two young people desperately seeking destination

Hello everyone. We currently live in West Michigan, but are in the process of transitioning to becoming "homeless" outside of our van, that we intend to drive out west or somewhere, and find somewhere we can live away from the majority of the corrupt, deceitful, and superficial society we live in today. We are not being FORCED out of our home, but we can no longer afford it, due to a number of circumstances out of our control. My father passed away last July, and a couple of weeks later we were the victims of a random but very traumatic and detrimental act of violence. It changed our whole lives, and since then, the financial repercussions of that incident have impacted our lives more than you can possibly imagine. Because of this, we are choosing to leave before we are forced to. We want to build a cabin, live off the land, grow our own crops, raise our own livestock, and get back to a more peaceful, natural way of life. We've got a 95 Chevy Cargo Van packed full of food and essentials, tools and seeds and various things we believe we will need to survive. We've done a lot of research [though there is always so much to learn, and I'm sure in the grand scheme of things we know very little]. We feel prepared, but we're probably not as prepared as we'd like to think. We just need to get out of Michigan. The people we are surrounded by are awful, heartless people. We have had so much bad karma come down on us since we've lived here, it's insane, especially as I am a firm believer in karma and I have done nothing but live my life treating others as I wish to be treated; with kindness, love, and respect. We just want to be happy, away from the bad people and bad things. We want to live simply and quietly in the woods. I'd also like to write a book chronicling our experiences, as I am an English major in College [taking some time off, obviously], and have aspired to be a writer since I was a small child when I started writing my own books.

We need your help. We don't know what to do or where to go. We thought about going to Utah, because I have an aunt in Park City we could visit...but where do we go from there? We realize we can't just find a patch of woods and squat there. So what do we do? I don't know if I can afford our own land, I will have my taxes back here soon once all my W-2's get resent to me...but even that won't be enough I don't think. So are there other options for us? Places for people with these dreams, aspirations and passions to go?


We are hoping to find someone already living the type of lifestyle we hope to live one day that would be willing to let us stay on their property, work for them, learn from them..etc. We are young, innovative, open-minded and hard-working individuals, especially for our age, and we are simply looking for guidance. We aren't asking for any sort of hand-out. We have our own vehicle, our own supplies, plenty of food, etc. We just need somewhere to go, and would be willing to work as hard as possible in order to have a place to stay and people to learn from. Or we would like to find another couple with similar ideas and goals that would be interested in joining us on this new path and would like to share in a joined effort to achieve a combined goal of self sufficiency and peaceful, natural living.

I've posted on some other sites as well, but seeing as we are leaving Michigan tomorrow and still don't know where we're going...please help us. Like I said, we will work for you as hard as need be, learn whatever you have to teach us...as long as we have somewhere to go that we can achieve our dreams as well.

You might find these articles helpful:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2228687/Homesteading-for-3000

http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/travel-trailer-homesteading/

If I were in your situation, I'd trade in your van for a trailer once you get to your destination. The ideal as discussed in the above articles is to find a cheap piece of land in an jurisdiction that's not too anal about zoning and building bylaws. Get set up with your trailer, get a garden established, and then maybe build a small cabin.

Here's a good site if you go the small cabin route.
http://www.small-cabin.com

Know also that you're a part of a growing trend; lots of people are dissatisfied with the path society is going down, and they just want to get away and become self-sufficient. You are not alone.

Look in these forums for people who are looking for folks to work with them on land or form communities:

https://permies.com/forums/f-27/WWOOF-organic-farm-volunteers-interns

https://permies.com/forums/f-6/intentional-community-city-repair-ecovillage

Here's another messageboard to look for like-minded folks: http://forums.sustainablecountry.com/forums/forum.php

Roman,

The article you provided here, http://www.scribd.com/doc/2228687/Homesteading-for-3000, is hard core and very truthful...

Thanks...!

VP..

