Chicago - Nouvelle Aquitaine Introduction

Hello all,

I am new to permaculture homesteading and wanted to introduce myself.  Please excuse my ignorance on previous topics already addressed.  

Currently I am living in Chicago, renting an apartment with no land.  I have done some volunteer work with neighborhood associations working with community gardens.  I am looking to make the transition to a self-sufficient lifestyle with a goal to have a small homestead with enough room to potentially rent out to Airbnb guests in the future.  I'm not entirely obligated to stay in Chicago and would prefer a region with a longer growing season if possible.  I also have been looking to secure property in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region in France where I have family.  Looking forward to learning more about your experiences and how best to make a transition to a lifestyle more in synch with nature and one another.  

Justin, welcome to Permies! I like that you are working to expand your knowledge and experience even though you live in an apartment. I think you will find a lot of like-minded souls here, folk living in urban areas but with the desire to transition to a land-based lifestyle. Permies is a great place to learn and to connect.

Welcome to permies!  Glad to have another Chicagoan. What neighborhood are you in?  In addition to the various community gardens, I know some people in my area participate in "yardshares," growing vegetables in other people's yards. Also a lot of gardening on rooftops and balconies.

Hello Neal,

I am in the Logan Square neighbourhood area.  Where are you?  How may I find out more about the yardshare programmes?  I know that it is late in the agricultural year, but I've been out of the country for several months until just recently.  

Hi Justin

Welcome.  Where about in Nouvelle Aquitaine is your family?  

Hello Ms. Booker.  Currently they are in the Corrèze area near Aurillac, but we're looking at properties throughout Nouvelle Aquitaine.  Trying to find an area that has long growing climate, good access to water and good soil.  Are you familiar with the region?

Fairly, we live in Dordogne.

Welcome Justin,

Another Chicagoan here as well. I still have family in Logan Square. I recently moved to Arkansas.

All the best to you, there is a lot of great info here.


Pamela

Ms. Booker, I know the Dordogne area quiet well.  It's so beautiful there with lots of microclimates.  I'm curious to know what made you choose to live in that area of France?  

Ms. Darcy, thank-you for the welcome.  What made you decide to move to Arkansas?

We lived in the Pyrenees for 13 years and decided to move to the Dordogne to be nearer our daughter and at the same time start a new Permaculture adventure.  And boy, is it an adventure, a challenge, and a lot of fun!  If you know the Dordogne very well we are not very far from Brantome-en-Perigord, and about 45 mins from Perigueux.

About Chicago yard sharing, this is the website of the group I know of, they put together a sort of toolkit for starting up your own neighborhood yardshare:

https://yardsharingtoolkit.wixsite.com/grow2gether/about

I dont know if this is allowed but I thought fellow chicagoans should see my post and pass info on to someone interested

https://permies.com/t/178868/Garden-area-Rent#1405462