From homesteading to... communitysteading ? How did it go for you?

Hello everyone!
I'd want to hear about your experience...
We've been on our land for something less than 2 years now, with my two kids and the ever-changing Community around us. We have guests almost all the time, from 1 to 7 usually, volunteers, travellers, friends or all of that together. They've been coming from a few weeks to a few months so we're used to have people around.
Last April we even had our first seminar, gathering 30 participants from 5 European countries (and two weeks after the end of that one we had a second seminar with 40 participants... Not a good idea, won't do that again) :



So, yes, we're not alone, yes we have people with us almost all the time but we are the only permanent residents. Who wouldn't be a problem if it was just me but I have two children, 3 and 13 and I'd want them to have more permanent people in their lives than me.
So, yes, I believe it is time for us to open the community. The first goal is to make a wordschooler's hub where families could come for a few months or more. The second, to invite people to create a permanent community. I feel like the less risky way would be to to find a way to acquire a few pieces of land surrounding mine and open it to others but I don't have that kind of money so... I have a friend who is thinking of buying one of those pieces of land which is of course de second best option but... How are we sure it is a good idea ?

The logical part in me (who is non-existant) says I should almost give like a job interview to any family willing to come and join us but how do you do that ?? And how to do that if they're buying their own pieces of land ?

I know many of you have started communities and I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking of all that so... What was your experience ? How do you decide who can or cannot join you ?

Thank you !
<3

There are details of a very good book which takes you through steps to sort something out, on this site.

Thank you !
Are you thinking of this one ? https://permies.com/wiki/20344/Creating-Life-Diana-Leafe-Christian I saw it mentioned in another thread but I'll look in the reviews :)

I cannot find it at the moment but I bought a copy recently.
I will find it.
Look at this web site as well; Intentional communitires web site
This book, below is listed on the Intentional communities web site above.

John C Daley wrote:I cannot find it at the moment but I bought a copy recently.
I will find it.
Look at this web site as well; Intentional communitires web site
This book, below is listed on the Intentional communities web site above.

You're amazing, thank you !

For anyone coming in this thread with similar questions, I just found that : https://www.ic.org/community-bookstore/product/starting-your-community-bundle/ in the website John suggested 💖

Hello all, Just found this here.  Thank you for sharing your perspectives & approaches.  

We, a family of three (family doctor, eco-designer/ grower/ forester, 6th grader) are getting ready for sabbatical/ worldschooling by preparing our two homesteads to carry themselves indefinitely, cover our fixed costs in our absence, be ready whenever we come back.  The initial idea has been an academic year with both summers, split evenly venturing from/ traveling between fixed bases with family in northeast USA/ central Chile/ southwest Germany, scaled down/ set up for bikepacking, foraying out to recon places, discover communities, pursue projects.  

It's been long in the gestating & making, sometimes we're back on the borderline of whether we really can.  It's been very encouraging to stumble upon all those who have gone before/ are out there now/ are sharing experiences & resources.  It seems a tricky balance between some workable stability & some transcending adventure.  We're hoping to cross paths with others, linger for collaborations, find people & place with which to develop more regenerative community.  

(rt:m

Patrik Schumann wrote:Hello all, Just found this here.  Thank you for sharing your perspectives & approaches.  

We, a family of three (family doctor, eco-designer/ grower/ forester, 6th grader) are getting ready for sabbatical/ worldschooling by preparing our two homesteads to carry themselves indefinitely, cover our fixed costs in our absence, be ready whenever we come back.  The initial idea has been an academic year with both summers, split evenly venturing from/ traveling between fixed bases with family in northeast USA/ central Chile/ southwest Germany, scaled down/ set up for bikepacking, foraying out to recon places, discover communities, pursue projects.  

It's been long in the gestating & making, sometimes we're back on the borderline of whether we really can.  It's been very encouraging to stumble upon all those who have gone before/ are out there now/ are sharing experiences & resources.  It seems a tricky balance between some workable stability & some transcending adventure.  We're hoping to cross paths with others, linger for collaborations, find people & place with which to develop more regenerative community.  

That seems amazing, do you think we'll be able to follow your journey somewhere ?
If your plans are still open, we'd be more than happy to welcome you in Greece !

Ilektra Kou wrote:

That seems amazing, do you think we'll be able to follow your journey somewhere ?
If your plans are still open, we'd be more than happy to welcome you in Greece !

Thanks kindly, If we can assemble a journey by train & bike from Freiburg, Germany, our possible base with family, to Ikaria, Greece, we'd like to visit.  We're just now putting together a setup to document & share our adventure & learning through YouTube videos produced by our young son.