Kaylin, I have heard that Amazon will publish your ebook for nothing. I have barely glanced at the site: I hope it is true. I might want to write a book also!

Also, you will always need SOME money for salt, glasses, gasoline and so forth.

Lastly, when DH and I were on vacation, we met people who would camp out for up to a year at a time. They would live in town for "As long as we can stand it", work at their trade as meat cutters, save every dime, and then go off to the wilderness and stay in free campsites (Those are probably hard to find, now). There was a 2 week limit at how long you could stay so they moved every 2 weeks and then they moved back again. Once a week they went to town for bread, fruit, peanut butter, and usually a treat like pork chops that neded to be eaten immediately.

When they got low on money they would go back to town and work at their trade (meat cutting).

Terri McCoy wrote:Lastly, when DH and I were on vacation, we met people who would camp out for up to a year at a time. They would live in town for "As long as we can stand it", work at their trade as meat cutters, save every dime, and then go off to the wilderness and stay in free campsites (Those are probably hard to find, now). There was a 2 week limit at how long you could stay so they moved every 2 weeks and then they moved back again. Once a week they went to town for bread, fruit, peanut butter, and usually a treat like pork chops that neded to be eaten immediately.

I think the term for that, as I've recently learned, is "boondocking."

I would like to apologize for Michigan..

I have lived in Michigan MY ENTIRE LIFE and wouldn't leave if I was paid to..a lot..

but if you feel you must go then I wish you the best.

there are tons of forclosure properties available in Michigan for very little money and the job prospects are beginning to look up as well, finally.

If you choose to or feel you must stay..I also live in Michigan ..central westish lower penninsula..and would love to give you some starts on plants if you would like to come and help dig them up in the spring..let me know..bre

Thanks for all the advice and support but we now face a very BIG problem. we just lost our home. for good... so now it is crucial that we find a place to start heading in our travels. WE ARE LEAVING TOMORROW MORNING WITH NO DESTINATION. Our only plan, as of the moment, is head South.

We ask that if anyone knows of anyone looking for extra help on the farm or perhaps just has some extra land that they could let both myself and my partner "enhance" for a while let us know please. The only thing we are looking for is someone willing to either employ us for a period of time while we save money to venture onwards, teach us more about permaculture, and/or let us work towards purchasing a section of unused/unwanted land. WOODED LAND. That is the MUST. our goal is to build a log cabin. therefore w ask that if you have the land to offer it must be wooded enough to build a 20 by 20 cabin of preferably pine as it will be the easiest to do by hand, with slim to no power tools. We would be more than willing to work out a payment plan [owner financing perhaps], or a partial payment/partial employment contract to someday have ownership of a parcel of land.

Thank you kindly.

Do you have enough money to rent a small place? My rent here is $375 per mo. and utilities are minimal. I have an acre of land that has 13 apple trees, surrounded by cattle fields so the fence around the property needed minimal additions. Had a chicken coop on it, great spring fed well water and an older but still great farm house. We heat with wood but it has electric base boards if we wanted to use them. Has a cellar even.

It may not be the acreage you are wanting but I've found that quite a bit of food can be produced on this place. I don't mind making improvements because the rent is so low. I've kept a flock of 30+ laying hens, grew meat chickens, had hair sheep and even homed a milk cow and calf for a few months. Built a little leanto hay shed and lambing jug out of scavenged lumber and have myself a little mini-farm going on. Big gardens, room for dogs, etc.

Most beautiful place ever with low crime rate and good schools.

I bet if you look around you could find something similar to rent. It doesn't have to be pretty, nor big, it just has to be cheap and solid.

Kaylyn Casey wrote:our goal is to build a log cabin. therefore w ask that if you have the land to offer it must be wooded enough to build a 20 by 20 cabin of preferably pine as it will be the easiest to do by hand, with slim to no power tools

Not to rain on your parade, but building a log cabin from scratch wihout power tools is quite an undertaking, it would be a challenge even to an experienced carpenter. What you really want is not wooded acerage, but property that is cleared with descent enough soil, or with an existing building that can be fixed up (perhaps make a deal to do this in lieu of rent).

