Michigan Tribe

There is a thread here from 10 years ago, asking pretty much the same thing- but- wondering where all the Michigan permies are?

I am at an age where it feels simply impossible to make new friends who have the same interests and values as me. I'm a 37 year old mother of two, partnered, who lives in the urban center of Lansing.  I'm interested in one day having a landshare up north somewhere with likeminded folks, where we can use the space as a community and/or as a private get-away when needed. I have some property here that I do my best to garden, but I feel so alone when it comes to so many of my endeavors. I need a tribe!  
What about the rest of you Michigan folks?

I'm in Beaverton MI, a rural area.  I've been practicing permaculture for about 7 years now and it's a lonely pursuit.  I'm doing no till, cover crops and as many regenerative practices I can.  I try to adhere to the permaculture principles to the best of my ability but building community has been very difficult.   I'm perceived as a freak.

I've invited people here on these forums to come see my Rocket Mass Heater but nobody bites.  

The best resource I've found in the state to find like minded folks is the https://strawbalestudio.org/  in Oxford Michigan.  It's run by an amazing woman, Deanne Bednar.  She does a great job of bringing people together.  It's a long drive for me to get there but it's always a high quality experience when I go.

I'm sure there are like minded people in my local community but it's been hard to find them.

Rich

Hey!  I just moved to Michigan a few months ago and I've been learning about permaculture and loving nature for many years now.  I finally have some property to try things out on.  I am pretty far south in the state (Cassopolis area) but maybe we can meet in the center someday?  

Rich Points wrote:I'm in Beaverton MI, a rural area.  I've been practicing permaculture for about 7 years now and it's a lonely pursuit.  I'm doing no till, cover crops and as many regenerative practices I can.  I try to adhere to the permaculture principles to the best of my ability but building community has been very difficult.   I'm perceived as a freak.

I've invited people here on these forums to come see my Rocket Mass Heater but nobody bites.  

The best resource I've found in the state to find like minded folks is the https://strawbalestudio.org/  in Oxford Michigan.  It's run by an amazing woman, Deanne Bednar.  She does a great job of bringing people together.  It's a long drive for me to get there but it's always a high quality experience when I go.

I'm sure there are like minded people in my local community but it's been hard to find them.

Rich

I just missed an event there due to illness. It would have been my first time visiting. Seems like a great place. I had many questions I was looking forward to asking her about rmh and code. Could you answer some of these questions?
My thread on rmh in Michigan
Which workshops have you attended?

I’m in Grand Rapids. Planning to look for property up north this spring.

I’m just outside Lansing, suburban .5 acre. I had the opportunity to attend the RMH workshop last fall and really enjoyed it. I’ll probably look for a PDC or similar course closer to home in the next year or two.

My wife and I have almost 10 acres in the lower SW corner of MI, 2 miles south of Three Rivers, 30 miles south of Kalamazoo.  We have been doing regenerative farming/living for about 30 years now.  We grow a lot of our food and preserve it in various ways.  We also play with homeopathy,  permaculture, and some foraging though that has lessened now that we're in our mid 60's.
We have a few gardens of various types,  hugels, a herb spiral, a new orchard, and various other sundries.  We are currently raising chickens,  ducks,  goats, pigs and sheep but every few years we throw in a beef and a few turkeys. We would love to host a get together where people can get their questions answered, meet like people,  eat some good food,  and relax for a few days.  Trailers and tents are welcome and we have 2 hotels less than 6 miles away.  
    The ideal time to hold it for us is August of next year.  If there is any interest please respond and maybe we can get it off the ground. Jeff & Renee

Jeffrey that sounds so wonderful.  I would definitely like to learn from you and your wife, and in general make some permie friends in real life.
I live about 40 minutes away from three rivers.  I moved to michigan last year and this is my first time trying to actually grow things.  I have a few berries and bushes going and I'm experimenting with other stuff on my 1 acre lot.

If you and Renee are interested in meeting up let me know.  It's good to know like minded people are near by.  

Hi, I'm a little late to the conversation (I just found it) but I live in Lansing MI and I have also been desperate to meet like minded people lately. I am not as into permaculture as a lot of folks on this forum (although I love and try to practice many of the principles), but I would really like to meet anyone who feels strongly about existing within the natural world and working with it rather than against it. I have struggled so much lately with everything being so consumer driven and no one being willing to move away from this "business as usual" and "progress means more money and development" mindset. I feel very lonely.

My partner and I would be thrilled to meet up with nearby folks and start building real community. If anyone is still checking this thread, feel free to reach out to kmuirhead2000@gmail.com and I will happily try to start a little gathering in the Lansing area either at my place, a nearby community garden, or my grandparent's cabin (out in the middle of some beautiful woods sort of near Saint Johns).

I would also love to join the possible gathering next summer mentioned in the thread already!

Hi Kaylee!  I get what you are saying.  I live about 2 hours south of you.  I'll send you an email.