and a lot of rotted wood in the frame). Dave is hoping to get the framework out of his shop and installed in the saw mill building soon.

We have added rabbits, ducks and a volunteer goat to the chickens we started with. Two other members have rabbits, and one is about to add bees. Future thoughts: possibly a beef calf, kune kune pigs or milk goats.

The orchard has had some setbacks. The apples were all taken out by something that apparently ate the roots. The cherry also died - not sure why. The pears, on the other hand, are thriving, and the plum is doing well. The elderberries also seem to like it here. Several of us went in on a bunch of hazelnut bushes this spring, and most of those are doing well. Future thoughts: some of the 'bush' fruits- nanking cherry, honeyberry, gumi berry, aronia, service berry, goji berry, josta berry, and/or sea buckthorn. Will also give some other fruit trees a try, and Dave has built a trellis system for grapes.

The gardens are moving along. With all the critters, downed trees, and the wood chippers, we have lots of inputs for building soil. Future thoughts: more perennials- rhubarb, herbs, more asparagus and other perennial veggies.

Closing thought- if you have been thinking this might be your community but there is no rush, time is almost up.

All the best,
-Tammy