looking for land/ property/ community possibly SW France

Hello,
Would anyone be interested in sharing some land possibly in SW France. I from the uk and very drawn to the Ariege or Dordogne areas but wouldn't rule out other places or even other countries if it sounded right! I would be very interested in communities/ collectives  open to new members joining, if you know of anywhere or can suggest any links to look at, thank you in advance, I'm not on Facebook and stuck with where to look or connect with people.

I would like to practice permaculture, small-holding crafts and produce to sell, and strive to live as much off grid as possible. Looking for a quiet simple life but ideally near to others with similar mind set so there is a sense of community. If there is someone who has some land and would be open to sharing a small part of it that would be great. Buying would be a possibility if not too expensive but also an exchange of help would be possible.

Would being a self-employed smallholder be enough to obtain residency in France? Just looking at a carte de sejour and it seems it could be tricky without work contract or definite income. Does anyone have experience of  moving from Uk without a large bank account / work contract and still being accepted for residency? Does owning land/ property help? Thanks.

I'm a lady in my 40's, so not a youngster but it feels like now or never, while I still have the energy to start from scratch if need be. I'm very creative and can learn new skills easily, I also speak passable French though it is a long time since I spoke it.

Lots of dreams!!! Help welcome!

Thank you
J

We're in the Haute Vienne, so around the area you're looking for. We don't have community space, in fact just got badly burned by 'friends' trying to pull something together so we're fighting a bit shy at the moment. But meeting and helping people is always interesting.

You can register as a micro-enterprise which seems to tick a lot of easy boxes to register here, but it's not without its issues. Also getting here after the end of the year, without a job offer will be very difficult, my advice is probably to jump now while you can, as long as you can go back if things don't work out.

Anyway, let me know if you want to chat.

Hello J Willow, i am in Morvan, a natural park. There are these areas where many foreigners live, especially Brits, Dutch or Belgian. Don't know if that is very attractive to you, but it sure can be handy! There are 3000 permanent Dutch residents where i am, and Belgian and Brits. Many additional people with secondary homes. I am a builder so i work for them. Other workers do cleaning/painting/cutting grass/gardening/dog walking. It is quite easy to start a micro entreprise especially if you find a company that speaks English that can do that for you. It will give you access to healthcare, which is sometimes very good, sometimes abhorrent in these rural places.
Many people now are looking for a place outside big cities after the lock down, confinement. Interest in anything natural is rising. So with a small income from crafts living off grid is possible. I don't know about a lot of communities here. There is a town somewhere down south which young ecologists have transformed, so i can't offer more than this generalized info, hope somebody else will pop up with more on point info about communities. There is the possibility of purple moosaging on Permies, kind of internal messaging system.

Also lots of info here

https://terredeliens.org/

Thank you, a mini family crisis delayed me replying but the info and reaching out is much appreciated, especially about the micro-enterprsie, I will look into that. Its not easy travelling at the moment but like you say, it is going to get harder after Brexit. Hopefully I will be able to travel in autumn, so any suggestions of good areas to visit much appreciated.

Thanks
J

Hey there!

We're a group looking to start a community of individuals and families willing to homestead in the northern parts of Spain (Asturias/Cantabria). We plan on buying and settling the land as soon as possible (within the next 6 months)

I think this might be something along the lines of what you were looking for... If it sounds interesting, please get in touch with us!

You can check out the website at: https://www.homestead.community/

Or join our telegram chat at: https://t.me/homesteadcommunity

Cheers,

Xaloc

I am down in s.w. france, it!s a large area and prices vary a lot.if you are hoping to do crafts/get casual work, I would recommend being nearish a touristy area...e.g. in the mountains you have year round tourists in certain areas.weather might come into your planning on where you choose, so the further south you go, the better the winters. Hope it works out well for you.

Greetings J willow, and others
I have been looking for a place out of the US for a while...just a few months ago lost everything from the fires in Oregon I had built up for 20 years...with no insurance
I found some wonderful places in Northern France with stone houses and slate roof with enough rain to keep things green and looks like a wonderful place to create projects.
Anyone or maybe 15 anyone's with some capitol to invest in a cooperative farm village in northern France...close to ferry to Britain?
the place is 2.2 million euros..but has many Ha of fertile land and 15 stone houses in descent shape with walled gardens and greenhouses.
up for an adventure into self sustainability?
lets talk
Blessings

Hi J
Ive been having very similar thoughts but been looking at the South of Spain for a longer growing season, if you ever want to bounce ideas of each other feel free to message me. The Brexit thing might have messed with the ease of a full time move in France, but seems a lot easier a process in Spain.
JC

Hi... Just came across this thread... Did you find somewhere suitable? I'm currently in the Dordogne but as beautiful as it is, it is too hot in the summer and I haven't met my tribe yet. It's not so alternative here. Several people have mentioned the Ariege to me for off grid living and like minded communities... Did you check it out? Also Hugo from Morvan, I have been intrigued by Burgundy and the Morvan national park. I miss green, forests and rivers... Where I am is quite dry and rocky! So am missing lush countryside. Anytips would be appreciated. Thanks in advance 😊

Hi there Willow
I just came across your post and if you are interested in sharing my land with me in Senegal bordering The Gambia, lets have a chat. I am also from the UK and couldn't wait to leave. Now I own 4 acres of beautiful land in the forest, with the intention to create a food forest. I am currently living off grid.  The land has an empty house which has just been built and plenty of drinkable water. No electricity yet, but that is coming soon.

Feel free to reach out for a chat!
Nama

Cee Marie wrote:Hi... Just came across this thread... Did you find somewhere suitable? I'm currently in the Dordogne but as beautiful as it is, it is too hot in the summer and I haven't met my tribe yet. It's not so alternative here. Several people have mentioned the Ariege to me for off grid living and like minded communities... Did you check it out? Also Hugo from Morvan, I have been intrigued by Burgundy and the Morvan national park. I miss green, forests and rivers... Where I am is quite dry and rocky! So am missing lush countryside. Anytips would be appreciated. Thanks in advance 😊

Hey,
how is your search going?

I'm in the east of the Tarn. Beautiful area. Cheaper than Ariege and just as green and forested and with spring fed rivers.

Let me know if you need any tips or if you're visiting the area.

Max