Nor-Cal Landshare part 2

So, I have made the leap. I have found an amazing couple that are passionate about permaculture and biodynamics with land to share. I found them through the California Farmlink program, a nonprofit dedicated to helping young farmers acquire land. I believe there are farmlink programs in other states as well.

It has been about 3 weeks since first making the move. And so far I have made 6 hugelculture beds (or rather hugel/swale beds) of varying size. I actually finished the largest one today. All have been sowed with Landino clover per Fukaoka's advice. I also plan to sow many other supportive plants like lupine, vetch, and others when I have the money to do so. Tonight I will plant some veggies.

The property is about 40 acres, mostly forested. It has a great big pond that needs some pigs to seal it. There are goats, a sheep, and plenty of fresh free range eggs from 20 or so chickens. I hope to get some female goats for milk and soap making soon. Overall it is a beautiful piece of land with plenty of rotten wood for future hugelprojects.

The couples house is strawbale with earthen plaster. It stays very cool even in 100 degree weather. I may start on a little cob cabin in the spring! The only problem is water is limited... permaculture to the rescue! As part of our agreement I do odd jobs around the property, one of which is expanding the existing swale system. I am also trying to sell them on planting vetiver grass (one of my favorite permie plants) at the base of the swale to increase ground water infiltration.

My long term goals are to spend 3 to 5 years at the property and then find some property of my own. Then I would like to help young (or old) permies in the same way this couple is helping me. I have strong desire to increase the quality of life for all humans and I think permaculture is a good way to go about this (along with yoga, meditation, and nutrient dense food). I should also mention that since moving to this piece of land symptoms from my autoimmune disorder (grave's disease) have greatly diminished. I feel strong and healthy like I haven't felt in years. Must be all those fresh eggs and veggies! I was living in the Sacramento area which for those who don't know is like the filth pit of California. In many ways it is worse than the LA region because it is not near the coast. If you have a chronic illness seriously consider moving to a healthier environment. Every night I sleep well and every morning I wake up rested and full of energy. I literally hop out of bed and head straight for the garden to see what is growing and to fiddle around making more areas to grow nutrient rich food.

My long-long term goal is to buy a bunch of land in southern California (perhaps in partnership with others?). Scrub land out there is cheap I've seen acres for as low as $3000. I want to get over 1000 acres and permie the crap out of it. If they can permaculture the Sahara and areas like Jordan then it can be done in the southern California desert. I want to start a large community and give people a chance to escape the rat race and live how humans evolved to. Eating good food, living within a supportive community and not stressing themselves to the point of cancer or other chronic conditions.

This thread is for people looking for land in California (or anywhere really), please share your experiences and perhaps it can be a means for people with land to partner with those who want to work the land and live well. If we work together we can spread permaculture like a healing wildfire. Not only to heal the land but also ourselves. Please forgive me if I post intermittently as I do not have internet access on the property yet. I am typing this at a Starbucks

p.s. I am in the Grass Valley/Nevada City area in case there are in other permies in the area (i know there are) that would like to get together to talk permaculture!

Great James! Why not stay here instead of wanting to move already? There are bonds with the land. And you create good bonds with those people too. Hope you will stay!

About auto-immune, consider not to eat any pig products, not even fat, as this is an little known cause, but we share 98% of our genes, and so it confuses the body. Immunity is about "what is mine, what is not at its place inside me". Pig is so close that it is confusing for the body. What is me and what is from the outside? What do I fight? And the body can start to consider parts of itself as being foreign, and try to push it out. Eating pork makes more job to anybody for sure, but some people are just more sensitive, and so it makes the difference.

Xisca Nicolas wrote:Great James! Why not stay here instead of wanting to move already? There are bonds with the land. And you create good bonds with those people too. Hope you will stay!

About auto-immune, consider not to eat any pig products, not even fat, as this is an little known cause, but we share 98% of our genes, and so it confuses the body. Immunity is about "what is mine, what is not at its place inside me". Pig is so close that it is confusing for the body. What is me and what is from the outside? What do I fight? And the body can start to consider parts of itself as being foreign, and try to push it out. Eating pork makes more job to anybody for sure, but some people are just more sensitive, and so it makes the difference.

I want to move in 3 to 5 years. It's not my land so I don't have complete control over what goes on there. The owners would probably look at me funny if I told them all the things I wanted to do. So yea within a few years I will be looking for my own land to permie and hopefully leave their land more sustainable.

But I love to eat pigs . I don't eat much pork as it is so I don't think that is a contributing factor. I think the fact that I lived in an incredibly toxic environment is what made me develop the condition. Every time I moved out of the region my symptoms got better.

Of course there are more than one factor, that does not mean I am wrong, even if you just estimate I am!
(and look at me funny about my ideas, haha!)
I learned it from traditional shamanic medicine, and they are strict about it for curing, even cooking fat only. Then I got the confirmation from a western doctor as well, just about auto-immune disease...

Xisca Nicolas wrote:Of course there are more than one factor, that does not mean I am wrong, even if you just estimate I am!
(and look at me funny about my ideas, haha!)
I learned it from traditional shamanic medicine, and they are strict about it for curing, even cooking fat only. Then I got the confirmation from a western doctor as well, just about auto-immune disease...

I didn't say you were wrong, I just stated that I don't think it was a factor in my case as I don't eat much pork. I am sure you are right and it does have an effect on autoimmune disorders.

Ok, but I said also that it has nothing to do with the quantity.
Other people than you are ill because of a bad environment, but the environment does not tell WHICH kind of problem will occur! You could have developed asthma or eczema or other bad things and worse, so there is always another cause than environment.

Good luck with your vision. It seems very exciting. In the back of my brain, I have a thought that if my gig doesn't turn out the way I want, I may give it all up and join a commune. Who knows, maybe we will meet some day.

I would be happy to have you in my community! My goal is not only to start a community but also an apprenticeship program where after a few years of learning I would help my apprentices acquire land and help them establish their land. I think this can be done in a way that is profitable for both parties and of course for the environment. That ideal is some years off but that is what I am aiming for.

https://permies.com/t/16746/paleo/TedX-lecture-paleo-MS-parkinsons#154386
and direct link, as this is much adapted than what I told you...
http://www.terrywahls.com/_blog/Terry_Wahls%27_Blog
best wishes!

Howdy James. I inherited 30 acres of land in the Antelope Valley region from my Grand Pap. He bought it on the hopes someone would build an amusement park in the area and he could sell his plot to developers. Now I've got far different ideas for the plot. It's just West of the town Rosamond, CA and just East of the Quail Springs farm. It's very flat flood plain, and very dry, about 19cm a year. In the very long term future I'd like to gobble up as much of the water shed as possible, which would make the project massive. I'd also like to work on trying to demonstrate the profitability of sustainable farming, being so close to the Central Valley, that awful pit of chemical warfare and monoculture. If someone could get the Central Valley to go Permaculture the benefits could be countless. From freeing the colorado river to stopping desertification, to getting good food on tables. Lofty goals I know, but I'm curious about your 1000 acres of California scrub land.