It sounds like you'll be needing shelter sooner than later, so your best bet is finding a used RV or a travel trailer first, you can get a liveable one for $1000 or so, look on craigslist.

There are campgrounds such as KOA which offer free rent in exchange for working ten hours a week around their facility. OR something like that. I knew someone who lived in a KOA park for six months, just for doing things like cleaning their bathrooms and such. I think this includes all the electric and WI-FI, etc.

This can help you and others who may be reading this...

>>>>>>>>>>

Also,

For those who are interested:

There is such a thing as Locational Astrology. One place make be the most wonderful for one person to thrive and the same place can be the most depleting place for someone else to live.

There is a person named Julian Lee, who has done this type of service for over 7,000 people. I'm not offering any opinions about Astrology or not. I'm just offering information. julianlee.com

If you do have the money for a consultation with him, he may be able to help you find the place which would nurture the two of you rather than depleting you, such as the experiences you've had during your time in Michigan.

Max

Roman Milford wrote:

Kaylyn Casey wrote:our goal is to build a log cabin. therefore w ask that if you have the land to offer it must be wooded enough to build a 20 by 20 cabin of preferably pine as it will be the easiest to do by hand, with slim to no power tools

Not to rain on your parade, but building a log cabin from scratch wihout power tools is quite an undertaking, it would be a challenge even to an experienced carpenter. What you really want is not wooded acerage, but property that is cleared with descent enough soil, or with an existing building that can be fixed up (perhaps make a deal to do this in lieu of rent).

It sounds like you'll be needing shelter sooner than later, so your best bet is finding a used RV or a travel trailer first, you can get a liveable one for $1000 or so, look on craigslist.

My dad has built three in such a manner, each better than the last. All with a chainsaw and traditional hand tools...he's never been trained as a carpenter. Also built kitchen cabinets and dining room table with just a chainsaw and hand tools. It can be done and it can look great, it just takes determination and some hard work.

Hi, i read your post and am curious to know if you have found somewhere to go? I am in the midwest and it sounds like my farm could be a good fit as I am forever looking for help, especially this time of year, to get gardens planted. I have a small flock of chickens and am anxiously looking forward to my first fruits from trees I planted in 2010. I too was a victim of violence, or rather, a survivor of violence that was perpetrated on my family. I sought serenity through farming and have found it at what I call my ten-acre slice of heaven. I would be very curious to know of your incident. It sounds like you have been through quite an ordeal. I hope you find a soft and secure place to land. My best to you.
pedalblossom

Petalblossom...where exactly are you located? We still need a place to go. We have been traveling since we left...just got back to Georgia after working in Ft Myers beach for a little while.

Can you tell me more about your situation: age, gender, long/term short term goals? I don't want to lead you on but I think I would like to know a little more about you before I tell you where my farm is located. I hope you will understand my concern too, the internet can be a haven sometimes. Would you work? Would you stay a while? Do you have animals? Do you have questions for me?
Thanks,
pedalblossom

Kaylyn,

I don't know if this helps or not but I know of a farmstead in southern MN that you could rent very cheaply just a few miles off I-90. It's owned by our farm landlord and my farming partners and I store some grain and machinery on the site. It includes a house, which is pretty run-down, a well, a large barn, grainery building, and a couple of wooded acres. I think the rent was last going at around $150 a month but could possibly be negotiated lower since there may not be anyone living there again. This isn't exactly the place in the woods your looking for more like the place in the GMO corn field but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway.

I'd like to take some pictures and make a post about this place soon. It's not much but anyone who would live there could do (almost) anything they wanted. The barn there is beautiful.

Hi my name is Danny. seen this post and thought id inquire if this young couple has found a place, or maybe if we could correspond and find a place together? Let me know